School Matters

Getting things ready

Xinmin Secondary 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

CompareXinmin Secondary SchoolYishun Secondary School
School typeCo-Ed SchoolCo-Ed School
LevelSecondary (S1-S4)Secondary (S1-S4)
School tagsAutonomousNot listed
ZoneNorthNorth
Address11 Hougang Avenue 84 Yishun Street 71
Nearest MRTHougangYishun, Khatib
Listed CCAs1919
DSA listings1410

Differences to explore

CCA
The records share 7 CCA listings. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys), Badminton (Girls), Chinese Dance (Girls), Cross Country (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Girl Guides (Girls) 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. 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. Yishun Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls and Boys), Basketball (Girls and Boys), Football (Boys), Indian 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.
The daily journey
Nearby MRT stations listed for Xinmin Secondary School: Hougang; for Yishun Secondary School: Yishun, Khatib. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.

Recorded entry ranges

CompareXinmin Secondary SchoolYishun Secondary School
PG3 · Non-affiliated2026 · 8–132026 · 12–20
PG2 · Non-affiliated2026 · 21–232026 · 21–24
PG1 · Non-affiliated2026 · 25–282026 · 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

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.

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

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)

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 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)

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 Xinmin Secondary 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: Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 8–13; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 12–20. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Yishun Secondary School 2026 · 21–24. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; 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.