School MattersChung Cheng High School (Main) 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 | Chung Cheng High School (Main) | River Valley High School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | SAP · Autonomous | IP · SAP · Autonomous |
| Zone | East | West |
| Address | 50 Goodman Road | 6 Boon Lay Avenue |
| Nearest MRT | Dakota | Boon Lay, Lakeside |
| Listed CCAs | 22 | 22 |
| DSA listings | 9 | 16 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 14 CCA listings. Chung Cheng High School (Main) also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Chess (Girls and Boys), Digital Media (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. River Valley High School also lists Basketball (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys), English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls) 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. Chung Cheng High School (Main) also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Language (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and 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
- Chung Cheng High School (Main): SAP; River Valley High School: IP / SAP. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Chung Cheng High School (Main): Dakota; 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 | Chung Cheng High School (Main) | River Valley High School |
|---|---|---|
| IP · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 4M–9M |
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 5D–10M | 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
Chung Cheng High School (Main)
Chung Cheng began as a boys' school at Kim Yam Road on 24 January 1939. It closed during the Japanese Occupation and reopened in 1945, admitting girls. The Goodman Road campus became Chung Cheng High School (Main) in 1947; the original campus became the Branch school, which later moved to Yishun. The school joined the Special Assistance Plan in 1979 and became autonomous in 1996. Its Administration Building and Entrance Arch were gazetted together as a National Monument in 2014. The school records the reopening of the Grand Auditorium in July 2025.
Students mention the lake when describing their school days. A 2024 graduate described walking beside it when studies felt overwhelming, and staying in classrooms to study after lessons. In a separate account, a self-described Secondary 4 student wrote about spending time revising in the “fish tank” study space. The 2024 graduate also gave specific examples of teacher help: optional Additional Maths lessons during the June holidays, Chemistry revision sessions for a small group, and teachers willing to mark extra work. The Secondary 4 writer praised their upper-secondary teachers but said their lower-secondary experience had been disappointing. For an incoming Secondary 1 family, support in the first two years is worth asking about.
- Chung Cheng High School (Main): school history
- National Heritage Board: Chung Cheng Main Administration Building and Entrance Arch
- 2024 graduate: school environment and teacher support
- CCHM glaze: a self-described Secondary 4 student’s account
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
Chung Cheng High School (Main)
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Calligraphy and Brush Painting (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Chess (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Digital Media (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Lion and Dragon Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Scouts (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and 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 Chung Cheng High School (Main)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Language (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and 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 Chung Cheng High School (Main) 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: Chung Cheng High School (Main) Not listed; River Valley High School 2026 · 4M–9M. PG3 · Non-affiliated: Chung Cheng High School (Main) 2026 · 5D–10M; 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.