2026 Secondary School Rankings (by AL cut-off)
Navigating Singapore’s 2026 Secondary School Rankings: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents
With Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB) now established across Singapore's secondary schools, the focus for parents has shifted from simply understanding the system to strategically maximising its benefits. Now that admission through Posting Groups 3, 2, and 1 is the standard, finding the ideal school is all about identifying an environment where your child can best leverage their PSLE Achievement Level (AL) scores to customise their subject levels and excel at their own pace.
To help you navigate this process, we have compiled a comprehensive overview of the 2026 secondary school rankings.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the top-ranked schools for 2026:
The following rankings offer a clear view of the top schools, based on PSLE Achievement Level (AL) scores. This guide provides a deeper understanding of these rankings, highlighting Integrated Programme (IP) schools, Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools and schools with entry solely via the Direct School Admissions process.
At Essential Education, we closely monitor the AL cut-off points each year to ensure our students are well-informed and well-prepared for the secondary school selection process. By staying updated with the latest trends and rankings, we guide our students strategically towards achieving the AL scores needed to enter their dream schools. Through our focused English Tuition, Maths Tuition, and Science Tuition programmes, we provide the academic support and confidence they need to excel.
1. Top-Ranked Schools in 2026 (AL Cut-Off: 6)
The highest-ranked schools in Singapore continue to set the benchmark for academic excellence, offering the 6-year Integrated Programme (IP) which allows students to bypass the O-Levels and progress directly to the A-Levels or International Baccalaureate (IB). For 2026, securing a spot in these prestigious institutions requires an AL cut-off of 6.
Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) – IP SAP (Boys) | 6M
Nanyang Girls’ High School – IP SAP (Girls) | 6M
Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) – IP (Girls) | 6
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) – IP (Girls) | 6
Raffles Institution (Secondary) – IP (Boys) | 6
These schools are top choices for academically strong students, renowned for their rigorous academics, vibrant co-curricular activities, and rich leadership opportunities. Note that these schools are also independent schools, which have the flexibility to set their own fees and develop their academic and non-academic programmes.
2. Top SAP Schools in 2026
Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools cater to students with a strong aptitude for the Chinese language. These schools cultivate a bilingual and bicultural environment. If a school’s cut-off includes a letter: (D) for Distinction, (M) for Merit, or (P) for Pass.
This indicates the minimum Higher Chinese (HCL) grade required. HCL grades act as a crucial tie-breaker for students with the same AL score.
Here are the most competitive SAP schools for 2026:
Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) – IP SAP | 6M
Nanyang Girls’ High School – IP SAP | 6M
Catholic High School (Secondary) – IP SAP | 7M
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary) – IP SAP | 7M
Dunman High School (Secondary) – IP SAP | 8M
Catholic High School (Secondary) – PG3 SAP | 8M
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary) – PG3 SAP | 8M
3. DSA-Only Schools
For students with exceptional talents in specific domains such as mathematics, science, the arts, or sports, certain specialised independent schools do not participate in the standard secondary school posting exercise. Admission to these institutions is secured strictly through the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise.
NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (IP) – Focus: Advanced Math & Sciences
School of the Arts, Singapore [SOTA] (IP) – Focus: Visual, Performing & Literary Arts
School of Science and Technology, Singapore (PG3) – Focus: Applied Sciences & Technology
Singapore Sports School (PG3) – Focus: High-Performance Athletics
Complete 2026 Secondary School Rankings (IP / PG3)
Schools are organized first by PSLE AL cut-off scores, and then alphabetically for ties.
Hwa Chong Institution (Secondary) IP SAP - 6M
Nanyang Girls’ High IP SAP - 6M
Methodist Girls’ (Secondary) IP - 6
Raffles Girls’ (Secondary) IP - 6
Raffles Institution (Secondary) IP - 6
Catholic High (Secondary) IP SAP - 7M
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ (Secondary) IP SAP - 7M
Anglo-Chinese (Independent) (Secondary) IP - 7
Singapore Chinese Girls’ IP - 7
St. Joseph’s Institution (Secondary) IP - 7
Catholic High (Secondary) PG3 SAP - 8M
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ (Secondary) PG3 SAP - 8M
Dunman High (Secondary) IP SAP - 8M
Anglo-Chinese (Independent) (Secondary) PG3 - 8
Methodist Girls’ (Secondary) PG3 - 8
National Junior College (Secondary) IP - 8
Singapore Chinese Girls’ PG3 - 8
St. Joseph’s Institution (Secondary) PG3 - 8
Temasek Junior College (Secondary) IP - 8
Victoria IP - 8
River Valley High (Secondary) IP SAP - 9M
Anglo-Chinese (Barker Road) PG3 - 9
Cedar Girls’ IP - 9
Cedar Girls’ PG3 - 9
St. Andrew’s PG3 - 9
Victoria PG3 - 9
Chung Cheng High (Main) PG3 SAP - 10M
Nan Hua High PG3 SAP - 10M
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) PG3 - 10
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ (Secondary) PG3 - 10
Nan Chiau High PG3 SAP - 11M
Anderson PG3 - 11
Bukit Panjang Govt. High PG3 - 11
Chung Cheng High (Yishun) PG3 - 11
Fairfield Methodist (Secondary) PG3 - 11
St. Margaret’s (Secondary) PG3 - 11
St. Patrick’s PG3 - 11
Swiss Cottage PG3 - 11
Temasek PG3 - 11
Anglican High PG3 - 12
Maris Stella High (Secondary) PG3 - 12
Ngee Ann PG3 - 12
Zhonghua PG3 - 12
CHIJ St. Theresa’s Convent PG3 - 13
Clementi Town PG3 - 13
Commonwealth PG3 - 13
Crescent Girls’ PG3 - 13
Fuhua PG3 - 13
Presbyterian High PG3 - 13
Tanjong Katong PG3 - 13
Tanjong Katong Girls’ PG3 - 13
Xinmin PG3 - 13
Yishun Town PG3 - 13
CHIJ Katong Convent PG3 - 14
CHIJ St. Joseph’s Convent PG3 - 14
Dunman PG3 - 14
Edgefield PG3 - 14
Geylang Methodist (Secondary) PG3 - 14
Holy Innocents’ High PG3 - 14
Hua Yi PG3 - 14
Kranji PG3 - 14
Pei Hwa PG3 - 14
Riverside PG3 - 14
St. Hilda’s PG3 - 14
Bukit Batok PG3 - 15
Evergreen PG3 - 15
Gan Eng Seng PG3 - 15
Hai Sing Catholic PG3 - 15
St. Anthony’s Canossian PG3 - 15
St. Gabriel’s PG3 - 15
Yusof Ishak PG3 - 15
Ang Mo Kio PG3 - 16
Bedok View PG3 - 16
Bowen PG3 - 16
Deyi PG3 - 16
Greendale PG3 - 16
Jurong PG3 - 16
Jurong West PG3 - 16
Christ Church PG3 - 17
Mayflower PG3 - 17
Outram PG3 - 17
Pasir Ris PG3 - 17
Queensway PG3 - 17
West Spring PG3 - 17
Ahmad Ibrahim PG3 - 18
Beatty PG3 - 18
Bedok South PG3 - 18
Compassvale PG3 - 18
Hillgrove PG3 - 18
Kent Ridge PG3 - 18
North Vista PG3 - 18
Pasir Ris Crest PG3 - 18
Unity PG3 - 18
Yuan Ching PG3 - 18
Naval Base PG3 - 19
Orchid Park PG3 - 19
Punggol PG3 - 19
Seng Kang PG3 - 19
Tampines PG3 - 19
Woodgrove PG3 - 19
Bedok Green PG3 - 20
Bukit View PG3 - 20
Chua Chu Kang PG3 - 20
Hougang PG3 - 20
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian PG3 - 20
New Town PG3 - 20
Peicai PG3 - 20
Peirce PG3 - 20
Serangoon PG3 - 20
Yishun PG3 - 20
Yuhua PG3 - 20
Zhenghua PG3 - 20
Bartley PG3 - 21
Junyuan PG3 - 21
Manjusri PG3 - 21
Admiralty PG3 - 22
Assumption English PG3 - 22
Bendemeer PG3 - 22
Boon Lay PG3 - 22
Broadrick PG3 - 22
Bukit Merah PG3 - 22
Canberra PG3 - 22
Changkat Changi PG3 - 22
Damai PG3 - 22
Dunearn PG3 - 22
East Spring PG3 - 22
Greenridge PG3 - 22
Guangyang PG3 - 22
Jurongville PG3 - 22
Juying PG3 - 22
Loyang View PG3 - 22
Marsiling PG3 - 22
Meridian PG3 - 22
Montfort PG3 - 22
Northbrooks PG3 - 22
Northland PG3 - 22
Queenstown PG3 - 22
Regent PG3 - 22
Sembawang PG3 - 22
Serangoon Garden PG3 - 22
Springfield PG3 - 22
Westwood PG3 - 22
Whitley PG3 - 22
Woodlands PG3 - 22
Woodlands Ring PG3 - 22
Yio Chu Kang PG3 - 22
Yuying PG3 - 22
Note:
The rankings are organized first by PSLE AL cut-off scores and then alphabetically for schools that are tied.
The rankings are based on the cut-off points to qualify for the Integrated Programme and Posting Group 3 (AL4 - AL22). For more information on subject based banding and eligibility, refer to the MOE website.