In the early 1970’s, school children from the GSIS low-cost housing project known as Bagong Silang Street, had to go to Nangka Elementary School, which is one kilometer away from the place, to acquire basic education. Accidents were encountered by the pupils in crossing the street going to the school. That prompted the people living in the place to file a request to the former Municipal Mayor Osmundo De Guzman to establish an annex of Nangka Elementary School within their vicinity.

The request was approved, but there was no open space in Bagong Silang. Luckily the owner of St. Mary Subdivision gave his permission that a school be built at the open space of the subdivision which is a stone’s throw away from Bagong Silang.

In June 1974, a two-room building donated by the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce was built at 978 square meter open space of the subdivision during the term of Mr. Rodolfo De Guzman, principal of Nangka Elementary School. (Mr. Rodolfo De Guzman is the father of our beloved Marikina City Mayor, Hon. Del R. de Guzman).

In School Year 1974 – 75, the pioneer teacher at this school, Mrs. Nora I. Insecto, a resident of Bagong Silang, was assigned by Mrs. Perla Dela Paz, the Supervisor of Marikina District II, to be the first teacher to mold 50 Grade 1 pupils of NES annex at St. Mary Subdivision.

In the following year, Mrs. Gwendolyn Angeles was assigned as Grade 2 teacher and Mrs. Herminia Z. Silao came to teach the following year and retired in January 2014.

With the persistence of Mrs. Rolenda Sarmiento, who was then the principal of NES and with the support of the community, the construction of another two-room building was made possible by the former Mayor of Marikina, Hon. Rodolfo Valentino.

In School Year 1988 – 89, under the leadership of Quezon City Division Superintendent Bienvenido Icasiano, the school was given independence with Miss Gloria Roman as the first principal. She gave the name St. Mary Elementary School following the name of the subdivision where it is located. There were already five grade levels during that time and the first Graduation Rites with forty (40) graduates was held in 1989.

    In 1991, during the term of Dr. Zenaida S. Callope as principal, the 4-classroom DPWH Building was constructed.  In mid-2000, the construction of the two levels of MCF Building, which is designed for a four-storey building was finished. This construction was continued by the good Congressman, Miro Quimbo, and in August 2013, the SMES pupils started to use the additional three classrooms; just in time when the DPWH Building was found out to be not structurally fit to be used as classrooms. The good news is: as per meeting with Cong. Quimbo in July of 2013, he gave an assurance that the budget for the remaining 5 classroom has been approved for release and construction will start in a month.

              In a span of 40 years, St. Mary Elementary School was served by 23 principals: