La Salle Academy, Providence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| La Salle Academy |
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| Motto | Religio, Mores, Cultura |
| Established | 1871 |
| Type | Parochial |
| President | Br. Michael McKenery, FSC |
| Principal | Donald J. Kavanagh |
| Students | 1350 (approx) |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island USA |
| Oversight | Diocese of Providence |
| Accreditation | New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Colors | Maroon and white |
| Mascot | Rams (64 teams, 18 sports) |
| Website | www.lasalle-academy.org |
La Salle Academy is an independent co-ed Catholic college preparatory high school located in northern Providence, Rhode Island on the corner of Academy Avenue and Smith Street, about two miles west of the Rhode Island State House. It was named for Saint John Baptist de La Salle, a French man who dedicated his life to the education of the children of poor families. The high school serves grades 9-12, and is also home to a middle school serving grades 7-8 known as PEGASUS 7/8, or the Program to Enhance the Gifts, Aptitudes, and Skills of Unique Students. Home to about 1,350 students, La Salle offers a strong academic curriculum, while also fostering spiritual growth, and offering opportunities to excel in athletics, arts, and other forms of community involvement. Graduates include bishops, brothers and priests, a Nobel laureate, Pulitzer Prize winners, an Attorney General of the United States, United States Senators and Representatives, and Governors of the State of Rhode Island.
The school colors are maroon and white. The current President of La Salle Academy is Brother Michael McKenery, F.S.C.
An identically named school, La Salle Academy, is an all male brother school in the De La Salle Christian Brothers network located in Manhattan, New York.
[edit] Sports
A prominent and reputable school throughout Rhode Island, La Salle was noted in May 2005 by Sports Illustrated magazine for having the best sports program in the state. Especially dominant in Rhode Island high school sports were the men's soccer team, which won six consecutive state championship titles from 2000-2005 and the women's soccer team, which won five consecutive titles from 2001-2005 and was at one point ranked second in the nation. The school's biggest rivals include Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, and Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, whose men's hockey team won twenty-six consecutive state titles from 1978-2003.
[edit] History
Founded in 1871 under the discretion of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the all-male school was originally an elementary school located in La Salle Square in downtown Providence. Known as the "Brothers' School," the name changed to La Salle Academy when its status changed from elementary school to an academy. When the student population grew too large for its former location, the Bishop of Providence authorized the building of a new school on more suitable premises near city limits. The present structure was dedicated in 1925.
In 1983, the Bishop of Providence announced plans to merge La Salle Academy, still an all-male high school, with two all-girls schools: St. Mary Academy of the Visitation and St. Patrick High School.
In 1989, full administration was transferred from the Diocese of Providence to a non-profit, indepedent corporation comprising six De La Salle Christian Brothers.
More recent developments include the establishment of a transition program for gifted middle school students, PEGASUS 7/8, and the PEGASUS 10-12 program for gifted high schoolers. The McLaughlin Athletic Center and Michael McKenery Arts Center were annexed in 2000 and the Shea Science and Student Center opened for the 2004-2005 school year.
