School MattersMaris Stella High School vs Zhonghua 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 | Zhonghua Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Boys' School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | SAP · Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | South |
| Address | 25 Mount Vernon Road | 13 Serangoon Avenue 3 |
| Nearest MRT | Bartley | Serangoon |
| Listed CCAs | 18 | 20 |
| DSA listings | 18 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 1 CCA listing. Maris Stella High School also lists Badminton (Boys), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Language, Drama and Debating (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Zhonghua Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Boys' Brigade (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), Basketball (Boys), Bowling (Boys), Chinese Language (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Zhonghua Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Basketball (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls and 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.
- Programme tags
- Maris Stella High School: SAP; Zhonghua 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 Zhonghua Secondary School: Serangoon. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Maris Stella High School | Zhonghua Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 7M–12 | 2026 · 8–12 |
| PG3 · Affiliated | 2026 · 4M–16 | Not listed |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–23 |
| 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.
Zhonghua Secondary School
Zhonghua traces its roots to the 1911 Chung Hwa Girls’ School. MOE records separation of the primary and secondary sections in 1951, English-medium intake in 1980 and the transition to a co-educational government school in 1984. It took the Zhonghua Secondary name in 1987, gained autonomous status in 1996 and moved to Serangoon Avenue 3 in 2000. AEP began in 2010. These dates distinguish the earlier girls’ school and previous campuses from today’s setting. The heritage and art emphasis are substantial parts of the school’s story, but do not establish a particular pupil’s current subject access or classroom experience.
The Signature Programmes Framework sets out STEAM, Sustainability, Character and Glocal education, supported by digital literacy, eco stewardship, cross-cultural learning, leadership and talent development. The talent strand explicitly concerns identified individuals, so it should not be treated as identical access for every pupil. A framework describes the school’s intended connections rather than a weekly timetable. To judge it, ask what an incoming pupil actually does in each year, which activities sit in regular lessons or CCAs, how teachers assess the work and what opportunities require selection or additional time.
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)
Zhonghua Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Culture and Language (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Language, Drama and Debating (Girls and Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Media Resource Library (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Scouts (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Volleyball (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 Zhonghua Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Basketball (Girls)
- Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership and Character (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Maris Stella High School and Zhonghua 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; Zhonghua Secondary School 2026 · 8–12. PG3 · Affiliated: Maris Stella High School 2026 · 4M–16; Zhonghua Secondary School Not listed. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Maris Stella High School Not listed; Zhonghua Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Maris Stella High School Not listed; Zhonghua 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.