The opening of the Mountain Province High School was a big help to a growing need for Baguio based institution to accommodate the elementary graduates of the city and nearby highland and lowland provinces. Classes were held at Teachers' Camp and native girls from the provinces were housed at the BUA dormitory, known today as the Pacdal Elementary School. Among the pioneer teachers were Jess L. Gains, principal, Juan Balagot, Servillano Tumaneng, Pedro Balagot, Genoveva Llamas, Esperanza Ver, Donate Guerzon, Grace H. Miller, Petra Ramirez, and Pilar Tan.


The MPHS easily gained national popularity in both academics and athletics. For several years, it has the strongest baseball team in Northern Luzon. Coach Arthur McCann produced baseball champ pitcher Antonio Capulo who one time pitched a non-score game to northern Luzon Teams. Juan Carantes rates second best baseman in the whole country those days. Antonio Dimas, Eugene Pucay, Gilbert Sonduan, dibson Diwas, Braulio Caoili and Chakchakan Colis became legend in their time. The girls became famous for their extensive lace making and native weaving projects that easily became popular among tourist and vacationists. The graduates were added to the institutional prestige for it had a high proficiency in both oral and written English.

In 1937, the national government transferred the financial responsibility of maintaining the school to the city Government that's why the name was changed to Baguio City National High School. Students of the normal course were transferred to Trinidad Agricultural High School which became the responsibility of the Mountain Province. The general secondary curriculum transferred classes to the Government Center. In the same year, the school squatted at the present site of the Baguio Government Center until the World War broke out in 1941. Classes continued during the Japanese Occupation at the Quezon Elementary School, when the classes were disrupted by the initial occupation and liberation battles. In 1945, BCHS admitted students at the Vallejo Hotel, moving back to Teacher's Camp in the second semester of the year.


Several mayors worked for the permanent site of the BCHS building.

Luis Torres succeeded in establishing the fact that the ex-governor Blaco's place was the property of the local government and not the national government property . Mayor Gil B. Mallares made every effort to the approval of the site as permanent house of BCHS. He secuured P 180,000 loan from the Rehabilitation Financing Corporation to start the construction of the building on September 20, 1953.

The Parent-Teachers' Association continued to ask for the permanent site of the BCHS headed by the principal Gregorio R. Ariz and the PTA President Rufino S. Bueno who serve from 1948 to 1958: the present site of the high school was segregated from Burnham Park reservation on June 27, 1953 under Proclamation No. 401 that awarded BCHS 11, 840 sq.m. of land. Construction began under the administration of Mayor Benito H. Lopez and was completed during the term of Mayor Alfonzo Tabora with additional expenses of P40,000 to finish the right winf of the main building. Inauguration rites were held on October 24, 1954, the school foundation day.

In 1972, the Science section as Special Class opened, but was discontinued after two years due to the implementation of the revised secondary curriculum. It was reopened in 1984 with the effort of Class 1958 Alumni, the City Council, and the school administration. This was accomplished through strong support and continuous follow-up efforts of then Councilor Bert Floresca as member of the committee on education and that time president of the Alumni Association. At present, there are 12 classes in the Special Science Class, 3 sections in the firs year, 3 sections in the second year, 3 sections in the third year and 3 sections in the fourth year. In 1995, two building were constructed by the DPWH and DOST-SEI laboratory building, which is now the permanent home of the Special Science Classes. The students in these are receiving P200 as monthly stipend from the City Government.


Baguio City High School had several principals who served with dedication. They are Mrs. Beula Head-1936; Mr. Pablo Reyes-1937 to 1938; Mr. Anselmo Patacsil-1938 to 1939; Mr. Antonio Alba - 1939-1940; Mr. Gregorio Ariz Sr.-1949-1969; Dr. Florencio Buen- 1969 to 1974; Miss. Dolores Valdez- 1974 to 1976; Mrs. Feliciana Penera- 1976 to 1982 to 1991; Dr. Philip M. Flores- 1991 to February 1997; Mrs. Priscilla Bautista- February 1997 to September 1997 and finally on October 1997 to the present Dr. Elma D. Donaal.

The 1960's annex high schools for the first and second year students had to be opened to accommodate the increasing student population. In 1968, annex high schools were opened at Baguio Central School, Dona Aurora, Bonifacio and Rizal Elementary School and other annexes were also opened in the following years in Quirino Elementary School at Irisan and later in Sto. Tomas and Quezon Hill. The number The number of the students kept on growing both in Baguio City High School main and its annexes so that by 1980 Baguio Central School had to be separated as another city funded high school carrying the new name of Pines City National High School. In 1981, four year levels in Loakan Annex were created and followed by the other annexes.

The Baguio City High School is now called Baguio City National High School with a student population of more or less 18,692 as of April 2005. It has 10 annexes, all of which have complete year levels; and 365 faculty members and support personnel ( to include regular and casual employees).

From the original main building, the construction of the other buildings follow. They are the ESF, Pre Fab, Science laboratory 1 and 2, 6 rooms in the Sony Building, a two-storey DPWH building, DOST laboratory, computer room near the DOST building, three storey Flavier I building with 16 rooms. The construction of the Home Economics building which is parallel to the main building near the athletic bowl, the multi-purpose building with 20 classrooms and the DepEd building added to the existing buildings.

The year 1997 proved to be another success. BCNHS won in the search for Most Outstanding Female Public Secondary Principal in the person of Dr. Elma D. Donaal who represented the CAR in the national level sponsored by Avon in coordination with the DECS.


Baguio City National High School at 86 years has no diminished in its speed growth. Lots of contest being joined by the students were all fruitful because the school is consistently a winner both in academics and athletics. When the school was on its boom, 5 top generals of the country, hundreds of presidents and heads of offices in all fields of endeavor had represented the school nationally and internationally during discussion in the different areas in the field of education both its teachers and students.