La Salle began in 1858 at St. Michael's School at 2nd and Jefferson Streets in the West Kensington section of Philadelphia.

The grounds include the school building, which contains a cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium, student center, the Marian Chapel, a central courtyard, and a meadow featuring a grotto adorned by a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.

There are a variety of elective courses offered in core subjects as well as social science, innovation & design, visual art, and music.

La Salle is a founding member of the Philadelphia Catholic League and has competed in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association since 2009.

[6] La Salle fields 47 athletics teams in 19 different sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, rowing, rugby sevens and fifteens, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

[6] La Salle sponsors over 50 student clubs in areas including academia, the arts, intramural athletics, business, culture and language, media publications, service, and special interests.

Students who participate in the David Program have a scheduled period each day that focuses on developing strategies for academic success and empowering the learner.