Our History
1958
In August 1958, two Sisters from the St. Joseph Congregation of St. Augustine (SSJ)—Sr. Mary Damian and Sr. Marie de Lourdes Ortagus—arrived at Mercy Hospital to serve the growing post–World War II community. Adjacent to the hospital, Immaculata Academy was soon established along the shores of Biscayne Bay. Between August 26 and 28, the first 138 students registered for grades 10 through 12. On September 2, 1958, Immaculata Academy officially opened its doors, welcoming 153 students into three classrooms for the start of its inaugural school year.
Sr Marie D'Lourdes SSJ
Sr Mary Damian SSJ
summer 1961
In 1651 Jean-Baptiste de La Salle founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools in France. After the Communist regime expelled them from Cuba, 109 Brothers fled Cuba and arrived in Miami. Thousands of their former students, who had fled Cuba earlier, were there to greet them. Six former students (Eduardo R. Arellano de Cardenas, Jose M. Arellano de Cardenas, Bienvenido "Benny" Benach Costales, Oscar Bustill Guas, Nestor Machado Lopez-Munoz, and Eduardo Sanchez Rionda) visited the Brothers and resolved to assist them in establishing another La Salle school in Miami.
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The decision to reestablish La Salle by the community and Archdiocese of Miami was prompt and swift. In less than six months, La Salle was built on the same site as Immaculata Academy. By September 11, La Salle opened its doors to 260 students from grades 7th to 12th. Most students were Cuban refugees from Operation Pedro Pan.
fall 1961
Archbishop Coleman Carroll
Msgr Bryan O Walsh
La Salle High School was placed under the Christian Brothers of the Baltimore District while Immaculata was placed with the Sister from the St. Joseph Congregation of St. Augustine. Immaculata Academy and La Salle High School formed a co-institutional school, which shared facilities, but not faculties or principals.
1962
ILS’s enrollment was 615 and in 1963 Immaculata Academy was accredited by the Southern Association of Schools. La Salle went on to get their accreditation in 1964. The school’s mascot was known simply as the “Royal,” a nod to the majestic Royal Palms that still grace the campus today.
1963
After attending many city commission meetings, students from the Class of 1966 were able to win a resolution that forced the city to install a traffic light at the entrance to the school on Bayshore Drive. The project was a gift to Immaculata and La Salle by the Class of 1966 and was installed one week after their graduation.
1966
Immaculata Academy and La Salle High School were two separate institutions belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami School System. Immaculata Academy was administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph while La Salle was administered by the Christian Brothers. As time passed more classes became co-educational and the school’s relationship between faculty, students and administrators became closely knit, the interdependence and unity of the schools became apparent. In the spring of 1969, the Sisters of St Joseph and the Christian Brothers relinquished their administrative prerogatives so the school could become one under the principal appointed by the Archdiocese. Fr. Francis Lechiara became the founding principal of Immaculata-La Salle.
1969
Fr. Francis A. Lechiara ED.D.
Sister Marie Therese Everard was the last Sister of St. Joseph religious order to serve in ILS’s administration as Dean of Student Affairs.
1972
Sr. Marie Therese Everard
The Christian Brothers’ religious order left ILS.
1974
The Teresian Association takes over the school’s administration.
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The administration decided to drop the name "Immaculata" from the school's name.
1981
Dr. Rosemary Kamke
The Salesian Priests of Don Bosco take over the administration of La Salle High School under the direction of Rev. Frank Wolfram, SDB as principal.
1986
Rev. Frank Wolfram, SDB
The school’s mascot became the “Royal Lion” after students voted for a new mascot.
1989
Hurricane Andrew strikes bringing massive rains and ravaging winds to cause insurmountable damage throughout South Florida. La Salle High School was not exempt. Students from the Classes of 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 participated in an intense clean-up and parents raised money repair the school. With the direction of Fr. Patrick Angelucci, the school was able to come back stronger than ever.
1992
The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco take over the administration of La Salle High School.
1996
The inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame is held with the induction of Antonia “Toni” Williams-Gary (1964) and La Salle student founders Eduardo R. Arellano de Cardenas (1962), Jose M. Arellano de Cardenas (1962), Bienvenido “Benny” Benach Costales (1962), Oscar Bustill Guas (1962), Nestor Machado Lopez-Munoz (1962), and Eduardo Sanchez Rionda (1962). Also inducted were former ILS faculty members Sister Mary Josepha Butterfield, SSJ, Sister Elizabeth Worley, SSJ, Brother Malachy Broderick, FSC, and Brother Antonio Ramon, FSC.
2004
Hurricane Wilma strikes bringing massive rains and ravaging winds to cause insurmountable damage throughout South Florida. La Salle High School was not exempt.
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In 2008, the decision was made to reincorporate “Immaculata” into the school’s name, restoring it to Immaculata-La Salle High School to honor the legacy and shared history of both institutions.​
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2005
Principal Sr. Patricia Roche, FMA
2008
The Inaugural ILS Sports Hall of Fame is held.
2011
ILS Introduced 1:1 iPad program, which provides an iPad to all our students, teachers are transitioned to MacBook Air laptops and Apple TVs are incorporated into classrooms. The school transitioned from a paper and pencil classroom to a digital classroom. The goal was to build an ecosystem where technology, teachers and students work together to achieve a next generation learning environment. The school earned the Apple Distinguished Certification.
2012
School Library is transformed into a student learning center (SLC).
2013
ILS became the 1st Catholic School to obtain AdvancED STEM Certification.
2014
STEAM continuous Certification obtained by Cogina (formerly AdvancED).
2020
Immaculata-La Salle High School opened the Grosso-Parsons Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art, multi-functional facility featuring an Athletic Training Facility, Locker Rooms, Weight Training Facility, Athletic Field, classrooms, offices, and a press box.
2024
