In understanding history lies the future. Tracing the very roots of Bataan National High School solidifies its identity and strengthens its core as a paragon of excellence and virtues. Now located at the bosom of the province, Balanga City, BNHS started its long and rich history as it first founded in the Municipality of Orani, considered as the seat of the provincial government, in 1901 bearing the name Bataan High School with Mr. Gregorio Ramirez of Bulacan as its first principal, followed by Mr. Andres Ranola and Mr. Antonio Macedo both were from Manila.

In 1911, Mariano Rosauro was elected as governor and mandated that the seat of power be transferred in Balanga. The following year, Bataan High School was also transferred in Balanga. Through the efforts of then-Mayor Venancio Banzon and the Council of Balanga in 1919, Bataan High School re-established its roots inside the parameters of the now Balanga Elementary School with its formal opening in 1920 and renaming the institution to Arellano Memorial High School in honor to Cayetano L. Arellano, a native of Orion, who served as the first Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. As the student population ballooned, the Municipal Government of Balanga built an extension of the school at the Plaza (near Balanga District Water).

Unfortunately, the Second World War in the 1940s brought these facilities to ashes and pushed the school to close its doors indefinitely. In 1945 after the war, Don Pepe Valero and Don Manuel Banzon took the initiative in educating Bataenos by opening their doors to serve as learning spaces and housing the then Arellano Memorial High School.

By the virtue of the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946, Arellano Memorial High School was rebuilt at the Balanga Town Plaza (then later served as the main campus) but renamed to Arellano Memorial (Bataan) High School since a school in Manila has the same name with Mr. Hilario Hilario as the principal. Two other campuses were added: one located at the Balanga Power Plant (now Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Saints in San Jose) and another at the Philippine Harvadian College in Talisay.

During the leadership of Mrs. Rizalina Joco as Principal, Arellano Memorial Bataan High School was named to Bataan High School and later became Bataan National High School, the school today. Mrs. Rizalina Joco was succeeded by Mr. Rodolfo Malixi who was then the Assistant Principal and eventually in 1983 Dr. Simeona B. Emata who was then Miss Simeona N. Borela, Head of Mathematics Department was promoted as principal of the school. She served as principal until 2014.

Currently, Bataan National High School is housed and located along the Roman Superhighway with the help of USAID Economic Support Fund granted in 1985. Since then the number of classrooms and laboratories has been increasing.

Through Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr, the school gym was built and was inaugurated in March 1998 during the 82^nd Commencement Exercises in which he served as the guest speaker with the gym itself as the venue for the ceremony.

On October 6, 2000, Senator Aquino Oreta donated 22 units of computer for the School of the future. Mrs. Leticia A. Orpiano was then the officer-in-charge of the school.

Year 2001, Dr. Simeona B. Emata reported back to Bataan National High School as principal on the same year, there had been additional 18 teachers from City School Board and Provincial School Board. The supports of the external and internal stakeholders have been very visible in all its undertaking towards the success of the school in all aspects.

At present, the Bataan National High School is offering six curricular programs namely: K-12 Basic Education Program, Science Technology and Engineering (STE), Strengthened Technological Vocational Education Program (STVEP), and Special Program in the Arts (SPA), Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) and Special Education Program (SPED) for visual and hearing impaired.

Dr. Emata was succeeded by Mr. Armando C. Capili as the officer-in-charge and became Principal IV of the school in the same year he served as officer-in-charge Assistant School Division Superintendent of SDO-Balanga. Assuming the full duty as ASDS, Mr. Capili was succeeded by Dr. Merlinda C. Dominguez, EPS I-Mathematics as officer-in-charge of the school.

At present, Dr. Alma V. Poblete serves as the principal of the school upon her designation in July 2019.

Despite the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 that halted the school year, BNHS continues to thrive in providing quality, equitable, and accessible education among Bataenos. It remains in its pedestal of excellence and continues to be the cradle of innovative and creative individuals who are committed to advance in shaping the youth’s full potentials and thereby contributing to a positive nation-building.