In 1976, a group of parents gathered together to address the challenge of the times: the integral education of their children with the twin thrust of academic excellence and sound character formation. Inspired by the teachings of  St. Josemaria Escriva, it became their conviction that the proper education of their children is best realized through the integral formation of parents first, and secondly of the teachers--the two most important agents of child education. With these two (2) sectors properly attended to, the holistic formation of children will come as a natural consequence. This educational philosophy, in turn, is anchored on the Christian teaching that education of children is, first and foremost, the responsibility of parents.

Seeing the need to bring the task of education where it properly belongs, they formed a foundation whose main corporate objective is to build schools where their educational philosophy can be operationalized. The entity was aptly named "PARENTS FOR EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC." or "PAREF."

One year later, PAREF gave birth to its first child, Woodrose, a school for girls that began operations in New Manila, with Grades One to Five. The school later moved to its definitive location within Ayala Alabang Village.

In 1979, Southridge was born. Nestled in a three hectare property in Hillsborough Subdivision of Muntinlupa, the school opened its door to boys entering Grades One to Seven. With the two schools catering to almost the same set of families Woodrose and Southridge became known as the PAREF Tandem Schools offering Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Education programs.

The Preparatory schools became part of the PAREF family with the inception of Rosemont in 1986. Originally housed in Woodrose, it started operating in its own building in 1988 beside Woodrose.

With the growing demand for the kind of education PAREF offers, Ridgefield Preparatory School was opened in 1990 in a new building within the Southridge campus. As the natural entry point to Woodrose and Southridge, Rosemont and Ridgefield became known as the "Alabang Preparatory Schools".

In the year 1990, another preparatory school named Rosehill was inaugurated in New Manila, Quezon City to cater to the needs of the families living in the North of Metro Manila. With the offer of a land donation, the school moved to its permanent home in Mission Hills, Antipolo, in year 1993. At that time, it offered Grades 1 and 2 for girls.

In 1992, the initial step towards a boys' school in Quezon City was taken with the opening of Northridge Preparatory School along Mother Ignacia Street, South Triangle Homes, Diliman.
Northridge became Rosefield Preparatory School in 1994 on account of having the same name as an existing school. One year after, the parents of Quezon City saw the birth of a school for their boys, Northfield. Both schools are now located in Kamuning area, Quezon City. 

Now, the PAREF System is a big family with twelve schools. We have conducted more tha 6,000 students, most of whom are already engaged in work.

Thirty two years there-after, the PAREF System is now a big family with eleven Schools.  The total erollment for the SY 2008-2009 was 4,465 coming from 3,422 families. The total number of  teaching force was 406; non-teaching staff was 200. With PAREF's existence spanning 32 years, we have graduated 5,883 students; most of whom are already engaged in the world of work. These are the people whose lives we have touched; whose minds and hearts we hope continue to positively transform  society from within.

The vinta, a sturdy Filipino boat, is the PAREF symbol. It stands for the educational philosophy shared by all the schools that belong to the PAREF system.

The stars above the vinta represent the three (3) sectors that comprise the PAREF school community. For the success of the PAREF SYSTEM with its underlying philosophy, there must be a wholesome interaction among the parents, teachers and students. For formation to be effective, the parents and teachers must themselves be such that they can lead the students by word and deed.