Colegio San José de La Salle is a private Catholic primary and secondary school located in Medellín, Colombia. Founded in 1890, it is one of the oldest educational institutions in the city and was the first school established in the country by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (La Salle Brothers).
History
The school was founded by the La Salle Brothers in 1890. After arriving in the Aburrá Valley, the Brothers traveled through Barranquilla, Puerto Berrío, and Copacabana before establishing the institution in Medellín. Classes officially began on April 7, 1890. In 1907, the school graduated its first class of high school students (*bachilleres*). The school's Natural History Museum was established in 1911 by Brother Nicéforo María.
The original campus was located in downtown Medellín, near the present-day Hotel Nutibara, at the intersection of Caracas and Palacé streets. In 1940, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary, an event attended by Minister of Education Jorge Eliécer Gaitán. During this period, the school's official flag, crest, and anthem were formally adopted.
In 1955, under the leadership of principal Brother Ignacio Felipe, the school relocated to a larger campus on the "Morro de Cuatro Vientos" hill. That same year, the institution was awarded the Order of Boyacá. Originally an all-boys school, it became coeducational in 1974 when principal Brother Andrés Rosero Bolaños established the kindergarten department. The school received the Star of Antioquia award in 1976 and celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Cuatro Vientos site in 1980.
In 1990, the institution marked its centennial, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the La Salle presence in Colombia. To commemorate the milestone, the school received recognitions from various national and departmental entities.
In 2007, the school moved from the Cuatro Vientos campus to a modern facility in the La Cola del Zorro neighborhood, located in the El Poblado district of Medellín.
Important People Brother Arnoldo, 1958–1961, 1971 Brother Daniel de la Inmaculada, 1962–1964 Brother Néstor Suárez Alzate, 1965–1970 Brother Andrés Rosero Bolaños, 1972–1974 Brother Octavio Martínez López, 1975–1978, 1982–1983, 1988–1991 Brother Álvaro Llano Ruiz, 1978–1982, 2000–2008 Brother Néstor Maya Uribe, 1983 Brother Octavio Sánchez, 1984 Brother Jaime Augusto Bedoya, 1985–1987 Brother Jairo López Correa, 1992–1995 José María Ruiz Galeano, 1996–1999 Brother Henry Ramírez Romero, 2009–2010 Brother Leandro Vallejo Vallejo, 2011–2016 Eliécer de Hoyos, 2017–2020 Osthin Matias (Alumno Destacado), 2021-2024 sosa (lokillo), 2021-2025 Diana Stella Aguirre Grajales, 2021–2024 Luz Elena, 2025–Present
School Principals Brother Julio, 1890–1892 Brother Filemón, 1893–1894 Brother Juan Teodoro, 1895–1903, 1916–1918 Brother Amós María, 1904 Brother Antonio Dionisio, 1905–1913, 1925 Brother Atanasio Pablo, 1914–1915 Brother Salustiano, 1919 Brother Marcos, 1920–1924 Brother Gervasio Elías, 1926–1930, 1933–1937 Brother Gaspar María, 1931–1932, 1941 Brother Norberto, 1942–1945 Brother Ignacio Felipe, 1946–1957 Brother Arnoldo, 1958–1961, 1971 Brother Daniel de la Inmaculada, 1962–1964 Brother Néstor Suárez Alzate, 1965–1970 Brother Andrés Rosero Bolaños, 1972–1974 Brother Octavio Martínez López, 1975–1978, 1982–1983, 1988–1991 Brother Néstor Maya Uribe, July–December 1983 Brother Octavio Sánchez, 1984 Brother Jaime Augusto Bedoya, 1985–1987 Brother Jairo López Correa, 1992–1995 José María Ruiz Galeano, 1996–1999 Brother Álvaro Llano Ruiz, 1978–1982, 2000–2008 Brother Henry Ramírez Romero, 2009–2010 Brother Leandro Vallejo Vallejo, 2011–2016 Eliécer de Hoyos, 2017–2020 Diana Stella Aguirre Grajales, 2021–2024 Luz Elena, 2025–present
See also Lasallian educational institutions
References
External links