School MattersNan Chiau High School vs Yishun Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Nan Chiau High School | Yishun Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | SAP | Not listed |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 20 Anchorvale Link | 4 Yishun Street 71 |
| Nearest MRT | Sengkang, Renjong, Tongkang | Yishun, Khatib |
| Listed CCAs | 23 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 8 | 10 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 9 CCA listings. Nan Chiau High School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys), Chinese Calligraphy and Brush Painting (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Secondary School also lists Boys' Brigade (Boys), Football (Boys), Girl Guides (Girls), Guzheng Ensemble (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 2 DSA programme listings. Nan Chiau High School also lists Bilingualism (Girls and Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys), Table Tennis (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Secondary School also lists English Drama (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Indian Dance (Girls and Boys), Malay 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
- Nan Chiau High School: SAP; Yishun Secondary School: no IP or SAP tag listed. Check the specific programme your child would enter.
- The daily journey
- Nearby MRT stations listed for Nan Chiau High School: Sengkang, Renjong, Tongkang; for Yishun Secondary School: Yishun, Khatib. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Nan Chiau High School | Yishun Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 4M–11M | 2026 · 12–20 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | Not listed | 2026 · 21–24 |
| 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
Nan Chiau High School
Nan Chiau’s history starts with the teachers’ training school founded by Tan Kah Kee in 1941 on land donated by Lee Kong Chian. Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan converted it into Nan Chiau Girls’ High with a primary section in 1947. It became co-educational in 1984; the two sections moved to Sengkang as separate schools in 2001. The secondary school received SAP status in 2012 and introduced CLEP-Sec in 2020. This explains the institutional emphasis on bilingual and bicultural learning without confusing it with the primary school’s programmes.
The ALP page describes Sec 1 electronics lessons using Arduino, held fortnightly for 90 minutes over one semester, with pupils working in pairs. It also lists six forensic-science lessons in the second semester, from DNA and blood typing to fingerprint analysis. Sec 2 extends design thinking and programming into team projects, including healthcare devices and research on bacterial growth, with reports and presentations. Selected Sec 3 pupils can enter applied-science competitions. These are progressively different activities; the competition opportunities belong to the talent tier rather than every pupil’s timetable.
Yishun Secondary School
MOE records establishment in January 1986 at 4 Yishun Street 71 and the official opening on 19 August 1988. Single-session schooling began in 1999, with PRIME upgrading in 2002 and a Heritage Walk launched for the 25th anniversary in 2011. Sonic Arts ALP recognition followed in 2014, and Community and Youth Leadership LLP in 2015. This is Yishun Secondary, not Yishun Town Secondary: the similar names do not make their histories, reviews or programmes interchangeable. Families should check the full school name when following community links or reading older accounts.
The current distinctive programme brings music arrangement and technology together with community outreach. Tier 1 introduces all pupils through music lessons: Secondary 1 builds foundations and Secondary 2 explores music technology with industry professionals. Tier 2 offers deeper masterclasses and recording-studio work for pupils with stronger interest, plus Vocalistic and Arts Extravaganza showcase platforms. Tier 3 is for selected pupils representing the school in competitions and community performances. This is a clearer picture than simply calling the school musical: everyday learning and advanced representation carry different participation requirements.
CCAs and programmes
Nan Chiau High School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Audio Visual Aid (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and 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)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Red Cross Youth (Girls and Boys)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Student Leadership (Council) (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Track and Field (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Yishun Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (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)
- Netball (Girls)
- Robotics (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Listed DSA programmes at Nan Chiau High School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bilingualism (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Chinese Orchestra (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Visual Arts (Girls and Boys)
- Wushu (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Yishun Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Indian Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Malay Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Music (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Nan Chiau High School and Yishun 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: Nan Chiau High School 2026 · 4M–11M; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 12–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Nan Chiau High School Not listed; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Nan Chiau High School Not listed; Yishun 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.