West Catholic Preparatory High School to Dedicate Connelly Center for Academic Excellence

West Catholic Preparatory High School will formally open and dedicate its new Connelly Center for Academic Excellence. The center houses the school’s De La Salle Academic Support Program which aims to enrich the learning experience for West Catholic students.

Leadership from West Catholic will be joined by representatives from the Connelly Foundation and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education as well as the school’s board, students, and staff.

Tom Riley, President of the Connelly Foundation, will offer remarks.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
10:30 a.m.
West Catholic Preparatory High School
4501 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139

In April 2024, the school announced that it was awarded a $500,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation to launch the De La Salle Academic Support Program. At that time, West Catholic also shared that its Learning Commons would be renamed to the Connelly Center for Academic Excellence.

The grant also allowed for comprehensive renovations of a dedicated academic and support facility space, provided the ability to hire a Director of the De La Salle Academic Support Program, and to offer customized learning pathways for students unique learning style.

The Connelly Foundation of West Conshohocken is inspired by its Catholic heritage to improve the quality of life for people in the Philadelphia region by supporting charitable organizations in the areas of education, human services, and culture and civics that strengthen resilience and help people to flourish. 

Background Information on West Catholic Preparatory High School:

West Catholic Preparatory High School has proudly served West and Southwest Philadelphia for over 100 years since opening in the fall of 1916. In 1926, the De La Salle Christian Brothers arrived at what would become West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, then located on 49th Street between Chestnut and Market Streets. In 1989, the Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C.); the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.); and the Sisters of Saint Joseph (S.S.J.), along with over 1,000 students, merged the Boys and Girls Schools, to become West Philadelphia Catholic High School at the present location of 4501 Chestnut Street.

The school’s primary mission is to prepare each student to face the challenges of everyday life, to embrace leadership positions in society, and to value service in an ever-changing global society. For additional information about WCPHS, please visit westcatholic.org/.

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Editor’s Note:

For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit, aopcatholicschools.org/.

Contact:

Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747