About

Don Bosco at a Glance

Mission and Philosophy

A Private Catholic College Preparatory High School For Boys
Dedicated to empowering young men, the school provides rigorous academics at the Advanced Placement, honors and college prep levels, and encourages participation in extracurricular activities, clubs and athletics. Located on a 35-acre campus in Ramsey, Bergen County, New Jersey, the school's 850 students are accepted to the finest colleges and universities in the country and go on to make significant contributions to their families and communities.


Administered by the Salesians of St. John Bosco, a religious order of priests and brothers, Don Bosco Prep is solidly founded on Catholic philosophy. The school is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.

Our Mission at Don Bosco

Don Bosco Preparatory High School is a Catholic and Salesian secondary school which, since 1915, has carried out the education and evangelization of young men. Conducted in the charism of St. John Bosco, who advocated that “education is a matter of the heart”, it strives to create a family spirit in an Oratory environment, so as to be a home that welcomes, a parish that evangelizes, a school that prepares for life, and a playground where friends can meet and enjoy themselves.

The preventive system of education – marked by reason, religion and kindness – is practiced by educators and students alike.

List of 4 items.

  • Academic Excellence

    • The Class of 2018 earned $33 million in total scholarships of which 89% was for academic achievement.
    • The Class of 2018 had 30 Advanced Placement Scholars including 6.AP Scholars with Distinction, 7 AP Scholars with Honor and 17 AP Scholars in the May 2016 testing cycle.
    • DBP offers five college level courses through the cooperative program with Fairleigh Dickinson University.
    • DBP offers three academic levels: AP (14), Honors, and College Prep.
    • DBP has 8 academic honor societies.
    • Fine and Performing Arts are thriving at DBP including the Concert Chorus, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Band, Theatre Arts, Art Pathway, and Visual Arts.
    • Our students come from 164 towns.

  • Athletic Distinction

    • Don Bosco Prep offers 19 interscholastic varsity sports.
    • 2017/18 accomplishments include three state championships, two state championships, six county championships.
    • DBP will soon be home to a state-of-the-art fitness center in Immaculata Hall adjacent to the gymnasium for team and student athetic training
    • Nw FieldTurf fields were installed in 2012 for baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer and track.
    • The name of all of the sports teams is "Ironmen."
    • DBP's S.A.L.T.(Student Athlete Leadership Training) Team includes 39 varsity athletes acting as role models and counselors for the younger student athletes.

  • Leadership Training

    • Don Bosco Prep has granted diplomas to 11,030 men from 1915-2018, who have become leaders in all fields throughout the world.
    • Students are required to complete 100 hours of service prior to graduation.
    • There are eleven retreats during the school year to help our students develop into young leaders.
    • Th Big-Brother program encourages our seniors to take a leadership role in the school community by mentoring freshmen.
    • A vast majority of students and graduates feel that the brotherhood and camaraderie at DBP is a highly important aspect of the school.
    • The school motto is: Empowering young men for life.

  • Spiritual Vitality

    • Religious Presence: There are 14priests and brothers in residence at Don Bosco Prep. The Salesians play an active role on campus with the students, through teaching, coaching, moderating clubs, and attending after-school events.
    • Recent graduates have responded that the education they received at DBP in the Catholic faith has provided them with a moral compass to help them navigate a post-secondary education.
    • There are 3 pillars of a Salesian education: Reason, Religion and Kindness.
    • The educational approach of our founder, St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), inspires us to provide a school that is:
    • A home that welcomes
    • A school that prepares for life
    • A playground where friends meet and enjoy themselves
    • A parish that evangelizes.
    • Since Don Bosco Prep's founding in 1915, 127 graduates have discerned vocations and have become priests and brothers in the Roman Catholic Church.

Four Dimensions of Educative Work

Crescere Scientia et Gratia

"To Increase in Knowledge and Grace."

Accredited by The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

List of 5 items.

Achievements

List of 4 items.

  • 2018

    • 30 Advanced Placement Scholars (6 AP Scholars with Distinction, 7 AP Scholars with Honor, 17 AP Scholars)
    • 7 National Merit Commended Students
    • 1 U.S Presidental Scholar
    • The Class of 2018 was awarded more than $33 million in total scholarships of which 89% was for academic achievements.

  • 2017

    • 39 Advanced Placement Scholars (12 AP Scholars with Distinction, 7 AP Scholars with Honor, 20 AP Scholars)
    • 1 National Merit Semifinalist
    • 6 National Merit Commended Students
    • The Class of 2017 was awarded more than $33 million in total scholarships of which 89% was for academic achievements.

  • 2016

    • 44 Advanced Placement Scholars (1 National AP Scholar*, 11 AP Scholars with Distinction, 11 AP Scholars with Honor, 22 AP Scholars)
    • *The College Board lists National AP Scholars as AP Scholars with Distinction, as well.
    • 1 National Merit Semifinalist
    • 6 National Merit Commended Students
    • The Class of 2016 was awarded more than $32 million in total scholarships of which 89% was for academic achievements.

  • 2015

    • 48 Advanced Placement Scholars (15 AP Scholars with Distinction, 7 AP Scholars with Honor and 26 AP Scholars)
    • 1 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
    • 8 National Merit Commended Students
    • The Class of 2015 awarded more than $31 million in total scholarships of which 88% was for academic achievements.

Board of Trustees



James P. Fortescue
Chairperson
Alumnus, Class of 1991
 
Mr. Enrico S. Gaglioti
Vice-Chairperson
Alumnus, Class of 1989

Mr. Vincent P. Colman
Treasurer
Alumni Parent 2006, 2007, 2010
 
Dr. Michael Betsy
Secretary
Alumnus, Class of 1990, Parent 2022
 
Fr. James Heuser, SDB
Director/President

Mr. David R. Buchanan
Alumni Parent 2011, 2013, 2018

Mr. Matthew D. Eitner
Alumnus, Class of 1995

Mr. Joseph Kelly
Alumnus, Class of 1989

Mr. John T. Lutz
Alumni Parent 2014, 2017

Dr. Constance McCue
Alumni Parent 2003

Mr. Christopher Sweeney
Alumni Parent 2010, 2012, 2018

Fr. Timothy Zak, SDB
Provincial

Contact Administration Department

List of 2 members.

Don Bosco Prep

492 N. Franklin Turnpike
Ramsey, NJ 07446
Phone: 201-327-8003 Fax: 201-327-3397
empowering young men for life