Frequently Asked Questions

Don Bosco Technical Institute is shifting to coeducation because it allows the school to expand its unique mission to include young women.

Absolutely. As a Salesian school, the objective is to educate and impact the lives of young people, whether that is a young man or young woman. Salesian schools around the world have evolved and expanded their mission successfully to include young women. When Cardinal James McIntyre founded Bosco Tech in 1955, he did so with the intention of bridging the gap in the Southern California workforce between management and labor. In 2024, the workforce has shifted dramatically since then and continues to evolve. Offering our unique program to young women further meets our founding principles to prepare upcoming generations with relevant and meaningful educational opportunities in engineering, science, and technology.

In 2021, Bosco Tech proposed conducting a feasibility study on coeducation, as a part of the Strength & Spirit Strategic Plan. At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Bosco Tech engaged the internationally recognized independent school enrollment and marketing firm Ian Symmonds & Associates to perform a nine-month study. The process included surveys and interviews of internal and external stakeholders, current and future population analyses, and extensive market research. After analyzing the data and responses, ISA presented recommendations to the Tech’s Board of Trustees. After thorough review and discussion in the Spring of 2023, the Board voted positively to support the coed resolution.

Bosco Tech will begin enrolling young women into the program no earlier than Fall of 2026. The admissions process for this time period will begin in Fall of 2025. Our popular Summer Scholar program, which prepares middle school students for Bosco Tech’s specialized curriculum, will begin enrolling 7th grade girls in Summer 2024.

All aspects, requirements, and expectations of Bosco Tech’s current college-preparatory curriculum and project-based learning approach will remain the same. Changes will be made to accommodate girls athletic teams and extracurricular programs, as well as remodeling locker room facilities and restrooms. Staffing additions, professional development, and campus modifications will be made over the next three years to prepare for the shift to coeducation.

There is no question that a shift to a coeducational environment will affect the young men enrolled at the school. However, the advantages of offering equal opportunities, creating greater social interactions, and building a more diverse learning community better aligns with our Salesian mission. Our young men will benefit from an educational experience more reflective of the university and professional environments for which we are preparing them.

Since August of 2023, the school has been working closely with Ian Symmonds & Associates on transition planning. A Coed Transition Taskforce, made up of nine administrators and staff, meets monthly to review and prepare for adjustments in Facilities, Culture, Program, and Communication. We anticipate this process to be an incremental one, with various changes and additions being integrated into the community systematically as we approach coeducation.

Facility renovations started in the Spring of 2023, beginning with campus restrooms. Also, expect to see some of our marketing and admissions information shift beginning in Spring 2024 as we prepare for 7th grade girls participating in our 2024 Summer Scholar program.

Please check this page (www.boscotech.edu/coeducation) regularly to stay up to date on this process.