Doña Aurora National High School was founded on September 10,1972. Its opening was motivated out of a need to accommodate students who were not absorbed by La Salette of Aurora which was then the only high school in the town of Aurora.
Doña Aurora Barangay High School first operated under the implementing guidelines for opening and manging a Barangay High School as conceived and pormulated by Don Pedro Orata who emerged as the father of Barangay High School.”
This High School first operated in the community center in 1972 through the initiative of the Municipal and Ministry of education, Culture and Sports Officials as follows: Mayor David D. Nitura, Vice mayor Gabriel M. Samson, the Municipal Councilors Ramon V. Lucas, Diosdado Reña, Eliseo Yambot, Eugenio Apaga, Tomas Padron, Atancio Sagaysay, Apolinario Nicolas, and Jose Ramos, Municipal Treasurer Mr. Jovencio A. Santos, School District Supervisor Mr. Alfredo P. Dagan and the Supervising Principal Mr. Leopoldo M. Casion and the five sponsoring barangays: San Juan-Lorenzo Aguinaldo as the barangay Captain, Sta. Rosa-Jose M. Bernabe as the Barangay Captain, San Jose- Pedro Apaga as the Barangay Captain, Sta. Rita- Guillermo Santiago as the Barangay Captain and San Pedro San Pablo- Fortunato Samson ass the Barangay Captain who shared 10% from their barangay funds just so to meet the finacial demand in the operation of the school.
During its first operation, the students were housed in the community center where the principal of the elementary school was designated as School-in-charge and the District Supervisor as the over all administrator.
Elementary school teachers Mrs. Nellie L. Santos, Jose B. Alejandro, Felix S. Reña and Alejandrino T. Sarmiento Jr. were utilized partly to teach the specialized subjects like Home Economics, Industrial Arts, and Agriculture. It was a challenging and persevering exprecience for the first principal, Mr. Vicente P. Amoroso and the pioneer teachers, Mrs.Filomena D. Aricayos, Mrs. Teodora S. Bernabe and Mrs. Leonida C. Eugenio. After years of operation at the community center, the Municipal Council acquired a separate site at San Juan, Aurora, Isabela where school buildings were constructed one after the other. Realizing the need to aquire additional site because of the increasing enrollment every year, the Municipal Council purchased 14,735 square meters lot at Sta. Rita, Aurora, Isabela in March 1978.
Meanwhile, an enterprising and energetic lady teacher, Miss Ligaya Martin Acierto took over the leadership of the school in January 2,1979 in view of the resignation of the Principal Mr. Vicente P. Amoroso. After several years, the school became popular and renowned. Madam Ligaya A. De Jesus bacame one of the Most Outstanding Secondary Principals of Isabela. Her outstanding achievement are backed up by a pool of seasoned and highly qualified teachers.
In 1991, the Doña Aurora National High school was fully nationalized by virtue of Republic Act No.7078, General Appropriation Act of 1991, through the Authorship/Sponsorship of Representative Simplicio Domingo, Sr., Congressman of the 2nd District of Isabela.
With much effort, commitment and dedicated service of Mrs. Ligaya A. de Jesus, Doña Aurora National High School has then 32 school building- 21 are erected at the main campus and 11 at the extension site. The school was also provided with a gymnasium through the concerted efforts of the Provincial and Local Government and the Parents-Teachers and Community Association. It has also a Speech Laboratory with 50 cubies, put up by the Local Government Unit through the leadership of the supportive Mayor of Aurora, Hon William T. Uy. Moreover, the school ensures the total development of its students by providing computer laboratories with internet access, SSG officers for both campuses, school and dental clinic for health services, Learning Resource Center for educational and recreational activities, convenient canteens, a school van, a generator for both campuses and 52 classhomes which are fully tiled with audio visual facilities and most of the classhomes have been provided with comfort rooms. These make learning easy and enjoyable. Every academic learning area was provided with office.
The school, as it dedicately provides quality education to its students, has been receiving various awards in the different contested activities be it divisonal, regional and national. Some of the awards and commendations it receive are Hall of Fame Award as the Peak Performing School-General Secondary Schools Secondary Category; Most Effective School S.Y.2000-2001; Best PCPS School in 2005; and the Best Implementer of Brigada Eskwela in 2009-2nd Runner Up Regional Level.
The School Canteen was awarded as the Most Functional School Canteen in the Region in 2001 and the Science garden as the Most Functional Science and Technology Park in 2004-2005 and the Most Functional Flora and Fauna Sanctuary in 2001-2002. The School was also awarded as the best Implementer of Brigada Eskwela 2012 both in the Area and Division Levels.
In view of the DECS Order No.7. series of 1999, entitled “Policies on Selection and Appointment and Trasfer of Reassignment of DECS Regional Officials” Mrs. Ligay A. De Jesus was transferred to Cabatuan National High School, Cabatuan, Isabela after 37 years of committed service to Doña Aurora National High School. And Mr. Dennis M. Lintao took his office in January 2012.
On May 4,2015, Dr. Efren O. Ballesteros, from Caliguian, Burgos, Isabela, took his post as the Principal of this school for almost 2 years.
On January 2017, then Education Program Supervisor Laila A. Taguinod Ed. D. was appointed as the Officer-in-charge of the school for one year. And in a year of her leadership, the school had two new buildings currently under construction, CCTV Security Systems for both campuses and an additional school van.
On January 2019, Mrs. Ofelia S. Ralutin, then Head Teacher III, was appointed as the Officer-In-Charge for six months. After six months, Dr. Laila A. Taguinod came back as the Officer-in-charge of the school and in September 2019, she became the full-fledged Principal IV of Doña Aurora National High School.
In her three months as the principal of the school, developments are so visible in the school. A Student and Teacher’s Attendance Management System were installed in both campuses, Electrical wiring were renewed, all classrooms were air-conditioned, and two giant ceiling fans were installed in the gymnasium.
The school is now offering four curricula — The Special Science Curriculum (SSC), Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), Special Program in the Arts (SPA), and the most recent Special Program in Journalism (SPJ). The school is also one of the 110 Science and technology Schools for the Engineering and Science Education Projects (ESEP).
Doña Aurora National High School is continuously providing quality education to 2, 864 students through the joint efforts of the Principal IV, Laila A. Taguinod Ed. D., the 8 Head teachers and the 130 teaching and non-teaching staff together with its stakeholders.
Doña Aurora National High School 