SCHOOL HISTORY
St. John Bosco School was founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1940. The school's patron, Father John Bosco, a 19th Century saint and founder of a religious community called Salesians, rediscovered the message of love found in the gospel and applied it to the schools and works that he and his followers had established throughout the world.

St. John Bosco's style of education is called the "preventive system." It is profiled in all Salesian schools through the teaching of religion (morals and values) and by developing a reasonable rapport of loving kindness between the educator and the student.

The ultimate goal is the forming of the complete Christian person, which is interestingly described by Pius XI when he wrote, “A true Christian is one who thinks and acts constantly and consistently in accord with reason illumined by the example and teaching of Christ."

Historically, the early years saw St. John Bosco School as a boarding and day school for elementary and intermediate students. In the 1950’s the small boys' school experienced its first growing pains with the addition of the chapel, swimming pool and its first high school students. 1956 saw the school graduate its first high school class. In the 1960’s the gym, science-library building, and the stadium were welcome additions to the already expanding needs of a growing student body. In the later part of the 70’s, the intermediate and boarding sections were closed establishing St. John Bosco in the 80’s and 90’s as one of the premiere Catholic high schools in Southern California. It is in this long and solid Catholic and Salesian tradition that we view the St. John Bosco High School of today.