President's Message

Perry K. Martin, M.Ed. - School President

Hello and Welcome!

At La Salle College Preparatory, we have been educating students in the greater Pasadena area to Learn, Serve, and Lead for over 65 years. The roots of that unique tradition stretch back more than 340 years to our founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle, and the Christian Schools he created with his fellow educators in France.

De la Salle set a clear mission for his schools: they were to provide a spiritual and human education to the youth, with a particular emphasis on the economically poor. We continue that mission today and strive to develop and nurture conscientious, relational, innovative, and community-focused individuals who exhibit Lasallian values in all that they do. We are committed to providing an environment that allows all students to explore their passions, take risks, and discover pathways to excellence. Specifically, we offer 24 Advance Placement courses, giving even the most academically gifted students ample opportunity to push themselves and be challenged. Our college preparatory classes range from forensic science to introduction to law, and digital game design, ensuring that we allow our students to discover, grow, and learn about themselves, the world, and the challenges ahead.

But learning does not only take place in the classroom. It takes place on the field, the court, the stage, behind the camera, and in the lab. We are proud of our co-curricular programs that challenge our students to hone and develop expertise while also applying what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations and becoming explorers, innovators, and change-makers. For some students, that means debating public policy with speech and debate, creating a robot in our STEAM program, or traveling throughout the nation and world representing La Salle as part of our Academic Decathlon team. For others, that means competing as part of our championship athletic program or performing with our music, theatre, or dance programs. All of our students have the opportunity to find and pursue their passion while they are here.

Our new Centers of Innovation, including our CARLOW Center of Medical Innovation, Center for Cinematic Arts, Center for Global Perspectives, and Center for Linguistic Exploration, sit at the cutting edge of student experiential learning. These Centers have been strategically developed to encourage our students to explore their passions, take calculated risks, and discover pathways to excellence. Each center is also closely aligned with our school's strategic plan, which places a strong emphasis on nurturing creativity, individuality, and personal growth while providing a diverse and comprehensive education that surpasses the confines of traditional classrooms. They offer opportunities for our students to explore their interests, develop critical skills, and connect their passions to real-world experiences.

A central outcome of our mission is to build an inclusive community that invites all members to feel a profound sense of belonging. We are proud of our co-ed, ethnically and socio-economically diverse environment that reflects our local community and shared world. Our mission calls for us to share our culture, lived experiences, and perspectives with one another to expand our understanding of the world. Dedicated to meaningful service learning at every grade level, we hope to instill in our students a sense of responsibility to advocate for peace and justice in every community they inhabit. Thank you for your consideration of La Salle College Preparatory and our vibrant community of learners and leaders.

Sincerely,

Perry K. Martin, M.Ed.
School President