The school's student body was 65.3% (501) White, 15.8% (121) Hispanic, 7.4% (57) Black, 5.3% (41) two or more races, 5.2% (40) Asian and 0.9% (7) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.

[12] In its early years, from 1915 to 1973, Don Bosco housed resident students on the upper floors of St. Johns Hall.

The Don Bosco Ironmen[5] compete in the Big North Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, and was established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey.

[16] The football team competes in the United Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.

[26] The school's football program has been a perennial contender for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public Group IV championship.

[29] Prior to achieving National Champion status, the Don Bosco football team ended the 2002 season ranked No.

[33][34][35] In 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2010 the football team won the Star Ledger Trophy as the newspaper's top-ranked program in the New Jersey.

Don Bosco leads the rivalry with a 30–23 overall record as of 2017, which includes periods in the 1990s and 2010s when the two schools played each other on Thanksgiving.

[45] The Ironmen would repeat as Non-Public A state champions in 2018, defeating Camden Catholic High School by a score of 61–54 in the tournament final played at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena.

On January 5, 2008, Don Bosco swim team defeated Bergen Catholic High School, 98–72.

Four years later at the NSIC, the 2010 4x1 mile relay, led by an astonishing anchor from Michael Belgiovine (and also including Rafael Vargas, Howard Rosas and Phelan McCormack) earned second team All-American status for their runner-up finish in that race.

The team captured the NJSIAA Non-Public "A" State Title at the Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River, NJ.

[52] The wrestling team won the 2007 Non-Public North A state sectional championship with a 32–28 win against rival Bergen Catholic High School.

[54] Gross won his second title in 2013 with a victory over Anthony Messner of Franklin High School.

[55] That same year, 2013, Luis Gonzalez became Don Bosco's second individual state champion when he earned first place at 113 pounds.

[56] The school offers seven varsity sports in the spring season including baseball, golf, lacrosse, track & field, tennis, crew and volleyball.

In 2009, the 4x1 mile relay team earned All-American status with a fifth-place finish at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

[59] The team finished with a record of 15–11 in 1989 after winning the Parochial A title with a 3–1 defeat of St. Joseph of Metuchen, behind the pitching of future MLB pitcher C. J.

[60] The 1994 team defeated Monsignor Donovan by a score of 1–0 in the championship game to win the Parochial A state title and finish the season 21–9.

The rowing team has only competed against Bergen Catholic High School once during the spring sprint season, in the Junior Quad head race qualifier at the 2010 Stotesbury Cup Regatta.

In 2012 the varsity double (Aaron McAvey and Brian Sullivan) won the SRAA national championships.

[65] The boys' lacrosse team won the Non-Public A state championship in 2013 (defeating Seton Hall Prep in the tournament final) and 2021 (vs. Delbarton School).

The 2021 team won the Tournament of Champions with a victory against Summit High School in the championship game.