In 1962, De Salle Lipa was built on a 5.9-hectare lot along the Lipa City National highway. In January of that year, construction of the three one-storey wings of classrooms, a gymnasium-auditorium and the Brothers’ House began. During its first year, DLSL operated as the Boys’ Department of the Maryknoll Sisters’ Our Lady of the Rosary Academy (OLRA) with 221 students admitted from the first to fourth year.
Three Brothers and seven lay teachers composed the first staff of the school. Br. Henry Virgil FSC was the first Director and Principal. In its second year of operations, the school obtained a temporary permit to operate as La Salle High School. During its fourth-year operations, the school population more than doubled. In 1967, the elementary grades were opened, with Br. Vernon Mabile FSC as Principal.
In 1970, the school became known as De La Salle ng Lipa. It was in the SY 1974-75 when the school started to accept girls. In the years that followed, the school’s incorporation papers and by-laws were amended. The school was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as De La Salle Lipa, Inc.
In the school year 1982-1983, DLSL received its first High School PAASCU accreditation. The College Department came into existence with an enrollment of 130 students in 1985. It offered Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Business Management and Agribusiness Management courses. Because of the rapid growth of the institution in the 90’s, it became necessary in 1993 to have a President. DLSL alumnus, Br. Narciso “Jun” Erguiza Jr. FSC, was appointed as the first-ever President of the institution.
Br. Jun reorganized the administrative structure where the major academic and service departments became known as “units” and strategic directions were drafted and implemented, which emphasized the growing role of the college in the community.
Br. Rafael “Rafe” S. Donato FSC succeeded and led De La Salle Lipa on a massive physical plant development program which completely transformed the Institution. The elementary and secondary units were integrated into what is known as the Unified School. A graduate program, Master in Management Technology, was offered. Programs in Financial Management, Computer Engineering, Economics, Management Technology, Legal Management, and Certificate Courses in Entrepreneurship, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Information Technology were opened. In the later years, Psychology, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Communication, Mathematics, Nursing, Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Biology and Electrical Engineering were also offered.
Br. Manuel “Mawel” Pajarillo FSC was installed as the 3rd President of DLSL on 15 May 2003. Under Br. Mawel’s term, the grade school and the high school levels of the Unified School (renamed later as the Integrated School) received their Level 2 “clean” re-accreditation status for five years from PAASCU. The College, in its turn, submitted applications for the PAASCU accreditation of several programs. Thus, Business Management and Education were granted Level 1 accreditation status in 2005 while the rest had their preliminary visit the year after.
New facilities were built, and information technology was improved. Wireless internet connectivity was introduced. In school year 2005-2006, changes in the school’s seal, vision-mission statement, organizational structure, and nomenclature were implemented in response to new changes in Lasallian education. In the same school year, the Book Mobile Reading Program (BMRP) was launched. It was a bus converted into a moving library to reach out and assist the children in nearby communities who are not yet able to read.
In SY 2010-2011, Br. Joaquin “Kenneth” S. Martinez FSC became the 4th President of De La Salle Lipa. During his time, physical renovation and maintenance of existing structures and landscaping significantly improved. The school sustained a carefully planned physical development of its learning spaces with a zoning scheme for the institution designating academic, institutional, athletic and open spaces.
It was during his term when the institution opened its classrooms to the first batch of Senior High School students, two years ahead of the mandated implementation. Also, FAAP and PAASCU granted Level accreditation to the Integrated School and the following College programs: Communication, Psychology, Biology, Mathematics, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Accountancy. DLSL Integrated School became the first in its category in the whole region to gain the recognition
In August 2016, Br. Dante Amisola FSC was installed as the 5th President of the institution. To date, DLSL is standing on a 16-hectare lot with buildings and infrastructures to meet the needs of today’s learners. He embarked on a crusade to introduce and raise awareness about his vision for the institution through the four new strategic directions, or the 4S – Social Innovation in Quality Education, Social Inclusion, Sustainable Futures, and Stakeholder Engagement. In the early months of his term, DLSL adopted the 14 UN Sustainable Development Goals approach to align its initiatives and action plans to achieve the institution’s strategic goals. It is in his leadership that DLSL began the ‘Reimagine Education’ campaign that aims to offer 21st-century education for a 21st-century world.
In his first two years as President, a change in curricula and pedagogy was implemented to meet the needs of the changing educational landscape. He spearheaded various initiatives and changes in school and management policies. Expansion and developments in infrastructure were notable. One of the highlights of his term was when he opened the campus and converted the Sports Center into what was termed as the DLSL Welcome Shelters, the temporary home of almost 400 displaced Batangueños when Taal Volcano erupted last January 12, 2020. It lived up to its vision to be an institution that has an impact on society, an institution that is focused on developing the minds, hearts, and souls of young people.