THE Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) will accept applications for incoming freshmen for School Year 2025-2026 from June 10 until October 10 for the national competitive examination (NCE) on Nov. 16, 2024.

Eligible to take the examination are Grade 6 students from schools duly recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and with a final grade of 85 percent or better in Science and Mathematics, evidenced by their report cards.

If the grades in Science and Math are below 85 percent, the learner must prove that he/she belongs to the top 10 percent of the batch.

The applicant must be a Filipino citizen with no pending or approved application as an immigrant to any foreign country; not more than 15 years old by June 30, 2025; has at least a satisfactory rating (or equivalent) in his/her Character Rating in his/her report card (SY 2023-2024); has not previously applied for admission in PSHSS; and preferably be in good health and fit to undergo a rigorous academic program.

Application requirements

For walk-in applicants, the requirements are as follows: fully accomplished application form; recent 1x1 ID pictures; a non-refundable processing fee of P300 for private school students based on the applicant's Grade 5 school, but free for public school students and students with full scholarships from private schools; and certified true copy of report card (SY 2023-2024) by the class adviser or principal.

If the final grades in Science or Math are below 85 percent, certification or proof that the student belongs to the upper 10 percent of the batch; certification from the private school if the student-applicant is on full scholarship.

For applicants online, the student must submit a scanned/digitized copy of the most recent 1x1 ID picture and scanned/digitized copy of proof of payment (P300 for private school students; free for public school students and students with full scholarship from private schools); scanned/digitized copy of certified true copy of report card (SY 2023-2024) by the class adviser or principal; scanned/digitized copy of certification of proof that the student belongs to the upper 10 of the batch if the final grades in Science or Math are below 85 percent; and certification from the private school if the student-applicant is on full scholarship.

History and stature

Established in 1963 by Republic Act (RA) 3661, also known as the PSHS Charter, signed into law by then-president Diosdado Macapagal, PSHSS is a research-oriented and specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

Its mission is "Advancing premier high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for the [Filipino] people."

The PSHSS Strategic Plan and objectives for 2022-2028 are anchored on its Forward framework: Future-proof education; Optimum human resource development; Reengineering administrative processes; World-class outputs based on well-defined standards; Accessible intellectual property through appropriate use for the public good or economic value; Recognizable brand of STEM education; and Deepening socio-emotional skills [of students].

As the top science high school in the Philippines, PSHSS is among the best in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region.

PSHSS actively participates in national and international science, technology, and mathematics competitions, and its students successfully reap awards at the Taiwan International and Engineering Fair, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, International Math Olympiad, International Junior Science Olympiad, International Earth Science Olympiad, International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, and International Physics Olympiad.

Campuses nationwide

From a single campus on Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City, PSHSS has a campus in every region except in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The first to open outside the National Capital Region was Region 11 in Davao City in 1988; then Region 6 Western Visayas in Iloilo City in 1992; Region 8 Western Visayas in Palo, Leyte in 1992; Region 2 Cagayan Valley in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya in 1998; Region 10 Central Mindanao in Baloi, Lanao del Norte in 1998; Region 5 Bicol Region in Goa, Camarines Sur in 1998; Region 1 Ilocos Region in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur in 2002; Region 7 Central Visayas in Argao, Cebu in 2005; Cordillera Administrative Region in Baguio City in 2009; Region 3 Central Luzon in Angeles City in 2009; Region 12 Soccsksargen in Koronadal, South Cotabato in 2012; Region 13 Caraga Region in Butuan City in 2013; Region 4A Calabarzon in Batangas City in 2015; Region 9 Zamboanga Peninsula in Dipolog City in 2015; and Region 4B Mimaropa Region in Odiongan, Romblon in 2016.

All campuses have at most 30 students in each class. The main campus has eight classes per batch, while the regional campuses have three classes per batch.

PSHSS is governed by the Board of Trustees (BoT), with the executive committee composed of the directors of the different campuses.

The current executive director is Ronnalee Orteza, PhD, replacing Dr. Lilia Habacon, a long-time academician from the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Orteza spearheaded the synergistic initiatives in the improvement of instructions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. She harnessed valuable collaborations and partnerships with private and governmental organizations. Recently, she received the prestigious Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award, given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government, when she was still the Director 3 of the DoST PSHSS Ilocos Region Campus in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur.

"The quality of STEM education that PSHS offers opens a gateway of opportunities that will equip qualified Filipino youth with skills and values that can empower them to be globally competitive individuals willing to serve our nation," she said.

"If you believe that you, your child, or students are qualified to be a PSHS scholar, don't miss the chance to take the NCE. It is the gateway to a holistic premier learning opportunity," the PSHSS executive director encouraged.

K-12 curriculum

Under the K-12 curriculum, Grades 7 and 8 are the Foundation Years, Grades 9 to 10 are the Advancement Years, and Grades 11 to 12 are the Specialization Years.

Unlike other public schools in the Philippines, PSHSS does not offer strands such as STEM, HUMSS, or ABM at the senior high school level; rather, students are allowed to specialize in a particular field of science such as biology, chemistry, or physics.

From the current 16 schools, the number of campuses will be increased to 25 under House Bill 9726 or the proposed Expanded Philippine Science High School System Act.

Under the Act, the entire PSHSS is to be expanded and the act is a consolidation of several bills to modernize the law that made the PSHSS possible.

Famous alumni

Popularly known as Pisay, some of its famous alumni include Mapua University President and CEO Reynaldo Vea (1969), former National Economic and Development Authority director general Cielito Habito (1979), Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon (1970), Palawan Express CEO Bobby Lopez Castro (1971), Supermodel Anna Bayle (1974), writer-editor-host Jessica Zafra (1982), filmmaker Auraeus Solito (1986), Vice President Leni Robredo spokesman Barry Gutierrez (1990), Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Nograles (1993), singer-songwriter original Smokey Mountain group member Jeffrey Hidalgo (1994), and broadcast journalist Atom Araullo (2000).