Public Schools In Manila: Your Ultimate List

In the midst of a high inflation rate affecting our purchasing power, strikingly evident in the rising prices of basic and important commodities, some parents have to face the crucial decision of transferring their children from private to public schools. In an article by Manila Standard, 900,000 private school students have transferred to public schools since the pandemic, year 2020. 

Let's face it, times are tough and public schools don’t charge tuition fees. 

RELATED: Ultimate Guide To Transferring Elementary Schools: Here's What You Need To Know

Down memory lane: Public education system in the Philippines

Free access to public education system was made possible through a Spanish decree in 1863. This decree liberalized access to education, which gave birth to one primary school for girls and one for boys. Following the defeat of the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Manila Bay, seven schools opened in the American occupation of Manila in August 1898. The oldest public school in Manila is the Escuela Municipal de Manila, which was established in 1859. It was later renamed to Araullo High School.

In 1901, the “Thomasites” or group of American teachers arrived in the Philippines to launch a new system for public education and to train Filipino teachers. They have sailed through the Pacific Ocean and switched the medium of instruction from Spanish to English. Fast forward to today, Philippines is undeniably one of the English-speaking countries in the world, with a significant portion of its population proficient in the language.

Manila as the country's capital

Manila is the capital of the Philippines, tucked on the eastern shore of Manila Bay. The city of Manila has six legislative districts and divided into a vast reach: Binondo, Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, Quiapo, Sampaloc, San Andres, San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa, and Tondo. The pilot science high school in the Philippines can be found in Manila, also known as Manila Science High School.

The Division of City Schools Manila, under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd), offers a three-tier public school system. Under the division, they have public elementary schools, public high schools, state universities and local government funded public universities.

Today, DepEd Manila is a school division of 73 public elementary schools and 32 secondary schools spread over the city. For school year 2024-2025, DepEd will pilot the phased implementation of MATATAG curriculum for Kinder, Grades 1, 4 and 7.

READ ALSO: DepEd Launched The K To 10 Curriculum, Reduces Focus From 7 To 5 Learning Areas

List of public elementary and high schools in Manila

So if you're looking for a public school in Manila, here's a comprehensive list: 

District I

Amado V. Hernandez Elementary School
Location: Sto. Niño Street, Barrio Magsaysay, Tondo, 1012 Metro Manila
Emilio Jacinto Elementary School
Location:1971 Velasquez Street Tondo, Tondo, Manila, 1012 Metro Manila
Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School
Location: 67e De Vera, Tondo, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
Magat Salamat Elementary School
Location: 1429 Sta. Maria St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Rosauro Almario Elementary School
Location: 1012 Kagitingan St, Tondo, Manila, 1012 Metro Manila
Teodoro R. Yangco Elementary School
Location: 559 Esguerra St, Tondo, Manila, 1012 Metro Manila
Tondo High School
Location: Quezon St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Antonio J. Villegas Vocational High School
Location: 100 Roxas St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Timoteo Paez Integrated School
Location: Balut, Younger St, Tondo, Tondo VII, Metro Manila

District II

Arsenio C. Herrera Elementary School
Location: Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Barrio Obrero Elementary School
Location: 3247 Narra St, Maypajo, Manila, 1013 Metro Manila
Francisco Benitez Elementary School
Location: 134 Solis St. Tondo, Metro Manila
Lakan Dula Elementary School
Location: 154 Solis St, Tondo, Manila, 1013 Metro Manila
Lapu-Lapu Elementary School
Location: 3173 Pilar St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Melchora Aquino Elementary School
Location: 1012 Solis St, Tondo, Manila, 1012 Metro Manila
Jose P. Laurel High School
Location: 524, 1013 Pampanga St, Tondo, Manila, 1013 Metro Manila
Manuel L. Quezon High School
Location: 1516 Blumentritt Sta. Cruz, Manila
Florentino Torres High School
Location: 173-174 Tondo III, Juan Luna St, Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila

District III

Antonio Luna Elementary School
Location: 2701 Lico St, Tondo, Manila, 1013 Metro Manila, Philippines
Apolinario Mabini Elementary School
Location: 1001 Severino St, Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila
Cecilio Apostol Elementary School
Location: F. Yuseco st. Sta. Cruz Manila, Manila, Philippines
Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School
Location: 276 San Fernando St, San Nicolas, Manila, 1010 Metro Manila
Padre Mariano Gomez Elementary School
Location: 1224 Pedro Guevarra St, Santa Cruz, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
Cayetano Arellano High School
Location: Teodora Alonzo, Santa Cruz, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Ramon Avanceña High School
Location: Quiapo, Manila, 1001 Metro Manila
Jose Abad Santos High School
Location: Numancia Street, Binondo, Sta. Cruz, Manila City, 1006, Metro Manila, Philippines
Raja Soliman Science and Technology High School
Location: Urbiztondo St, Binondo, Manila, Metro Manila

District IV

Benito Legarda Elementary School
Location: Craig St, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Graciano Lopez-Jaena Elementary School
Location: 757 T. Alfonso, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Juan Luna Elementary School
Location: 830 Tolentino St, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Laong Laan Elementary School
Location: 1272 Laong Laan Rd, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Ramon Magsaysay High School
Location: España Boulevard, corner Don Quijote St, Sampaloc, Maynila, Kalakhang Maynila
Claro M. Recto High School
Location: 2516 Legarda St, Sampaloc, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila

District V

Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School
Location: San Andres St, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School
Location: Gen. Malvar St, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila
Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Elementary School
Location: Port Area, Manila, Metro Manila
Manuel G. Araullo High School
Location: United Nations Ave, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
Manuel A. Roxas High School
Location: President Quirino Avenue Extension, Corner Osmeña Hwy, Paco, Manila, 1007 Metro Manila
Manila High School
Location: Muralla St, Intramuros, Manila, 1002 Metro Manila
Manila Science High School
Location: Taft Avenue, corner Padre Faura St, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

District VI

Bagong Diwa Elementary School
Location: 2208 Adolfo, Pandacan, Manila, 1011 Metro Manila
Fernando Amorsolo Elementary School
Location: Old Panaderos St, Santa Ana, Manila, 1009 Metro Manila
Pio del Pilar Elementary School
Location: Santa Mesa, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Tomas Earnshaw Elementary School
Location: 278 Makisig, Santa Ana, Manila, Metro Manila
Victorino Mapa High School
Location: 300 San Rafael St, Concepcion Aguila St, San Miguel, Manila, Metro Manila
Elpidio Quirino High School
Location: 625 Bacood, Santa Mesa, Manila, 1016 Metro Manila
Eulogio Rodriguez Vocational High School
Location: Lacson Ave, Santa Mesa, Manila, 1008 Metro Manila
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Integrated School
Location: J Posadas, Santa Ana, Manila, Metro Manila

For the complete list of public schools including public SPED centers, check the DepEd Manila directory.