West Catholic Preparatory High School is set to officially open its new Connelly Center for Academic Excellence. This center will house the De La Salle Academic Support Program, which aims to enhance the educational experience for students at West Catholic.

The dedication ceremony will include leaders from West Catholic, representatives from the Connelly Foundation, and members of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education. The school’s board, students, and staff will also be present. Tom Riley, President of the Connelly Foundation, is scheduled to deliver remarks during the event.

The ceremony is planned for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., located at West Catholic Preparatory High School on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.

In April 2024, it was announced that West Catholic received a $500,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation. This funding was designated to launch the De La Salle Academic Support Program and resulted in renaming their Learning Commons as the Connelly Center for Academic Excellence.

The grant facilitated significant renovations within an academic support facility space and enabled hiring a Director for the program. It also allowed offering customized learning pathways tailored to students' unique learning styles.

Based in West Conshohocken, the Connelly Foundation seeks to improve life quality in Philadelphia by supporting education and other charitable organizations inspired by its Catholic heritage.

West Catholic Preparatory High School has been serving communities in West and Southwest Philadelphia since 1916. Originally opened as separate schools for boys and girls under religious orders like the De La Salle Christian Brothers and Sisters of Saint Joseph among others; they merged into one institution located on Chestnut Street in 1989.

The school focuses on preparing students for leadership roles while emphasizing service within a global society. More information can be found at westcatholic.org/.