School MattersAnglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) vs River Valley High School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | River Valley High School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Boys' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | IP · SAP · Autonomous |
| Zone | South | West |
| Address | 60 Barker Road | 6 Boon Lay Avenue |
| Nearest MRT | Newton, Stevens | Boon Lay, Lakeside |
| Listed CCAs | 23 | 22 |
| DSA listings | 17 | 16 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 2 CCA listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. River Valley High School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Chinese Calligraphy and Brush Painting (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys), Chinese Drama (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- DSA programme
- The records share 0 DSA programme listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. River Valley High School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys) - IP, Basketball (Boys) - IP, Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys) - IP, Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- Programme tags
- Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road): no IP or SAP tag listed; River Valley High School: IP / SAP. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road): Newton, Stevens; for River Valley High School: Boon Lay, Lakeside. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) | River Valley High School |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 4M–9M |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–9 | Not listed |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 8–21 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Affiliated | 2026 · 21–25 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–26 | Not listed |
| PG1 · Affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | Not listed |
Each range belongs to the intake year and programme shown. Affiliated and non-affiliated ranges are separate. D, M and P are Higher Mother Tongue requirements. Past ranges do not guarantee admission.
Get to know each school
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
The ACS family began with a shophouse school on Amoy Street in 1886, but the Barker Road school itself was established in January 1994 with primary and secondary pupils. MOE’s Heritage Centre records the split into ACS (Primary) and ACS (Barker Road) in 1997, followed by a return to the rebuilt Barker Road campus in January 2003. A shared indoor sports hall was consecrated in 2022 after construction delays. This history helps distinguish the secondary school from the primary school on the same campus.
The Applied Learning Programme uses drama, debate and public speaking. Its published sequence starts with Secondary 1 storytelling workshops, moves to Secondary 2 drama and theatre exposure linked to the literature text, and adds debates, drama workshops and theatre exposure in Secondary 3. A separate talent-development tier offers training for speaking competitions, Model United Nations and emceeing school events. The distinction matters: the basic sequence describes broader provision, while competition preparation involves additional participation.
River Valley High School
River Valley High was established in 1956 and adopted the River Valley name after moving to Jalan Kuala in 1958. MOE records SAP status from 1979, autonomous status from 1994 and the Integrated Programme from 2006. It moved to its current Boon Lay Avenue premises in 2010. Today’s six-year programme runs through A Levels in the school’s own JC section. Secondary and JC activities share one school name, so a Year 1 family needs to check which opportunities apply at the secondary stage.
The school’s FAQ says primary-school Higher Chinese is not a prerequisite for admission, but all secondary pupils take Higher Chinese in S1–4. It lists after-school Chinese support for pupils who struggle and enrichment for developing interest in the language. The FAQ also says promotion criteria apply between levels. Its description of a seamless programme should therefore not be interpreted as automatic progression regardless of attainment. Families can ask for the current criteria and the support offered when a child finds the pace or language demands difficult.
CCAs and programmes
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
River Valley High School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Chinese Calligraphy and Brush Painting (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Debating (Boys)
- Digital Media (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at River Valley High School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Chinese Painting (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Choir (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Floorball (Girls) - IP
- Leadership (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Netball (Girls) - IP
- Robotics (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Scientific Investigation (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Softball (Girls) - IP
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys) - IP
- Volleyball (Girls) - IP
- Wushu (Girls and Boys) - IP
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and River Valley High School?
Start with programmes, the CCAs your child wants and the actual journey from home. Visit both schools to assess the daily environment. Counts and past results alone do not establish which school fits your child.
How do their recorded PSLE entry ranges compare?
IP · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) Not listed; River Valley High School 2026 · 4M–9M. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 6–9; River Valley High School Not listed. PG3 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 8–21; River Valley High School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21; River Valley High School Not listed. PG2 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 21–25; River Valley High School Not listed. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–26; River Valley High School Not listed. PG1 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 2026 · 25–28; River Valley High School Not listed.
Do past admission records guarantee a place?
No. Ranges belong to the intake year and programme shown and can change. Keep affiliated and non-affiliated ranges separate and retain any D, M or P Higher Mother Tongue suffix.