Ramon Avanceña High School is a non-sectarian public school in Manila located at J. Nepomuceno Street, Quiapo under Barangay 386 of the 3rd District. Nearby landmarks include the Malacañang Palace (560 m northeast), which is the official residence and workplace of the President of the Philippines; Masjid Al-Dahab also known as Golden Mosque (490 m northwest) considered as the largest mosque in Metro Manila which is predominantly the Muslim section of Quiapo and; Minor Basilica of the Black


Nazarene where millions of Black Nazarene devout gather every January 9 on its feast day. Ramon Avanceña High School came into existence in 1953 as Arlegui Annex of Victorino Mapa High School (VMHS). It shared tenancy with the Philippine Law School in a rented building bounded by Arlegui Street, Vergara Street and Plaza Avanceña. Five years later in 1958, the Arlegui Annex of VMHS separated and recognized as Arlegui High School with Ms. Margarita del Rosario appointed as principal. In 1959, by virtue of Resolution No. 722 signed by then Mayor Arsenio Lacson, the school was renamed Ramon Avanceña High School in honor of the late Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña who was a prominent Manileño. In 1973, a new building was occupied by all learners abandoning the Vergara Annex. Since then, the enrollment increased gradually, and a 2-shift program was implemented. In 1977, through the initiative of Manila’s 3rd District Representative Hon. Leonardo Fugoso, renovation was made. But through migration, social, economic, and political factors, the enrollment gradually dwindled, so that the number of faculty members was reduced, some were transferred to other schools. This challenge on reduction of enrolment was steadily observed as the school leadership also changed frequently. When K-12 came into view in 2016, enrollment slightly increased due to enrollment in Grade 11. With a medium school category declared by DepEd NCR (National Capital Region), Ramon Avanceña High School has a total of 5,575 sqm land area, where 88% of the students are Muslims and 12% are Christians. Currently, the school has a total student population of 690 in Junior High School and 251 in Senior High School. Catchment areas include Arlegui, Globo de Oro, Carlos Palanca, and Padilla streets where most students reside. Majority belong to middle- and low-class groups whose economic sustenance relies on 4 P’s program, vending around Quiapo and Sta. Cruz areas and pedicab driving. It is also because of these jobs that students from Mindanao transferred to Manila as they see these as opportunities than in the province. The teaching staff, on the other hand, consists of 39 Junior High School faculty members, 13 in Senior High School (with 1 focal person included). Non-teaching has 7 department heads, 18 support personnel and 1 school head.


Currently, under the K-12 curriculum and single shift operation, the school offers complete Junior High School program (Grades 7-10) and 5 strands in Senior High School – General Academic Strand (GAS), TVL-HE Cookery, TVL-ICT, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM). Journalism in English and Filipino is also offered as a special program in Junior High School, in which the school has been gaining awards and recognition in press conferences together with other disciplines in their respective competitions. The SHS consists of a 4-storey building while the Junior High School has 5 in an L-shape form with the deck floor as an area for MAPEH activities before. Now, students utilize also the covered court (Lingkod Bayan) for such activities and other official school programs. When needs arise, the school coordinates with community linkages who are actively responsive – office of Barangay 386 with the incumbent chair, Perfecto Pahignalo, RAHS General Parents and Teachers Association, RAHS Alumni International, Office of the Mayor, Office of the Vice Mayor, Office of District 3 Congressman, Division of City Schools – Manila and other significant private partners – Technological Institute of the Philippines, National Teachers College, and Philippine College of Criminology among others.

Though small in enrollees, Ramon Avanceña High School has never wavered to deliver the mission and vision of the Department of Education. Though diverse in culture, students learn the true art of friendship through collaboration, cooperation, and respect regardless of religion or indigenous classification. Thus, “Unity in Diversity, Quality over Quantity” had been the mantra since 2017. And with this established, the school currently carries a new mantra: “One Avanceña: Stable, Steadfast, Strong” in the mission to uphold a united school culture amidst any challenges.