The University of the Philippines Visayas has adopted a policy of democratized admission for students in the high schools of the U.P. System. Under this policy, “Every high school in U.P. is a program for helping socioeconomically disadvantaged but academically-qualified students gain access to tertiary education in U.P.” 

Pursuant to the U.P. Policy for Democratization of Admission, the UP High School in Iloilo admits incoming Grade Seven students from low-income families. As such, the High School is an experimental laboratory for innovative teaching strategies designed to make up for this disadvantaged group’s training in order to better prepare them for access to tertiary education, particularly in U.P.

Requirements for screening applicants:

     a. Applicants must belong to families with an annual family income of ₱210,000.00 or below, as determined by the family Income Tax Returns for the last two (2) years.

     b. Applicants whose annual family income is higher than ₱210,000.00 but not exceeding ₱250,000.00 may be considered if there are five (5) or more dependents in the family or if said applicants come from public elementary schools located in rural and urban depressed areas.

     c. Applicants must have a weighted average grade of 88 or better for Grade 9 and the First Grading Period of Grade 10.

All applicants must take the UPHSI JUNIOR / SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST.