Victorino Mapa High School opened its first classes (
Manila East High School) as one of the four schools in City of Manila together with
Torres High School (Manila South High School) and
Arellano (Manila North) High School in June 1923. The school has been under the administration of principals since it was founded in June 1923. The three of these were Americans namely,
John Carl,
Sarah M. England and
James Burns. The first Filipino principal was
Indalecio Madamba, installed in 1951. In his term, the Parents-Teachers Association was organized and succession of principals took over, after Madamba retired in May 1956. Student population of VMHS traditionally come from the district of San Miguel, Quiapo, Sampaloc and Santa Mesa consisting of family homogenous in economic and social standards with a few transferees from provinces and graduate from Padre Burgos Elementary School (PBES) of Principal Ms. Trinidad R. Galang. in Altura St. Sta Mesa, Manila. The school once had a biggest student population of 11,481 with a faculty of 488. == Notable alumni ==