Located in Midtown Manhattan, De La Salle Academy, is a private, independent, non-sectarian middle school for grades six through eight. For thirty seven years our mission has been to provide academically talented, economically less advantaged children equal access to a quality education, develop the leaders of today and of tomorrow, and instill in them the importance of serving their community.
When I started De La Salle Academy (DLSA), I was an extremely shy student. I had just immigrated to the United States two years prior, and was still in the process of learning English. I never thought that attending an academically gifted private school was within my reach. When I was accepted, I felt as … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Jahin Rahman ’17
I am from Brooklyn and was one of the four incoming 6th grade students who made the journey from East Flatbush to De La Salle Academy (DLSA) in the fall of 1990. My life would forever be changed. Not satisfied with the options for local middle schools in my neighborhood, my parents made the ultimate decision to … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Eilleen Ingram-Willis ’93
I grew up in Astoria, Queens and enrolled at De La Salle for my 7th grade year. My dad had read about the school in a local newspaper and was convinced it was the school for me (and my cousin Adrian, who I grew up with and would enroll the same year as me in the … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Carlo Portes, ’91
As a little girl, for as long as I could remember, I knew that I would attend De La Salle Academy for middle school. My oldest sister attended and I vividly recall walking through the hallways and knowing, without a doubt in my mind, that one day this would be my home away from home. … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Grisselle Escotto, ’01
There has been no greater visionary in my life than Brother Brian Carty. To honor the pioneering legacy of Brother Brian, go back to the first day of the very first class of De La Salle Academy. I was there. One year earlier, Brother Brian had visited Incarnation School, a Washington Heights parochial school I … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Lenny Alcivar ’87
When I first started De La Salle Academy (DLSA) I was pretty nervous. I remember when Brother Brian interviewed me and I thought he was such a tall huge man. I was pretty shy then but luckily he saw something in me, potential. I attended Holy Name and was only moving to the top floor to attend DLSA, … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Tina Kinney Clarke ’87
I trudged up the seemingly endless staircase, reaching the top blue floor, with my mother following closely behind. I was so nervous for my interview. Is this the school I wanted to go to? I remember going over some questions that I might be asked with my mother, at home and on the train ride … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Monika Dworakowski ’08
In 1995, when I first walked into De La Salle Academy (DLSA) for sixth grade orientation, I was so nervous. I was a naturally quiet and introverted kid so the thought of having to meet a whole bunch of new classmates and teachers overwhelmed me. Furthermore, that summer before I started at DLSA, my family … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Aminah Abdul-Majeed ’98
Imagine an eleven year old little girl from The Bronx who spent 1 hour commuting on the 6 train, out to a cross-town bus and then a 15min walk to this little school on the 5th floor of a walk-up building; was it worth it? Absolutely! Looking back, I realize how much it helped me … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Patricia Sanchez ’97
I write on a daily basis. Yet, trying to convey what De La Salle Academy (DLSA) means to me and the impact this community has had on my life is more difficult than my usual writing. I have many fond memories of DLSA: morning hugs, skits in Spanish class, Friday soccer, baking cookies during the … Continue reading Alumni Spotlight: Yamnia Cortes ’98
