School MattersMaris Stella High School vs Yusof Ishak Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Maris Stella High School | Yusof Ishak Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Boys' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | SAP · Autonomous | Not listed |
| Zone | North | East |
| Address | 25 Mount Vernon Road | 8 Sumang Walk |
| Nearest MRT | Bartley | Punggol |
| Listed CCAs | 18 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 18 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. Maris Stella High School also lists Badminton (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yusof Ishak Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls and Boys), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Orchestra (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 1 DSA programme listing. Maris Stella High School also lists Badminton (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Language (Boys), Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yusof Ishak Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys), Fencing (Girls and Boys), Modern Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Listings may be incomplete; confirm availability with each school.
- Programme tags
- Maris Stella High School: SAP; Yusof Ishak Secondary School: no IP or SAP tag listed. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Maris Stella High School: Bartley; for Yusof Ishak Secondary School: Punggol. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Maris Stella High School | Yusof Ishak Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7M–12 | 2026 · 7–15 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 4M–16 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 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
Maris Stella High School
Maris Stella plans to rebuild its Mount Vernon campuses from 2027 to 2029. Its secondary section will use the former Bedok North Secondary School site; the primary section uses a different site. The 2027 information page sets an 8am start for Sec 1–4 pupils, superseding the 7.30am routine in its general admission FAQ for that period. Return to Mount Vernon is tentatively in 2030. The secondary school remains all-boys: the move towards co-education is a primary-section change. Families should plan travel to the secondary holding campus.
Brother Chanel Soon founded Maris Stella in 1958 in borrowed classrooms at St Stephen’s, initially with both primary and secondary classes. It moved to Mount Vernon in 1967; the secondary section became a SAP school in 1979 and autonomous in 1996. The current FAQ welcomes pupils of all faiths. Some assembly activities introduce Catholic traditions to all students, while additional Catholic camps and masses are described as optional for non-Catholics. Families can discuss those arrangements directly instead of assuming either religious membership or complete absence of faith-related activities.
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
Yusof Ishak began in 1965 as Jubilee Integrated Secondary School, with English and Malay streams, and took its current name in 1966. Lee Kuan Yew officiated at its Jubilee Road opening on 29 July that year. MOE records its later Bukit Batok campus and the 2015 Heritage Gallery, which documents the first President and the school’s history. Subsequent CNA reporting places the school in Punggol. Older Jubilee Road or Bukit Batok accounts therefore need their campus context. Historical rankings and the presidential name do not establish the current experience of an individual pupil.
The Applied Learning Programme describes interdisciplinary work on sustainability and climate change, with school-wide exposure through urban farming, coding and aeronautics. Pupils interested in deeper work can pursue STEM Club or Robotics Club. The page’s 2024 examples include development of the AgriSphere Lab and garden learning spaces, hydrogen-car and drone challenges, and sustainability activities. These dated examples show past provision; they do not guarantee the same competition, expert or award to every pupil. Families can ask which practical projects are common to the incoming cohort and how club-based extensions are selected.
CCAs and programmes
Maris Stella High School
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- English Culture and Language (Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Boys)
- Outdoor Adventure (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- St John Brigade (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Taekwondo (Boys)
- Wushu (Boys)
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Maris Stella High School
- Badminton (Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Bowling (Boys)
- Chinese Language (Boys)
- Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Boys)
- Concert Band (Boys)
- English Literary - Debate and Scrabble (Boys)
- Leadership (Boys)
- Media Arts / Film / Photography (Boys)
- Robotics (Boys)
- Scouts (Boys)
- Softball (Boys)
- Sport Climbing (Boys)
- Stem (Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Taekwondo (Boys)
- Wushu (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Yusof Ishak Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Boys)
- Community Youth Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Fencing (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Softball (Girls)
- Stem (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Maris Stella High School and Yusof Ishak 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: Maris Stella High School 2026 · 7M–12; Yusof Ishak Secondary School 2026 · 7–15. PG3 · Affiliated: Maris Stella High School 2026 · 4M–16; Yusof Ishak Secondary School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Maris Stella High School Not listed; Yusof Ishak Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Maris Stella High School Not listed; Yusof Ishak 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.