School MattersAnglo-Chinese School (Independent) vs St. Joseph's Institution
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | St. Joseph's Institution |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Boys' School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | IP | IP |
| Zone | South | South |
| Address | 121 Dover Road | 38 Malcolm Road |
| Nearest MRT | Dover, Buona Vista, One-North | Stevens |
| Listed CCAs | 50 | 26 |
| DSA listings | 48 | 40 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 17 CCA listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) also lists Art and Crafts (Boys), Audio Visual Aid (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Joseph's Institution also lists CROSS COUNTRY, Chinese Culture and Language (Boys), Choir (Boys), Hockey (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 22 DSA programme listings. Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) also lists Bowling (Boys), Bowling (Boys) - IP, Cricket (Boys), Cricket (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. St. Joseph's Institution also lists Coding (Boys), Coding (Boys) - IP, Floorball (Boys), Floorball (Boys) - IP and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Anglo-Chinese School (Independent): Dover, Buona Vista, One-North; for St. Joseph's Institution: Stevens. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) | St. Joseph's Institution |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 4–7 | 2026 · 4–7 |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 6–8 | 2026 · 4–8 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 7–13 | 2026 · 7–12 |
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.
How to choose between them
Both schools sit in the South zone with IP tracks and strong heritage, but they serve different families. ACS(I) suits parents who want co-ed breadth and a wide CCA spread; SJI appeals to those drawn to a tighter boys' brotherhood and Singapore's oldest Catholic tradition.
Consider Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) if…
- Co-ed setting with 20 DSA areas and 12 SYF Distinctions
- Methodist heritage and the IP track in one integrated package
Consider St. Joseph's Institution if…
- COP floor of 4 signals one of the most selective intakes around
- 172-year Lasallian brotherhood culture that alumni carry for life
Choose ACS(I) for co-ed breadth and performing arts strength; choose SJI if the boys' school brotherhood and Catholic ethos feel like home.
Get to know each school
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
The ACS family began in 1886, while ACS (Independent) became an independent school in January 1988 and moved from Barker Road to Dover Road in January 1992. MOE’s Heritage Centre records the introduction of its dual-track model in 2004 and IB World School accreditation in 2005. These milestones explain how the present routes developed. The school’s six-year history also includes pre-university education, so an account of Years 5 and 6 should not automatically be treated as a secondary pupil’s experience.
The school profile updated in September 2026 describes a four-year Secondary Education Certificate route and a six-year Integrated Programme leading to the IB Diploma. It says the IP allows progression to pre-university study without sitting the SEC examinations. This is a meaningful distinction when reading subject pages or community accounts: some describe preparation for an examination route, while others describe a curriculum built towards IB. Families should establish the route offered to their child and the progression conditions before comparing the experiences.
St. Joseph's Institution
SJI began as St John’s School in 1852, a free boys’ school on Bras Basah Road established by the De La Salle Brothers. It took the St Joseph’s Institution name in 1855. In 1988 it became independent and moved to Malcolm Road; after a temporary Bishan relocation for redevelopment, it returned in 2017. The dual secondary pathway and co-educational post-secondary IB Diploma began in 2013. SJI International, established separately in 2007, should not be confused with this institution when checking fees, admissions or reviews. Historical free schooling also does not describe today’s independent-school charges.
The current SEC Programme page describes a four-year route preparing boys for Secondary Education Certificate examinations, with seven- or eight-subject combinations at upper secondary. SJI’s IP is a six-year route leading to the IB Diploma. Both pages describe a lower-secondary foundation in languages, humanities, sciences and mathematics, with inquiry and research. At Years 3–4, SEC pupils have Curriculum+, including project work and career encounters; IP pupils have Year 3 ArtScience and Year 4 Signum Fidei projects with external organisations. Confirm which route an offer covers and its progression conditions, rather than assuming secondary entry guarantees any later course or subject choice.
CCAs and programmes
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
- Art and Crafts (Boys)
- Audio Visual Aid (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Canoeing (Boys)
- Chinese Chess (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Environmental Science (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Golf (Boys)
- Guitar Ensemble (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys)
- International and Global Studies (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Boys)
- Modular CCA (Sports) (Boys)
- Modular CCA (Vpa) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Photography (Boys)
- Physical Science (Boys)
- Publication (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys)
- Social Studies (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Space Science (Boys)
- Squash (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Boys)
- String Ensemble (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys)
St. Joseph's Institution
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- CROSS COUNTRY
- Canoeing (Boys)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Boys)
- Choir (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Boys)
- English Drama (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Guitar Ensemble (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys)
- Indian Culture and Language (Boys)
- Malay Culture and Language (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Pipe Band (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
- Badminton (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Bowling (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys) - IP
- Canoeing (Boys)
- Canoeing (Boys) - IP
- Cricket (Boys)
- Cricket (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Football (Boys)
- Football (Boys) - IP
- Golf (Boys)
- Golf (Boys) - IP
- Humanities (Boys)
- Humanities (Boys) - IP
- International Chess (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys) - IP
- Mathematics (Boys)
- Mathematics (Boys) - IP
- Music Elective Programme (Boys)
- Music Elective Programme (Boys) - IP
- Robotics (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys) - IP
- Rugby (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys) - IP
- Sailing (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys) - IP
- Science (Boys)
- Science (Boys) - IP
- Shooting (Boys)
- Shooting (Boys) - IP
- Softball (Boys)
- Softball (Boys) - IP
- Squash (Boys)
- Squash (Boys) - IP
- Swimming (Boys)
- Swimming (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Volleyball (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys) - IP
- Water Polo (Boys)
- Water Polo (Boys) - IP
Listed DSA programmes at St. Joseph's Institution
- Badminton (Boys)
- Badminton (Boys) - IP
- Basketball (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys) - IP
- Canoeing (Boys)
- Canoeing (Boys) - IP
- Coding (Boys)
- Coding (Boys) - IP
- Cross Country (Boys)
- Cross Country (Boys) - IP
- Floorball (Boys)
- Floorball (Boys) - IP
- Football (Boys)
- Football (Boys) - IP
- Hockey (Boys)
- Hockey (Boys) - IP
- International Chess (Boys)
- International Chess (Boys) - IP
- Judo (Boys)
- Judo (Boys) - IP
- Leadership (Boys)
- Leadership (Boys) - IP
- Programming and 3D Modelling (Boys)
- Programming and 3D Modelling (Boys) - IP
- Robotics (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys) - IP
- Rugby (Boys)
- Rugby (Boys) - IP
- Sailing (Boys)
- Sailing (Boys) - IP
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Taekwondo (Boys)
- Taekwondo (Boys) - IP
- Tennis (Boys)
- Tennis (Boys) - IP
- Track and Field (Boys)
- Track and Field (Boys) - IP
- Visual Arts (Boys)
- Visual Arts (Boys) - IP
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and St. Joseph's Institution?
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 (Independent) 2026 · 4–7; St. Joseph's Institution 2026 · 4–7. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 2026 · 6–8; St. Joseph's Institution 2026 · 4–8. PG3 · Affiliated: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) 2026 · 7–13; St. Joseph's Institution 2026 · 7–12.
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.