The College was founded in 1917 as part of the mission of the De La Salle Brothers. a Roman Catholic Order which has schools in over seventy countries. The Foundation Governors represent this Order and the Diocese of Portsmouth. De La Salle College takes its name from St John Baptist de La Salle (1651&endash;1719), who founded the Brothers' Order in the France of Louis XIV. Today the Order has establishments in over 80 countries. A few Brothers settled in Jersey at the time of the French Revolution and remained in the Island for several years. Then from 1866 to 1896 a school of up to 300 pupils run by the Brothers' flourished in St. Thomas' parish. The Brothers left the island in 1896 but were invited to return in 1917 to found another school.

The school was established at Berry House next to St. Thomas' Church and was initially known as St Aloysius College. Within a year the main site of the school was moved to a property known as 'The Beeches" on Wellington Hill in the parish of St. Saviour. It was at this point that the name De La Salle College was first given to the school although for many people it became more familiarly known simply as "The Beeches" &emdash; a name which has persisted among local people to the present day.

Under the direction of Brother Edward, the first and longest-serving Headmaster (33 years), the school grew significantly in numbers. On opening day, 1st October 1917, there were just a dozen pupils. By the start of the following year the number had increased to 57 and reached one hundred by 1921. For the first time in 1933 the school topped the 200 mark and a school holiday was given to mark the occasion. By 1949 no fewer than 170 pupils were attending the school. New buildings were planned and erected in the rnid-1950's.

Two significant factors have helped ensure that the school will have a bright future well into the next century. The first was the introduction of the Covenant Scheme. Begun in the mid 1960's, it led initially to the opening of the swimming pool and gymnasium and then to a period of rapid expansion. The 6th Form Block, Science Building, CDT, Art Rooms and the Computer Room were completed in quick succession. Secondly, in 1976 the States of Jersey agreed to provide the school with financial assistance in the form of a capitation grant for running costs. The building programme continues and the Governors have ambitious plans for the future.

In 1995 the Brothers left the Island of Jersey. The teaching staff now contains no Brothers but the Lasallian spirit remains. The school is managed by a Governing Body that is chaired by Br Anthony Porter and two long serving lay Headmasters. Mr Martin Hebden is Headmaster of the Primary School and Mr Michael Morretta is Headmaster of the Secondary School. The school retains close links with the Brothers and the ethos and spirit they established all those years ago still flourishes. Many past pupils testify to the tremendous spirit in the school even at times when it lacked buildings and facilities. Without this spirit it is difficult to appreciate how the school could have survived.