School MattersOrchid Park Secondary School vs Xinmin Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Orchid Park Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Not listed | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 10 Yishun Street 81 | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 |
| Nearest MRT | Khatib | Hougang |
| Listed CCAs | 15 | 19 |
| DSA listings | 11 | 14 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 6 CCA listings. Orchid Park Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys), Cross Country (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. Orchid Park Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Chinese Dance (Girls), Choir (Girls and Boys) and more, 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 Orchid Park Secondary School: Khatib; for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Orchid Park Secondary School | Xinmin Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 10–19 | 2026 · 8–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–24 | 2026 · 21–23 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–27 | 2026 · 25–28 |
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
Orchid Park Secondary School
Orchid Park Secondary began in January 1999 at Woodlands Ring Secondary before moving to Yishun Street 81 that September. Its official opening on 21 April 2001 used a concert, Around the World in 80 Minutes. MOE’s heritage account describes later Arts Panache productions and student enterprises such as the 2002 Art Rock Café. Those businesses are historical examples, not confirmed current facilities. The ARTOPIA visual-arts niche began in 2011, extended to an ALP in 2014, and the Enhanced Art Programme launched in 2016.
The current ARTopIA page describes art, music, dance and drama through workshops, performances, exhibitions and competitions. Specific examples include open-mic sessions, a Sec 2 Battle of the Bands and a Sec 3 theatre experience. EAP is separately described as an upper-secondary art programme for pupils with interest and potential who want to pursue the subject further. The broad ALP therefore does not mean every pupil takes specialist art. Families can discuss subject-selection requirements, assessable work and how much preparation happens outside lessons.
Xinmin Secondary School
Xinmin began as Sin Min School on 1 November 1945, initially teaching primary pupils. Its founders rented three bungalows after Yap Fun Hong sold five pigs to help fund education for the Hougang-Serangoon community. Secondary classes began in 1956, and performances helped raise money for facilities in 1958. MOE’s heritage record dates autonomous status to 2001 and the Creative Arts Complex to 2015. Its 80th anniversary was in 2025. These are historical milestones; earlier examination bands or rankings do not establish a current teaching-quality ranking.
MAKERS@Xinmin combines digital and analogue making across a specially designed two-year lower-secondary curriculum. All pupils in those years learn about AI applications and ethics, and design and prototype solutions to real problems. Examples include sustainability models using AI, eco-themed games and environmental-data analysis, with workshops, pop-up sessions and showcases. This is broader than a coding club for selected enthusiasts. Ask what the child will build, how teachers supervise tool use and how a pupil with little coding experience is helped to contribute within a group.
CCAs and programmes
Orchid Park Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Sea) (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
Xinmin Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Infocomm Technology (Media Production) (Girls and Boys)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Land) (Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Students' Council (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Orchid Park Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Girls and Boys)
- Football (Boys)
- Guitar Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Leadership (Girls and Boys)
- Modern Dance (Girls and Boys)
- Netball (Girls)
- Visual Arts (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Boys)
Listed DSA programmes at Xinmin Secondary School
- Badminton (Girls)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Floorball (Boys)
- Girls' Brigade (Girls)
- Guzheng Ensemble (Girls and Boys)
- Rockwall Climbing (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- St John Brigade (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls and Boys)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Orchid Park Secondary School and Xinmin 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: Orchid Park Secondary School 2026 · 10–19; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Orchid Park Secondary School 2026 · 21–24; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Orchid Park Secondary School 2026 · 25–27; Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28.
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.