About
A Brief History
La Salle Institute is a seven year, private, Catholic, college preparatory school for boys and girls, proudly educating students in the Lasallian tradition for 170 years. It enjoys a long and rich history dating back to its founding in 1850 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and for many years it was located on Fourth Street in South Troy. Its purpose was to educate and support poor immigrant students from the grit of Troy, New York, and help them become moral, productive and honorable adults, who could take on challenges and become leaders in their communities.
In 1891, La Salle was chartered by the Regents of the State of New York, immediately attaining the highest academic diplomas awarded in the state. The military training program was added to the school that same year.
In 1891, La Salle was chartered by the Regents of the State of New York, immediately attaining the highest academic diplomas awarded in the state. The military training program was added to the school that same year.
The standards, traditions, values and history that were established on Fourth Street so long ago carried over to the Williams Road location and the loyalty, devotion and commitment to the standards of excellence continue. La Salle’s mission – well conceived, well-articulated and well-implemented from inception - has neither fundamentally changed nor diminished in importance. That mission, along with its supporting beliefs, has been and will continue to be the focal point of La Salle Institute.
Due to expanding enrollment and the need for a new facility, the school moved to its present location on Williams Road in 1966. The middle school formed in 1972 and added a sixth grade class in 1991. Additional classrooms, new gymnasium, cafeteria, library, courtyard and science labs were constructed between 1990 and 2001.
The 2018-2019 school year saw the opening of a state-of-the-art athletic turf field and track and a new strength and conditioning center within the school. These facility improvements have added a new dimension to our athletic programs and physical education classes, allowing us to more fully meet the needs of our students, families and community.
Beginning in September 2021, La Salle Institute expanded its mission and became a coeducational school, joining the nearly two-thirds of Lasallian Catholic middle and secondary schools across the country who are coeducational.
