Academics
Overview
We Redefine Learning
Together with a worldwide network of millions of Lasallian students and educators, we are proud to bring Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s spirit of love, care, service, and whose reputation for excellence in education extends back to 1680, to the 21st century.
With our cutting-edge curriculum, we encourage our students to explore and innovate not only in the classroom, but beyond it, so that our next generation of lifelong learners leave a lasting, positive impact on their communities and the world around them.
We give students powerful mentorship and instruction that transforms wonder into excellence.
Academic Rigor
We facilitate personalization of coursework within each discipline by offering students courses on campus which meet them where they are through on-level, Honors or Advanced Placement classes.
Quality Matters, a research journal which examines curriculum in higher education, collected the definitions of academic rigor from universities and colleges across the US to create the following unified definition:
“Intentionally crafted and sequenced learning activities and interactions that are supported by research and incorporating the following characteristics to support learning by including:
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As a college preparatory program we believe it is essential to use this definition to shape La Salle learning experiences so that all graduates are prepared to meet these standards of performance at any institution of higher learning.
That is why our curriculum is intentionally designed to support students at all levels.
We begin by developing foundations of knowledge in 9th and 10th grade. In 11th and 12th grade our academic requirements incentivize students to capitalize on opportunities to create their own pathways for learning.
To support students who want a deeper and more varied learning experience we also offer students opportunities to take specialized courses online and in-person at local community colleges and with our national and international education partnerships.
Graduate Learning Outcomes
As a college preparatory high school, La Salle endeavors to instill the following outcomes and expectations in graduates of its program.
Understand Catholic teaching and practices and are guided by the Lasallian five core principles and the ideals of Learn. Serve. Lead.
Respect individuals of different backgrounds, talents, cultures, and religions.
Practice Christian values by recognizing and responding with compassion to the needs of others, especially the poor and marginalized.
Interpret, analyze, synthesize, and communicate ideas.
Value lifelong physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
20% Mentoring and Religious Education
60% Core Academics
10% Arts
10% PE/Athletics
Curriculum
La Salle has eight departments of graduation coursework that meet and/or exceed the Cal State and UC eligibility requirements.
All students have flexibility in their schedules to explore electives in their areas of interest and are encouraged to challenge themselves across all disciplines.
English | Mathematics | Social Studies | Science |
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World Languages | Religious Studies | Art | Physical Education |
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La Salle College Preparatory’s English Department is committed to developing each student’s appreciation of literature, depth of critical thinking, and mastery of the art of written communication and analysis. We offer a program dedicated to studying a broad range of themes, genres, and time periods, and employ a variety of teaching methodologies to accommodate the learning styles of all our students.
Our four-year curriculum encompasses World, British, and American Literature, culminating in the senior year with courses devoted to contemporary themes in canonical and contemporary texts.
- World Literature: English I
- British Literature: English II
- American Literature: English III, AP Language & Composition
- Critical Perspectives: English IV, AP Literature & Composition
In addition to our required courses our English Department provides several electives on campus and through hybrid instruction including: Creating Writing/Fiction into Film, Expository Reading & Writing, Classic Novels and Author Studies, Gothic Literature, Mythology & Folklore, and Journalism.
At La Salle our mathematics courses are designed by our teachers to be inclusive and supportive, while providing the necessary foundation for future application. All La Salle graduates will be independent problem solvers who can deploy mathematical thinking in whatever future position they hold.
Students at La Salle are required to complete:
- Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2.
- Upon successful completion of Algebra 2 students are encouraged to take electives in mathematics each year until they graduate.
Our electives include:
- Precalculus, Statistics, AP Statistics, Calculus AB, AP Calculus AB/BC, Abstract Algebra & Number Theory, Trigonometry, and AP Computer Science
At La Salle all students must complete at least one year of inquiry in the following social studies subject areas. However, to support student personalization of their coursework we provide numerous options for courses including:
- Global Studies: World History, AP Human Geography, AP European History
- U.S. History: AP US History, US History
- Economics & Civics: Economics, Civics, AP American Government & Politics, and AP Economics
We also offer numerous on-campus electives including: Introduction to Law, Introduction to Psychology, California History.
Through our hybrid instructional partnerships students can also take: Anthropology, African-American History, Sociology, and Philosophy, World Religions, AP World History: Modern, and AP Psychology.
In addition to our robust course offerings La Salle College Preparatory is proud to sponsor a chapter of Rho Kappa, the only nationally recognized Social Studies Honors Society. Students who are admitted to Rho Kappa will participate in Social Studies outreach activities in the local community, as well as attend monthly meetings to discuss current events related to the better understanding of social and historical issues.
La Salle College Preparatory’s Science Department is dedicated to fostering critical thinking, analysis and problem solving all while developing a foundation of scientific knowledge. Our goal is for all La Salle students to master the standards of performance required for advanced scientific study at the collegiate level.
Our science curriculum requires students to complete at least 2 years of lab science.
- Life Science: Biology
- Physical Science: Physics, Chemistry
At La Salle we have a number of elective science courses offered both on campus and through our hybrid program including: AP Biology, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Chemistry, Environmental Science, Genetics & Biotechnology, Human Anatomy, Ethics in Science & Medicine, Forensic Science, (Sports Medicine, Earth & Space Science, and AP Environmental Science.
The World Languages Department focuses on fostering language comprehension by developing fluency in speaking, reading, and writing. Our courses center the study of language on the appreciation of culture, customs, geography, history, and traditions of the peoples where the language is used today.
At La Salle students must take at least 2 years of a world language while enrolled at La Salle.
- Level I: Spanish 1, French 1, Chinese 1
- Level II: Spanish 2, French 2, Chinese 2
- Advanced Coursework: Spanish 3, Spanish 4, French 3, AP French Language & Culture, Chinese 2, Chinese IV, AP Chinese Language & Culture
All students who have previously studied a world language will be evaluated by a departmental placement test prior to course enrollment.
All La Salle students are required to take four years of religion and complete coursework in The Arts and Physical Education to graduate. For more information, please see The Arts, Religion and Athletics pages.
For more information on Course Offerings and required coursework at La Salle please download our current course catalog. If you have any questions, contact our Admissions team at admissions@lasalle.cleverwolfdevelopers.com
Learning Center & STEAM Lab
As part of our STEAM Program, our students learn the skills that will prepare them for the jobs and economy of tomorrow - and they have fun while doing it!
Our project-based learning encourages students to explore and challenge the processes that are typically associated with classroom learning. Students learn by doing and participating in projects that prepare them for the career opportunities of tomorrow.
Success in La Salle’s STEAM Program is oriented around growth. Students are assessed and provided feedback int he form of journals and reflections, measuring the day-to-day successes and tools that students are armed with as lifelong learners
Whether creating games, building circuits, designing bridges, or flying drones, students participate in the multi-disciplinary curriculum of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
Mentoring
At La Salle it is fundamental to our mission to develop individuals motivated to achieve their goals in the future.
We approach student development with a structured Mentor Program carefully planned over a student’s four years at La Salle.
In 9th grade the focus is on helping students develop the skills they need to be successful in our diverse educational environment.
Our mentoring program focuses on providing students with the tools they need to help adjust to the rigorous work of the high school classroom, develop the skills to collaborate effectively with an entirely new group of peers, and provide students with the foundation to develop independent financial management skills with instruction in basic financial literacy.
Mentor Program
- Planning & Organization for High School
- Conflict Resolution Skills
- Financial Literacy: Introduction to Banking
- Introduction to College & Career Planning
In a student’s 10th grade year, the focus moves on from addressing the transition to high school to starting to identify opportunities for personal growth.
In the mentoring program students spend the year examining their own interactions with peers, with their devices, and how effectively they develop as individuals. A highlight of the year is the Career Exploration Road Trip where students begin examining their interests and identifying the academic pathways required for a variety of career options. Significant emphasis is placed on helping students develop the skills and portfolio of work required to secure opportunities for employment, internships or volunteer positions in the community.
Mentor Program
- Social Connections, Individual Motivation & the Pitfalls of Screentime
- I-Statements
- Building Your Extra-Curricular Resume
- Career Exploration Road Trip
The 11th grade year is a turning point, students are more than halfway through their high school experience and must begin to plan for the next phase in their journey to adulthood.
With that in mind the mentoring program is designed to support student decision-making and stress management. In this year students will be taking SAT/ACTs, identifying good-fit colleges, and working hard to produce their best work for the Junior Year transcript. It is important that students learn how to prioritize competing and conflicting demands on their time all while trying to figure out what they plan to do after they graduate.
Mentor Program
- Anxiety & Stress Management
- Comfort with Conflict
- Financial Aid & Paying for College
- Guest Speakers, College Visits, & Career Day
To end their years at La Salle our students, mentors and teachers focus on developing the skills they need to enter the world as independent adults.
The first half of the senior year mentoring program is designed to support students with the college application and career planning process. From there, most students enter a period of waiting and our mentoring program pivots to begin the process of providing students with strategies for addressing moments of failure as an adult. We end the year with robust financial literacy and debt management instruction as students prepare for graduation.
Mentor Program
- Coping with Failure
- Credit Cards & Debt
- College Applications Workshops-The UC & Common App Processes
- Preparing for Graduation
Religious Education
At La Salle it is fundamental to our mission to develop individuals motivated to achieve their goals in the future.
We approach student development with a structured Religious Program carefully planned over a student’s four years at La Salle.
In 9th grade the focus is on helping students develop the skills they need to be successful in our diverse educational environment.
Religious education is a cornerstone of the La Salle experience. In their first-year students will spend the first semester learning about the Lasallian heritage and its place in the Catholic tradition. Second semester focuses on the scripture with specific emphasis on helping students understand the Old Testament call to justice.
Religious Education
- Introduction to Catholicism
- Scripture
In a student’s 10th grade year, the focus moves on from addressing the transition to high school to starting to identify opportunities for personal growth.
Our religious education at the sophomore level follows the study of the Old Testament with an examination of the Life of Christ and the literary form presented in the New Testament. In the second term students learn about the transformation of the church from its early foundations under St. Paul to its present leader’s Pope Francis.
Religious Education
- New Testament
- Church History
The 11th grade year is a turning point, students are more than halfway through their high school experience and must begin to plan for the next phase in their journey to adulthood.
Our religious education reinforces this transition to adulthood with coursework on the moral laws established by the Old Testament and reaffirmed through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the church. In the second half of the year students focus on the rituals and the church and how they, as individuals, can experience worship, the Presence of God and bring prayer into their lives in a meaningful way.
Religious Education
- Morality and Justice
- Sacraments and Prayer
To end their years at La Salle our students, mentors and teachers focus on developing the skills they need to enter the world as independent adults.
In a student’s final year our religious education is centered on our Lasallian core principles by working in the community in service to others. The two final courses in this department are all about helping students understand their own unique spiritual journey through peer & community collaboration and personal reflection.
Religious Education
- Christian Life & Service
- Vocation & Mission
Honor Societies
La Salle prides itself on the academic excellence of our students. We offer five different honor societies in which students are recognized for their classroom efforts. The application process varies between each group, with some memberships requiring students to re-submit applications between semesters. Membership in any one of these organizations is considered a notable achievement and worthy of commendation.
The California Scholarship Federation seeks to foster high standards of scholarship, service, and citizenship within its members. Accepted students are eligible for a variety of exclusive scholarships at universities across the state and in select colleges nationwide.
In order to become a member, students must initiate an application (applications are available during the first two weeks of each semester) and meet certain criteria:
- they must have at least ten CSF qualifying points
- have satisfactory citizenship
- have no D or F grades in any subject during the previous semester and have completed the first semester of their sophomore year.
- Students must re-submit an application at the start of every semester they wish to participate.
After completing at least four semesters of membership at La Salle, with at least one occurring during Senior year, students become eligible to graduate Gold Seal. Seniors may not apply retroactively. The student wears a gold honor cord at graduation ceremonies, a gold seal is placed on the diploma, and they will be recognized for their achievement.
The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) was established for “the purpose of inspiring and recognizing those students who have shown an outstanding ability in art,” to assist student members attaining their highest potential in all forms of art, and to raise awareness of art education throughout the school and community.
Active members must:
- Retain a 3.5 Cumulative GPA, and a 94 average in their art courses
- Be active for at least two years to receive cords at graduation
- Attend weekly meetings
- Participate in monthly art service projects
- Spread visual art into the local and global community
- Communicate social and global issues through visual art to their peers and the school
The National Honor Society recognizes students with outstanding accomplishments in scholarship, leadership, and service. Members contribute to the school and to the larger community, regularly participating in meetings, projects, tutoring, and other activities.
In order to become a member, students must first submit an application which requires a 3.3 cumulative GPA, completion of the first semester of their sophomore year, and a student information form. Eligible students will be reviewed and selected by the faculty council.
After completing at least three semesters of membership at La Salle, with at least one occurring during Senior year, students become eligible to graduate with NHS distinction. Seniors may not apply retroactively. The student wears a blue cord at graduation ceremonies and will be recognized for their achievement.
The National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA) is a program of the National Dance Education Organization, created to recognize outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance in public and private schools in K-12 education, dance studios, cultural/community centers, performing arts organizations, and post-secondary education. Student members are recognized for their outstanding artistic merit, leadership and academic achievement in the field of dance.
Students must:
- Earn a GPA of at least 3.5 for NHSDA membership and induction
- Demonstrate collaborative teamwork, motivation, and leadership in the many aspects of dance (e.g., choreography, performance, teaching, production)
Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society is the only national organization for high school juniors and seniors that recognizes excellence in the field of Social Studies. The mission and purpose of the organization is to promote and recognize academic excellence in social studies among high school students, as well as encourage interest in, understanding of, and appreciation for the social studies. Student eligibility is determined by the following criteria:
- Have completed four semesters of Social Studies and be prepared to complete six full semesters by graduation
- Have achieved an unweighted GPA of at least 3.3 or higher
- Have achieved an unweighted GPA of at least 3.5 in Social Studies classes
- Submit a teacher recommendation along with a formal application
- Have completed or are currently enrolled in at least 2 AP level Social Studies classes at La Salle College Preparatory
- Membership in Rho Kappa is initiated by student application during the fall of Junior year and recertification in the fall of Senior year. In order to maintain membership, students are required to:
- Attend at least two of the four Social Studies Community Outreach events throughout the school year
- Attend at least six of the eight meetings of Rho Kappa throughout the school year
- Maintain an GPA requirements listed above
- Additionally, candidates must show participation in activities that demonstrate civic engagement in the local community, while being in good standing as a member of the La Salle College Preparatory community. All members will be formally recognized at La Salle graduation ceremonies by wearing a distinctive blue and white cord.
The Science National Honor Society recognizes students who have demonstrated proficiency in the pursuit of academic excellence in science. Members contribute to the school and to the larger community, regularly participating in meetings, projects, tutoring, and other activities.
In order to become a member, students must meet certain criteria during their Junior and Senior years: they must have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, successfully complete at least two AP or Honors science courses during their Sophomore, Junior, and/or Senior year, and maintain a 3.5 GPA in all science courses, and complete at least 15 hours of tutoring in science during both their Junior and Senior year (this can be combined with CSF/NHS tutoring hours as long as the subject is in science) OR they may actively participate in Science Outreach during both their Junior and Senior year.
After completing all the requirements during their Junior and Senior years, students become eligible to graduate with SNHS distinction. The student wears a purple, green, and gold honor cord at graduation ceremonies, a gold seal is placed on the diploma, and they will be recognized for their achievement.
Senior Senators act as an advisory group in matters relevant to student life. Additionally, they propose nominations for the Signum Fidei award, a prestige which is given to members of the school community who have significantly contributed to the students of La Salle College Preparatory.
Senior Senators are appointed by the Principal. In order to be considered, students must have demonstrated high academic and leadership qualities. These students traditionally have the highest cumulative GPA, SAT/ACT test scores, and/or the highest GPA over the last six semesters.
The Hispanic Honor Society recognizes the high school achievement in Spanish and promotes interest in Hispanic Studies. Members regularly participate in meetings, service, and other activities.
In order to become a member, students must be enrolled in Spanish 3 or higher, with a minimum of three semesters of Spanish language studies, have earned a GPA of 3.7 or above in Spanish studies, and submit a teacher recommendation form from their Spanish instructor. Eligible members will attend the Induction Ceremony thereby becoming members in the organization.
To maintain membership, students will complete a minimum of 8 hours of service each semester, participate in at least 5 of the 7 semester meetings, and be highly committed to the program.
After completing all the requirements through their Senior year, students become eligible to graduate with HHS distinction. The student wears a red sash at graduation ceremonies and will be recognized for their achievement.
College Partnership
