School MattersCommonwealth Secondary School vs Pasir Ris Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Commonwealth Secondary School | Pasir Ris Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Not listed |
| Zone | West | East |
| Address | 698 West Coast Road | 390 Tampines Street 21 |
| Nearest MRT | Jurong East, Clementi | Tampines, Tampines East, Tampines West |
| Listed CCAs | 20 | 14 |
| DSA listings | 13 | 8 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Commonwealth Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Broadcasting (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Pasir Ris Secondary School also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Design and Innovation (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 5 DSA programme listings. Commonwealth Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Boys), Coding (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Pasir Ris Secondary School also lists Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Digital Media (Girls and Boys), Volleyball (Girls and Boys), 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 Commonwealth Secondary School: Jurong East, Clementi; for Pasir Ris Secondary School: Tampines, Tampines East, Tampines West. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Commonwealth Secondary School | Pasir Ris Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 8–13 | 2026 · 11–17 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 2026 · 25–27 |
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
Commonwealth Secondary School
Commonwealth Secondary began in 1964 as Tanglin Integrated Vocational Secondary School. It became Tanglin Secondary in 1969 and Commonwealth Secondary in 1972, commemorating the previous year's Commonwealth heads-of-government meeting in Singapore. It moved through two Jurong East campuses before reaching West Coast Road in 2006. Autonomous status dates to 1995, followed by recognised environmental-education and design-and-innovation centres in 2008 and 2016. This history helps explain its current mix of practical making, environmental learning and performing arts.
The eco-stewardship curriculum describes Geography water-quality investigations in the stream and wetland, Science farm-to-table work, and hydroponic design in Craft and Technology. Campus spaces include a rainforest, marine aquarium, plant nursery and indoor and outdoor farms. These are concrete learning settings; the pages do not give a fixed fieldwork allocation for every cohort. CCA projects also link sustainability with community partners and causes such as responsible consumption or animal welfare. Parents can ask how often students use these spaces within ordinary lessons.
Pasir Ris Secondary School
Pasir Ris Secondary opened on 2 January 1985 as the first secondary school in Tampines, initially borrowing Chongzheng Primary’s premises. It moved to Tampines Street 21 four months later and officially opened on 20 August 1987. Single-session operations began in 2000. After PRIME upgrading during 2006–07, the school returned to its current site in January 2008. This history distinguishes it from Pasir Ris Crest Secondary, a different school. Its longstanding Pride and Responsibility motto provides background, while current programme pages explain what pupils actually undertake.
Shine@PRSS is a broad-based music and performing-arts LLP, with a progression from exposure towards specialisation. Listed experiences include Cultural Fusion modules, theatre, MUSEIT and assembly showcases. Separately, Sec 1–2 Interdisciplinary Project Work uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals: pupils research national and international sources, then investigate issues at school or community level and engage stakeholders. STEAM is integrated into lessons and supported by a festival. These programmes offer different ways to apply learning; the published list does not promise every showcase or specialist arts pathway to every pupil.
CCAs and programmes
Commonwealth Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Broadcasting (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Dragon Boat (Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Indian Dance (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Percussion Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
Pasir Ris Secondary School
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Design and Innovation (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Commonwealth Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Coding (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Tamil Language (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Pasir Ris Secondary School
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Digital Media (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Commonwealth Secondary School and Pasir Ris Secondary 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?
PG3 · Non-affiliated: Commonwealth Secondary School 2026 · 8–13; Pasir Ris Secondary School 2026 · 11–17. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Commonwealth Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Pasir Ris Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Commonwealth Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Pasir Ris Secondary School 2026 · 25–27.
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.