History
Founded in 1871 as an all-male elementary school, La Salle Academy was originally located in downtown Providence. The Academy was established by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, a Roman Catholic religious teaching religious institute, founded by Frenchman Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle. Originally known as the Brothers' School, the school's name changed to La Salle Academy when its status changed from an elementary school to a secondary school. When the student population grew too large for its first location at the beginning of the 20th century, the Bishop of Providence authorized the building of a new school on more suitable premises near city limits. The present 60-acre (240,000 m2) campus in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence was dedicated in 1925. The area of downtown Providence that formerly housed the Academy is now known as La Salle Square.
In 1983, the Bishop of Providence announced plans to merge the Academy, still an all-male secondary school, with two all-girls secondary schools, ushering in the co-educational era of the school that continues to the present.
In 1989, full administration was transferred from the Diocese of Providence to a non-profit, independent Board of Directors comprising six De La Salle Christian Brothers. The Academy is overseen by a Board of Regents, composed of not less than nine nor more than twenty-one voting members.
More recent developments include the 1993 establishment of the PEGASUS 7/8 program, a middle school for exceptional students. Significant campus improvements were undertaken by the former president of La Salle, Brother Michael McKenery, at the turn of the 20th century. Construction included a new Athletic Center, Arts Center, Science and Student Center, and tennis courts, as well as improvements to the existing athletic fields.
La Salle Academy is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
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