Commonwealth Elementary School

Commonwealth Elementary School, located in Quezon City, Philippines, is a grade school with the largest student enrolment in the city with approximately 13,000 students in 2007.[1] The school is one of the biggest elementary schools in the country,[2] and is one of the world's most populous grade schools.[3]

Commonwealth Elementary School was established in 1973 by Maria Deyro-Galang, a mother of 10 children, the wife of Conrado Manansala-Galang, a school teacher of Kalookan High School. At that time, there was no school close to Barangay Gao, Quezon City where she lived. Knowing importance of education, Deyro-Galang devoted her spare time to building a school that would teach the young Filipinos.

Deyro-Galang met with Mayor Norberto S. Amoranto and told him of her wish to have a school in Barangay Gao. The mayor understood the importance and gave her a letter authorizing her to choose a location where the school would be erected within the property of Barangay Gao.

Officials of Barangay Gao, headed by Barangay Captain Inocencio Deyro, the older brother of Deyro-Galang, immediately constructed classrooms using roofing material to serve as walls, and bamboo and nipa.

Flora Gavito, who came from Balara Elementary School was the first teacher; she was assigned as the Teacher-In-Charge. The school was then opened for grade one and two pupils. Deyro-Galang continued to teach at Kalookan High School after Commonwealth Elementary School was built.