The Notre Dame University Elementary Training Department (NDU-ETD) was established in 1954 as a laboratory school for students of the Teacher Training College of the University.  At the time of its opening, there were only two other private elementary schools in the city – one was also a Catholic school but admitting only girls while the other catered primarily to pupils of Chinese parentage.

Several years after its opening, the enrolment was deliberately kept low in order for the school to better serve its function as a laboratory school. Enrolment was initially limited to boys.  However, because of its ties with the University which allowed the school to avail of university resources, personnel and otherwise, for the improvement of instruction; its reputation as a quality elementary school soon came to be of general acceptance.  Parents of elementary school age pupils exerted pressure on the school to expand its enrolment.

In response to parents’ pressure, girls were admitted in school year 1978.   More sections were opened in the lower grades starting school year 1980.  Kindergarten classes were opened in 1986.  Various strategies were adopted by the administration to operate despite limited resources and physical plant.  However, as more sections were consequently opened in the higher grades, temporary stopgap measures to meet the physical plant requirement of the expanded enrolment was no longer possible.

Starting school year 1987, the school administration embarked on a program of expansion of the physical plant.  In this endeavor, the Parents – Teachers Association (NOPTAN) firmly backed the administration with financial and other types of support.  From the original eight classrooms, the school has now 30 classrooms. 

The NDU-ETD provides opportunity for Cotabato City children and the nearby areas to acquire quality elementary education. This education has enabled many of its pupils to emerge as winners in academic and non-academic contests not only in the city but also at the regional and national levels. A number of its graduates qualified for admission to prestigious high schools.

The school puts very strong emphasis in its religious and values education program.  This program is implemented both within and outside the academic programs.  This is a major reason for parents enrolling their children in the school.  Religion classes are conducted not only for Catholics but also for Muslims.  About 48% of the school population is Muslims.  

The pupil population of the school represents children of different religions, cultural affiliations and socio-economic backgrounds.  Although the school collects tuition fees, there are a considerable number of pupils belonging to the low-income group who enrolled despite the fact that free elementary education can be obtained in the public school.  There are pupils, coming from the highland tribal groups, the Muslim ethnic groups, and the lowland Christian Filipino groups. 

The context of the multi-character of the school population provides the setting for the strong values education and peace education program of the school.  The school hopes that the understanding, the concern of each other, the friendships fostered among the pupils, and their sense of involvement during their elementary school days will continue after their graduation.  This has been the case for many of its alumni who now assume responsible and influential positions in both government and private entities in the region and international arena. Some have helped, in many occasions, to be involved in the peace building programs and conflict resolutions in the area.