School MattersXinmin Secondary School vs Yishun Town Secondary School
Compare recorded PSLE entry ranges, CCAs, DSA programmes and location, with intake years shown alongside the data.
At a glance
| Compare | Xinmin Secondary School | Yishun Town Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| School type | Co-Ed School | Co-Ed School |
| Level | Secondary (S1-S4) | Secondary (S1-S4) |
| School tags | Autonomous | Autonomous |
| Zone | North | North |
| Address | 11 Hougang Avenue 8 | 6 Yishun Street 21 |
| Nearest MRT | Hougang | Yishun |
| Listed CCAs | 19 | 18 |
| DSA listings | 14 | 8 |
Differences to explore
- CCA
- The records share 7 CCA listings. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Cross Country (Girls and Boys), Debating and Public Speaking (Girls and Boys), Floorball (Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Town Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Bowling (Girls and Boys), Environmental Science (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 3 DSA programme listings. Xinmin Secondary School also lists Badminton (Girls), Boys' Brigade (Boys), Choir (Girls and Boys), Concert Band (Girls and Boys) and more, which do not appear in the other school's records. Yishun Town Secondary School also lists Basketball (Girls and Boys), Bilingualism (Girls and Boys), Bowling (Girls and Boys), Table Tennis (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 Town Secondary School: Yishun. Compare the full journey from home, including transfers and the walk to school.
Recorded entry ranges
| Compare | Xinmin Secondary School | Yishun Town Secondary School |
|---|---|---|
| PG3 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 8–13 | 2026 · 5–13 |
| PG2 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 21–23 | 2026 · 21–22 |
| PG1 · Non-affiliated | 2026 · 25–28 | 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.
How to choose between them
Both are solid North zone co-ed schools, but they serve different student profiles. Yishun Town attracts stronger academic performers at the top end with a COP starting at 5, while Xinmin's 80-year heritage and exceptional arts programme make it a standout for students who thrive creatively.
Consider Xinmin Secondary School if…
- 4 SYF Distinctions signals a genuinely strong arts culture
- 14 DSA areas gives talented students far more pathways in
Consider Yishun Town Secondary School if…
- COP starting at 5 means you're learning alongside high-achieving peers
- Established since 1986 with a proven North zone community track record
Choose Xinmin if arts and DSA breadth matter most; choose Yishun Town if academic peer environment is your priority.
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 Town Secondary School
MOE records Yishun Town Secondary’s establishment in January 1986 with nine classes and 13 pioneer teachers. It first shared premises with Yishun Secondary, then moved to Yishun Street 21 on 31 March 1988 and officially opened on 29 July that year. It became single-session in 1998 and gained autonomous status in 2010. The distinction matters when searching: Yishun Secondary has its own history and programmes. Older references to shared premises should not cause accounts of one school to be assigned to the other, and autonomous status is not an individual outcome guarantee.
The science page describes learning journeys and a Sagano High exchange, with deeper competitions and project investigation through talent development for interested pupils. Its concrete examples are dated: selected pupils received A*STAR scientist mentorship in 2021; Secondary 2 workshops in 2022 covered 3D design and printing, perfume and cosmetic making. These show past practice, not a promise of the same mentor, destination or workshop for the next cohort. A prospective family can ask what the current common experience includes and how access to deeper research or Olympiad preparation is decided.
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 Town Secondary School
- Art and Crafts (Girls and Boys)
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bowling (Girls and Boys)
- Boys' Brigade (Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- Choir (Girls and Boys)
- Concert Band (Girls and Boys)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Environmental Science (Boys)
- Girl Guides (Girls)
- Infocomm Technology (Computing) (Girls and Boys)
- International Chess (Girls and Boys)
- National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) (Girls and Boys)
- National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) (Girls and Boys)
- Photography (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (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 Town Secondary School
- Basketball (Girls and Boys)
- Bilingualism (Girls and Boys)
- Bowling (Girls and Boys)
- Chinese Dance (Girls)
- English Drama (Girls and Boys)
- Shooting (Girls and Boys)
- Table Tennis (Girls and Boys)
- Volleyball (Girls)
Questions about these schools
How should I choose between Xinmin Secondary School and Yishun Town 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 Town Secondary School 2026 · 5–13. PG2 · Non-affiliated: Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 21–23; Yishun Town Secondary School 2026 · 21–22. PG1 · Non-affiliated: Xinmin Secondary School 2026 · 25–28; Yishun Town 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.