Primary School Ranking [2023]: Who Is The Best?

Singapore is famous for a lot of things like cleanliness, street food, and ease of doing business. Another thing that Singapore is famous for is the quality of education provided in the country. Singapore's education system is considered amongst the best in the world. It offers a lot of different programs for students and prepares them for their professional lives from a very young age.

Like everywhere else in the world, the first step in the education ladder in Singapore is your "Primary School." There are over 180 schools in Singapore, and they all have their own strengths. The school you choose will lay the foundation for your child's education. So parents are very serious about selecting the right school for their kids.

To help parents make a decision, here is a list of schools that that is the most popular in 2023.

 

2023 Ranking By Popularity

Rank	Primary School	Popularity
1	Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School	255%
2	Gongshang Primary School	197%
3	Riverside Primary School	153%
4	Red Swastika School	147%
5	Punggol Green Primary School	146%
6	Princess Elizabeth Primary School	143%
7	Westwood Primary School	139%
8	Ai Tong School	133%
9	Frontier Primary School	131%
	Oasis Primary School
10	Methodist Girls’ School (Primary Section)	129%
11	Temasek Primary School	127%
12	Punggol View Primary School	126%
	West Spring Primary School
13	CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary Section)	124%
14	Chongzheng Primary School	122%
	Pei Chun Public School
	South View Primary School
15	Rulang Primary School	119%
16	Holy Innocents’ Primary School	117%
17	Horizon Primary School	116%
18	Radin Mas Primary School	113%
19	Fairfield Methodist School (Primary)	111%
20	Northland Primary School	103%
	Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (Primary)
	Wellington Primary School
21	Yu Neng Primary School	102%
22	Sengkang Green Primary School	91%
23	Pasir Ris Primary School	89%
24	Yangzheng Primary School	88%
25	Chongfu School	86%
26	Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)	85%
27	Admiralty Primary School	84%
28	Maris Stella High School (Primary Section)	83%
	Xinmin Primary School
29	Keming Primary School	82%
30	Fern Green Primary School	79%
31	CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)	78%
	Dazhong Primary School
32	Waterway Primary School	77%
33	River Valley Primary School	75%
	Springdale Primary School
34	Tampines Primary School	74%
35	Bukit Panjang Primary School	69%
36	Kong Hwa School	68%
37	Valour Primary School	67%
38	Zhenghua Primary School	66%
39	Huamin Primary School	65%
40	Maha Bodhi School	64%
	Punggol Cove Primary School
41	Jing Shan Primary School	63%
42	Anderson Primary School	61%
	Fengshan Primary School
43	Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School	58%
	Naval Base Primary School
	Shuqun Primary School
44	St. Andrew’s Junior School	56%
45	Telok Kurau Primary School	55%
	West View Primary School
46	Jurong Primary School	53%
	Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
	Woodgrove Primary School
47	St. Anthony’s Primary School	52%
	St. Joseph’s Institution Junior
48	Tanjong Katong Primary School	49%
49	Jiemin Primary School	48%
	Punggol Primary School
50	Chua Chu Kang Primary School	47%
51	Junyuan Primary School	45%
52	Anchor Green Primary School	44%
	North Vista Primary School
	Woodlands Primary School
53	Fuhua Primary School	41%
54	Casuarina Primary School	40%
	Fernvale Primary School
55	Hong Wen School	38%
56	Qifa Primary School	37%
57	Jurong West Primary School	36%
	Nan Chiau Primary School
58	CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel	35%
	Meridian Primary School
59	Kranji Primary School	34%
60	CHIJ (Katong) Primary	33%
	St. Gabriel’s Primary School
61	Geylang Methodist School (Primary)	32%
62	Lakeside Primary School	30%
	Poi Ching School
	Rivervale Primary School
	St. Margaret’s Primary School
63	Ngee Ann Primary School	29%
64	Mee Toh School	28%
	Pei Tong Primary School
65	Canberra Primary School	27%
	Concord Primary School
	Haig Girls’ School
	Mayflower Primary School
	Peiying Primary School
	Yishun Primary School
66	Elias Park Primary School	25%
67	Zhangde Primary School	24%
68	Canossa Catholic Primary School	23%
	Farrer Park Primary School
	Greendale Primary School
69	Queenstown Primary School	22%
70	Evergreen Primary School	21%
	Northshore Primary School
71	Woodlands Ring Primary School	20%
72	CHIJ Our Lady of The Nativity	18%
	Si Ling Primary School
	White Sands Primary School
	Yumin Primary School
73	De La Salle School	17%
	East Spring Primary School
	Greenridge Primary School
	Park View Primary School
	Teck Ghee Primary School
74	Bedok Green Primary School	16%
	Edgefield Primary School
	Innova Primary School
	Qihua Primary School
	Xingnan Primary School
	Xishan Primary School
75	Blangah Rise Primary School	15%
	Compassvale Primary School
	Kheng Cheng School
	North View Primary School
	Sembawang Primary School
76	Alexandra Primary School	14%
	Cedar Primary School
	CHIJ (Kellock)
	Montfort Junior School
	Opera Estate Primary School
	Unity Primary School
	West Grove Primary School
77	Ang Mo Kio Primary School	13%
	Marsiling Primary School
	St. Stephen’s School
	Tampines North Primary School
78	Angsana Primary School	12%
	Changkat Primary School
	Clementi Primary School
	Fuchun Primary School
	Hougang Primary School
	Townsville Primary School
	Yuhua Primary School
79	Palm View Primary School	10%
	Teck Whye Primary School
	Zhonghua Primary School
80	Beacon Primary School	9%
81	Bukit Timah Primary School	8%
	First Toa Payoh Primary School
	North Spring Primary School
82	Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School	7%
	Bukit View Primary School
	Endeavour Primary School
	Greenwood Primary School
83	Bendemeer Primary School	6%
	Boon Lay Garden Primary School
	Corporation Primary School
	Damai Primary School
	Lianhua Primary School
	St. Anthony’s Canossian Primary School
	Xinghua Primary School
	Yio Chu Kang Primary School
84	CHIJ Our Lady Queen of Peace	5%
	Marymount Convent School
	Yew Tee Primary School
85	Gan Eng Seng Primary School	4%
	Northoaks Primary School
	Seng Kang Primary School
86	Cantonment Primary School	3%
	New Town Primary School

 

School Rankings in Singapore

The Ministry of Education in Singapore doesn't release an official ranking for the schools. So it is up to the parents to think and choose which school would be the best for their kids. They look at factors like the academic performance, infrastructure, and teaching methodology of different schools in order to select the right one for their child.

Some parents also tend to go for popularity as they believe the more popular the school, the better it is for their kids. However, the elementary school tutor and writer for PapersOwl argues that many popular schools do not provide children with the necessary level of knowledge, and as a result, most student get personal tutors or go to additional classes. Schools usually get their popularity because of high academic results, so it seems like an excellent option to go for the more popular schools in the city-state. However, this isn't always true. Parents should always look at different factors and then see which school resonates with their child's personality and interests and then choose that school.

 

Factors That May Affect Parent's Decision in Choosing the Right School for Their Child

There are many different factors that parents consider when it comes to choosing the right school for their child. Let's take a look at some of those factors.

The Popularity of the School

Parents all over the world can relate to this. When you put your kid in a popular school, then you expect good results from them. Therefore, the popularity of the school is a significant deciding factor. The problem with going to the more popular school is that it often tends to be very crowded, and teachers may not be able to emphasize individual growth.

The Facilities of the School

Another factor that parents consider is the facilities provided by the school. This includes things like their computer labs, their library, quality food, etc. The facilities available at the school affect your child's learning experience and outside growth as well.
 

Does the School Offer Gifted Education Program (GEP) ​

One thing that's very important for gifted kids is to encourage their special skills. So schools with GEP programs are more popular among parents. This is because the schools give extra attention to students with a high level of intelligence and help them develop it further. In addition, these schools usually have smaller class sizes, so the student gets more individual attention from the teachers.

Considering if you should enroll your child in GEP, we have some advice for you in this article.

Does the School Offer Special Assistance Plan (SAP) or Not?

A special assistance plan helps children who are not doing well in academics and need more help than the average student. Many schools offer these plans to their students for free or at a discounted price. So if you want your child to receive this kind of special care, then choose a school that offers these kinds of plans to its students.

Is The Respective School Represented In The Singapore National School Games?

This is another important factor that parents should know about. Every year, National School Games take place in Singapore, and many schools participate in it. Students from different levels (primary and secondary) take part in it and show their talent at such a young age. This is an important opportunity for these kids to get noticed by the people who matter, so it is better to choose a school which regularly takes part in the event.

Does The School Have Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs)?

Another important factor that parents tend to care about is the availability of co-curricular activities in the school. Co-curricular activity refers to extracurricular activities for students. These are things like sports, dance, music, etc. The more CCA options the school provides, the better it is for your child. Likewise, the more active learning methods they use, the better it is for your kid.

The School's Achievement in Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation

If your kid is interested in arts and crafts, then this is the factor to look for. Every year different schools participate in the Youth Festival Arts Presentation. If your kid wants to have a career in arts, then you can choose a school that performs exceptionally well at this event. This is an important opportunity for parents as they can judge how a certain school will help in the growth and development of your child's skills.

 

How to Choose the Best School for Your Kids in Singapore

Choosing the best school for your kids in Singapore will not depend on only one factor but a collection of different aspects. We are going to go through some of the important factors that will help you choose the right school for your kids.

Co-Ed Or Single Sex School: Which One Is Better?

When you talk about the best school in Singapore, it is very important to consider one of the most important factors parents usually care about. This factor does not depend upon your child's learning qualities but also on their social skills.

So should parents send their kids to a single-sex school, or should they go to a co-ed school?

Many people believe that it is better for parents to choose a co-ed school for their kids as it can help with their social development and give a boost to their confidence levels. But there are also some parents who believe that single-sex schools will help kids in their future learning and professional development. It usually depends on the culture and traditions in the family.

We have an article on this, read it here.

The Distance from the House to the School

The distance of the school from your home should also be considered by parents when they are looking for a good school for their child. The more you will have to travel every day, the less time you will spend with your friends and family after school hours. So this is yet another important factor that parents should consider when choosing a school for their kids. If you are planning to find a new home to stay so as to be closer to your desired school, read our article on choosing the best location for schooling purposes.

The School's Culture: Is It The Right Fit For Your Child?

Every school has its own culture and tradition. Parents should choose a culture that will fit their kid's personality. For example, if you want your child to be an introvert, you should definitely avoid schools with extrovert cultures, as this can cause trouble for them at such a young age. It is very important for parents to choose a school culture that will help their kids' personalities grow.

 

It Is Better To Choose A Primary School That Is Affiliated With A Secondary School

The affiliation of a primary school with a secondary school is very important because not only does this mean that your child will get quality education from primary school to secondary school, but affiliated schools will help your child in getting admission in the secondary school once they are done with primary school. The admission process can be very difficult for some of the schools. However, if your child's primary school is affiliated with a secondary school, then it would be easy for them to get admission.

 

Special Education Needs Schools in Singapore

You need to teach your child how to cope with their disabilities. So if you have a kid who needs special education help, then you should definitely find the best school in Singapore which provides them with special care. If you fail to give special care to kids with learning disabilities, it can negatively affect their self-esteem and confidence levels. This is why parents need to pick schools that offer special education services according to the disability level of their children. There are many private schools that provide this kind of service, but they also cost more than regular schools.

 

Different Types of Primary Schools in Singapore

The primary school in Singapore can be divided into four different categories, which are as follows;

1. Government Schools
2. Government Aided Schools
3. Independent Schools
4. Specialized Independent School

No matter the primary school, your child will always have to take the PSLE to move on to the secondary school

Government Schools:

Government schools have a standardized fee structure and provide quality education to children. Singapore's public schools are famous for their quality education. These schools follow a national syllabus.

Government Aided Schools:

Different communities and organizations set up these schools with the help of the government. One common example is the government-aided schools that started in partnership with the Christian community, like the Catholics Primary School. So there are many different government-aided schools in Singapore.

Independent Schools: (Private Schools)

These schools are set up by private communities or individuals and not by the government. They have a good fee structure that is usually expensive compared to government schools or aided schools. They also have the liberty to set up their own syllabus and programs. The quality of education in Government schools is so good that many people tend to prefer government schools over independent or private schools.

Specialized Independent School:

These schools are especially for children with different kinds of special education needs. These kids require more individualized attention from their teachers, and this is why they require specialized educational institutions where they can learn according to their abilities and disabilities. This is why the specialized independent schools have a good quality of teaching, highly trained teachers, and a unique curriculum to suit their needs.

 

School Fees Is Also a Deciding Factor

The fee of the primary school is an important deciding factor. However, even if the school offers high standard education, it does not matter much if you cannot afford to pay their fees. So before selecting a school for your child, make sure that they are affordable for you so that your child gets a quality education without having to worry too much about the expenses.

Primary School Fees in Singapore

The fee you are going to pay for school in Singapore is going to depend on the school you choose. Another significant factor that will determine your school fees is going to be your residential status in the city-state. Government schools are usually less expensive than independent schools, and they have a fixed fee set by the government. However, independent schools are allowed to set up their own fee structure, which is why they are usually more expensive.

If you are a Singapore citizen, then you will pay the least amount of money; the school fees are going to be higher for permanent residents and even higher for international students. The difference in fees for the citizens and international students is remarkable, and this happens across the board with all types of schools in Singapore.

A Singaporean citizen does not have to pay monthly fees for primary school education. However, every student will still be charged a monthly miscellaneous fee of $6.5. Meanwhile, permanent residents have to pay $255 per month for primary school in 2023.

An international student must pay between $515 to $875 for primary school, depending on whether they belong to an ASEAN country or not. The standard miscellaneous fees also apply to permanent residents and international students.

Can You Get Financial Support for Education in Singapore

Yes, you can get financial support from the government for education in Singapore. It can also depend on your school itself, your residence status, and the type of education you want. There are different financial assistance programs along with merit-based scholarships for children who wish to have a quality education but don't have the means to afford it.

Read more about the edusave scholarship award here.

 

What Is Primary 1 (P1) Registration Process In Singapore?

It is necessary for all Singapore citizens to apply for P1 registration for their kids if they want to enroll their children in a primary school in this country. This registration is mandatory unless your kid has been exempted in special circumstances or received a deferment.

Permanent residents and international students can also apply for P1, but registration is not compulsory for them. The process will register your kid for getting admission to mainstream primary schools in Singapore in the coming year.

Remember you must choose a primary school for your kid before registering for P1. The process will be conducted in different phases, so you must know their dates.

 

When Do You Have To Register For P1?

It is no secret that primary school for your child in Singapore will begin when they turn seven. This is why the P1 registration process for your kid will begin a half year before. So if you had a kid between 2^nd January 2017 to 1^st January 2018, you could register them this year to start their primary school in 2024.

The best thing is that the government has made it easier to check eligibility for registration through an eligibility checker. You can insert the correct birthdate of your child to know whether they can enter primary school in 2024 or not.

 

When Will The P1 Registration Exercise Begin This Year?

There is not much time left for the beginning of the P1 registration exercise this year. The process will start on 4^th July 2023, and end on 18^th August 2023. You can apply for different phases of registration during this period.

Remember you must meet at least one requirement of the specific registration phase before applying. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements, you cannot register your kid to start primary school in 2024.

 

The Different Phases Of Primary 1 Registration

The main feature of each phase is that you can only apply for one primary school. Here are the various phases of P1 registration and their key dates:

Phase 1

This phase is mainly for a kid with a sibling who is currently studying in a primary school in Singapore. If your young one has older siblings who are studying in this country, you can register your kid in this phase. All eligible applicants in this stage will be offered a place in a primary school.

The registration process for this phase begins on 4^th July 2023 at 9 am. You must apply before 4:30 pm on 5^th July 2023 to ensure your kid is registered in this stage. The results for this phase will be uploaded on the online portal one week later, on 11^th July 2023.

Phase 2A

The 2A phase for students meeting various eligibility requirements. If a kid has a parent or sibling who studied in a specific primary school, they can register in this phase. Children with siblings or a parent in the alumni association of that school are also eligible for this phase.

You can also register your child in this phase if you're a School Advisory or Management Committee member. Kids with a parent who is a staff member of a primary school are also covered by Phase 2A.

The registration process for 2A will begin on 12^th July 2023 at 9 am. It will end on 14^th July 2023 at 4:30 pm. The results for this stage will be released on 21st July 2023.

Phase 2B

Phase 2B is mainly for three types of eligible kids. If you joined the relevant primary school as a parent volunteer before 1^st July 2022 (the year before Primary 1 registration) and have at least 40 hours of voluntary service in that school, you can register your kid in this phase. Remember you must complete these hours before 30^th June 2023 (the year of registration).

Children with parents who are endorsed by a clan or church that is directly affiliated with the specific primary school are also eligible for Phase 2B. The final type of kid who can register for this phase is one with a parent with an active community leader status.

However, you can only register your kid in schools that are within 2 kilometers of your house if they’re eligible because of your leader status. It is also necessary to stay at that address for 30 months from the beginning of the exercise to prevent your child from being transferred to another institute.

You can register your kid for Phase 2B on 24^th July 2023 at 9 am. The registration process will end on 25^th July 2023 at 4:30 pm. Results will be available on 31^st July 2023.

Another thing you must note is that the government will reserve 20 places in every mainstream primary school for this phase. So there is tough competition for your kid to get into the school of your choice through this phase due to limited seats.

Phase 2C

Phase 2C is only for kids who have not been registered in a primary school yet. Children who do not meet the requirements of the earlier phases can register in this stage. Every primary school in Singapore will have 40 seats for students registered in Phase 2C.

Permanent residents can apply at this stage, but there will be a capacity limit for these students in various schools. This is to ensure that there will be enough seats for the country's citizens.

The registration process for this phase will begin on 1^st August 2023 at 9 am. It will finish on 3^rd August 2023 at 4:30 pm. The results will be announced on 15^th August.

Phase 2C Supplementary

This is an optional phase that is mainly for students who have not been admitted into a primary school after the 2C stage. Permanent residents will again face a restriction on intake capacity to prevent a high concentration of such kids in a specific primary school.

You can register your child for this phase starting from 17^th August 2023 to 18^th August 2023. The portal will be open from 9 am to 4:30 pm between these dates. Remember, the waiting time for results is greater for this phase.

The results will be announced on 29^th August 2023 for the 2C supplementary phase.

 

What Is Balloting?

Every parent wants their kid to go to a reputable institute, which is why you may have only specific schools in mind. However, it is not always possible to get admission into a school of your choice. Balloting mainly occurs when the number of registration applications is greater than the number of empty seats in primary schools.

This mainly happens between when Phase 2A to 2C. A computerized system is used for balloting to offer every child an equal chance of getting into a specific primary school. Admissions are prioritized in a specific order.

Singapore citizens who live within one kilometer of that school are the first choice during the process. Then, citizens who live within 2 kilometers of the school are prioritized. Singapore citizens outside the 2-kilometer radius are the main choice after the earlier students.

Once the country’s citizens are done, permanent residents are offered admission in the same distance order.

 

Can You Change Your School Choice When Registering For A Phase?

You are allowed to change the preferred primary school for your kid, but it will require you to delete the first registration. This will allow you to submit a new application to a different school. Remember, this is only possible if the registration portal is still open.

Once you have submitted your registration and the phase has ended, you cannot change the school.

 

What To Do If Your Child Has Gotten Admission In One Phase, But You Want To Apply For Another Phase?

All parents are allowed to apply for different phases of P1 registration if their child meets the requirements. However, you cannot apply for a different phase if you have gotten a place in a primary school in an earlier phase unless you delete the previous registration.

This means if your child got admission to a school in the 2A phase, but you want them to go to a different school through the 2B phase, you will have to withdraw their admission through the P1 portal successfully.

 

How Can International Students Get Admission Into Primary Schools In Singapore?

Singapore citizens and permanent residents can apply for phases one and two of the P1 registration process for admission. International citizens are prioritized at the end of Phase 3.

Phase 3 is a separate two-step process in which you have to fill out an online form for your interested school that will allow you to register later. You will be notified through email in October about whether you have been admitted into a school or not.

The submissions of the online form for Phase 3 have already taken place from 30^th May 2023 to 5^th June 2023. If you didn’t submit a form for your child during this period, you cannot register for Phase 3.

 

Conclusion

The quality of education in Singapore is remarkably high; however, the tricky part is selecting the right school for your child. With so many different schools in the city-state (and all offering quality education), it can be challenging to identify the right school for your child. However, these factors can help you choose the right school for your child that resonates with their personality and one that can help them grow both personally and academically.