The school was established in 1863 to provide a grammar school, high school, and college, for young men.
It struggled in its first few years and nearly closed in 1868, when the school's management was taken over by eight Christian Brothers, lead by Brother Justin McMahon.
The Brothers faced formidable difficulties, including financial problems, poor teaching conditions, low enrollment, an earthquake, and an outbreak of smallpox.
However, their efforts proved successful.
Enrollment increased from 30 to 240 by 1875, and it soon became California's largest educational institution.
The grammar school was relocated to the St. Joseph's Academy in Oakland in 1970.

Most students boarded at the college, given its four-mile (6 km) distance from the heart of the city.
Board and tuition cost $250 per year; day students paid $60.
In 1870, to allow for expansion of the high school and college departments, the Brothers relocated the grammar school from Mission Road to their new St. Joseph's Academy in Oakland.

The San Francisco campus for both the college and high school departments was replaced in 1889 with a new building called "The Brickpile".
There were severe fires in 1894 and 1918, which lead to reconstruction.
By 1900, tuition and board was $400/year.


In 1927 the high school moved to its current location in Peralta Park and was renamed to Saint Mary's College High School.
When school began in August 1927, newly constructed 51,000-square-foot (4,700 m²) De La Salle Hall housed classrooms, dorm rooms, a chapel, offices, and the school cafeteria, and could accommodate 500 students, including 250 boarders.
The school was established in 1863 to provide a grammar school, high school, and college, for young men. It struggled in its first few years and nearly closed in 1868, when the school's management was taken over by eight Christian Brothers, lead by Brother Justin McMahon. The Brothers faced formidable difficulties, including financial problems, poor teaching conditions, low enrollment, an earthquake, and an outbreak of smallpox. However, their efforts proved successful. Enrollment increased from 30 to 240 by 1875, and it soon became California's largest educational institution. The grammar school was relocated to the St. Joseph's Academy in Oakland in 1970.
Most students boarded at the college, given its four-mile (6 km) distance from the heart of the city. Board and tuition cost $250 per year; day students paid $60. In 1870, to allow for expansion of the high school and college departments, the Brothers relocated the grammar school from Mission Road to their new St. Joseph's Academy in Oakland.
The San Francisco campus for both the college and high school departments was replaced in 1889 with a new building called "The Brickpile". There were severe fires in 1894 and 1918, which lead to reconstruction. By 1900, tuition and board was $400/year.

In 1927 the high school moved to its current location in Peralta Park and was renamed to Saint Mary's College High School. When school began in August 1927, newly constructed 51,000-square-foot (4,700 m²) De La Salle Hall housed classrooms, dorm rooms, a chapel, offices, and the school cafeteria, and could accommodate 500 students, including 250 boarders.
Saint Mary's College High School