Salesian Education

Our Vision Statement

To be a leading college preparatory Catholic school in the San Francisco Bay Area by providing a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment for a diverse student body in the Salesian tradition.

Our Mission Statement

Salesian College Preparatory is a Catholic school that educates young men and women to develop into good citizens for the betterment of society and the glory of God. Salesian combines the elements of church, school, playground and home in a supportive and caring environment, in accordance with St. John Bosco’s educational philosophy of reason, religion and loving kindness.

Goals

Educate students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds
Encourage students to develop their unique gifts and abilities
Value the innate talents and dignity of all students
Develop self-worth within each individual and respect for one another in a Christian community of faith, love and fellowship
Collaborate with all members of the Salesian family – students, parents, administrators, teachers, staff, alumni and benefactors
Celebrate the school’s rich diversity of talent, race, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic backgrounds

Listen, Believe, Serve

Each year, a "strenna" or message is prepared by the head of the Salesians (known as the Rector Major) and is sent to the Salesian family around the world. This message is meant to help focus the pastoral activities of the year. This year's strenna is a call to deeper discipleship.

The scriptural basis of this message is taken from the story in St. John’s Gospel of the Wedding at Cana (John, 2:1-11). The story hinges on the words of Mary to the stewards of the wedding feast when the wine ran out: “Do whatever he tells you.” Her words ring out today as we seek to follow Jesus in our daily lives. As Salesians, we are invited by Mary to listen to what Jesus is asking of us, not just for ourselves but for others.

The invitation to faithfully listen to Jesus leads to deepening our faith, our hope, and our love. Our faith moves us to serve others. Rooted in faith and in our Salesian tradition, we seek to live in the freedom of God’s children - free to love, free to seek justice, free to give of ourselves in service to those in need.

From the beginning, Don Bosco “imagined” a great movement of people who, together with him and like him, could contribute for the good of the young. As we journey through this school year, we follow Don Bosco’s example by keeping our focus on the words of Mary - to LISTEN to Jesus, to BELIEVE in his love and care for us, and to be people of SERVICE for our local and global communities.

History of Salesian

In 1927, the Salesian Society purchased the Emeric estate in Richmond, CA. The Emeric mansion became the living quarters and offices for the Salesian House of Studies, a high school seminary for future Salesians.
The present gymnasium was constructed in 1940 and the three-story classroom building in 1950. The student center building, which currently houses the cafeteria, Student Leadership and Ministry (S.L.A.M.) Center, and the library, was erected in 1960. That year, Salesian High School was opened to educate young men of West Contra Costa County. In 1989, Salesian High School opened its doors to young women and became one of the few co-educational Catholic, college preparatory high schools in the East Bay. In 2014, on the 50th anniversary of the first graduating class, the school formally changed its name to Salesian College Preparatory.
Since its inception, Salesian students have gone on to attend many prestigious eminent colleges, universities, and military academies across the nation and throughout the world, joining a global alumni association of over 7,000 strong.

Private high school students sit on admissions wall in Richmond, CA