Every July, tens of thousands of Singaporean parents navigate one of the most stressful experiences in their child's education journey: Primary 1 registration. In 2025, 104 out of 179 primary schools conducted balloting — meaning more than half had more applicants than places.
We analysed the complete MOE P1 Registration results for 2025 across all 179 schools and every phase. Here's what the data reveals about which schools are hardest to get into — and what it means if you're planning for 2026.
2025 P1 Registration: The Big Picture
Out of 179 primary schools in Singapore, here's how balloting played out:
| Phase | Schools Balloted | Who Registers |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 2A | 38 | Alumni, staff, advisory committee |
| Phase 2B | 29 | Parent volunteers, community leaders |
| Phase 2C | 81 | Open registration for all Singapore Citizens |
| Phase 2C Supp | 18 | For those unsuccessful in Phase 2C |
Key insight: Phase 2C is the most competitive phase because it's the first truly open registration. 81 schools (45% of all primary schools) had to ballot — meaning nearly half couldn't accommodate everyone who applied.
Top 20 Most Oversubscribed Schools (Phase 2C)
These schools had the highest applicant-to-vacancy ratios in Phase 2C. A ratio of 4.71x means almost 5 families competed for every single place.
Note: The ratio shown is for the specific distance tier where balloting was conducted. We focus on Singapore Citizen within-1km figures which are most relevant to parents.
| # | School | Applied | Vacancies | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princess Elizabeth PrimaryHOT | 193 | 41 | 4.71x |
| 2 | Nan Hua PrimaryHOT | 159 | 41 | 3.88x |
| 3 | South View PrimaryHOT | 146 | 41 | 3.56x |
| 4 | Chongfu School | 124 | 40 | 3.10x |
| 5 | Northland Primary | 127 | 41 | 3.10x |
| 6 | Nan Chiau Primary | 259 | 85 | 3.05x |
| 7 | Rosyth School | 122 | 42 | 2.90x |
| 8 | Angsana Primary | 164 | 59 | 2.78x |
| 9 | St. Hilda's Primary | 113 | 43 | 2.63x |
| 10 | Gongshang Primary | 106 | 44 | 2.41x |
| 11 | Kong Hwa School | 112 | 49 | 2.29x |
| 12 | Hong Wen School | 137 | 62 | 2.21x |
| 13 | Holy Innocents' Primary | 96 | 45 | 2.13x |
| 14 | Rulang Primary | 85 | 40 | 2.13x |
| 15 | Red Swastika School | 87 | 41 | 2.12x |
| 16 | Raffles Girls' Primary | 36 | 17 | 2.12x |
| 17 | Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary | 90 | 43 | 2.09x |
| 18 | CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel | 83 | 40 | 2.08x |
| 19 | Mee Toh School | 82 | 40 | 2.05x |
| 20 | Punggol Green Primary | 115 | 57 | 2.02x |
What stands out: Princess Elizabeth Primary tops the list with nearly 5 applicants for every place. Even living within 1km wasn't enough — roughly 4 out of 5 families within 1km were turned away.
CCAs at These Top 20 Schools
Choosing a school isn't just about demand — it's about finding the right fit for your child's interests. Here are the CCAs offered by each of the top 20 schools. Click any school name to see its full profile.
| School | CCAs Offered |
|---|---|
| Princess Elizabeth Primary | BasketballFootballFloorballWushuChoirConcert BandContemporary DanceChinese DanceIndian DanceMalay DanceArt & CraftsEco ClubBoys' BrigadeGirls' BrigadeScouts |
| Nan Hua Primary | BadmintonFootballTable TennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWushuChoirChinese DanceDramaGuzheng EnsemblePercussion EnsembleArts & CraftsRoboticsInfocomm TechnologyPhysical ScienceChessWeiqiJournalism & BroadcastingGirl GuidesScouts |
| South View Primary | BadmintonNetballFootballFloorballChinese OrchestraChoirChinese DanceIndian DanceMalay DanceRoboticsDigital Media |
| Chongfu School | Track & FieldTable TennisWushuFloorballChinese OrchestraGuzhengModern DanceMalay DanceInfocomm Tech |
| Northland Primary | BasketballNetballFootballTrack & FieldWushuSilatChoirString EnsembleHandbell EnsembleChinese Dance |
| Nan Chiau Primary | BadmintonBasketballNetballFootballTrack & FieldTable TennisWushuChoirGuzhengRobotics |
| Rosyth School | BadmintonBasketballFootballTrack & FieldTennisChinese OrchestraChoirConcert BandChessRoboticsDebating |
| Angsana Primary | BadmintonNetballFootballWushuChoirModern DanceConcert BandInfocomm TechPhysical Science |
| St. Hilda's Primary | HockeyNetballSailingTable TennisVolleyballChoirString EnsembleGuzhengModern DanceEnglish DramaChess |
| Gongshang Primary | BadmintonBasketballTrack & FieldWushuFloorballString EnsembleModern DanceInfocomm Tech |
| Kong Hwa School | BadmintonBasketballNetballTable TennisWushuTchoukballChinese OrchestraChoirGuzhengChinese DanceChinese Chess |
| Hong Wen School | BadmintonBasketballFootballTable TennisWushuChinese OrchestraChoirGuzhengChinese DanceChinese Drums |
| Holy Innocents' Primary | BadmintonBasketballFootballWushuRope SkippingChinese OrchestraChoirGuzhengChinese DanceRobotics |
| Rulang Primary | BadmintonBasketballSoftballWushuVolleyballRope SkippingChinese OrchestraChoirChinese DanceRobotics |
| Red Swastika School | BadmintonTable TennisWushuChinese OrchestraGuzhengModern DanceChinese DanceRobotics |
| Raffles Girls' Primary | BadmintonBasketballSoftballTable TennisRhythmic GymnasticsChoirString EnsembleChinese DanceEnglish DramaConcert BandChess |
| Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary | Track & FieldTable TennisWushuRhythmic GymnasticsTchoukballChoirGuitar EnsembleGuzhengChinese DanceRobotics |
| CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel | BadmintonNetballBowlingRhythmic GymnasticsChoirModern DanceEnglish DramaRoboticsInfocomm Tech |
| Mee Toh School | BadmintonBasketballWushuFloorballChinese OrchestraChoirModern DanceChinese DanceMalay DanceEnglish DramaRobotics |
| Punggol Green Primary | BadmintonBasketballChoirString EnsembleModern DanceEnglish DramaRoboticsDesign & Innovation |
Looking for a specific CCA? Use our Primary School CCA Browser to search across all 179 primary schools by activity — find every school that offers your child's favourite sport, music, or club.
Where Balloting Happened: Distance Tier Breakdown
Not all balloting is equal. MOE gives priority to families living closer to the school. Here's the breakdown of the 81 Phase 2C balloting instances:
59 Schools
SC within 1km — Most schools were so popular that even Singapore Citizens living within 1km had to ballot. This is the toughest tier.
8 Schools
SC between 1-2km — Filled the within-1km tier first, then had to ballot among 1-2km SC applicants.
6 Schools
PR within 1km — After all SC applicants were placed, balloting among Permanent Residents within 1km.
3 + 1 Schools
SC outside 2km + PR 1-2km — Schools like Raffles Girls' Primary had balloting even from further away.
Bottom line: 59 out of 81 Phase 2C balloting instances happened at the within-1km SC tier. Living nearby is necessary but not sufficient. Check our guide to how MOE calculates distance to understand why your address matters so much.
Phase 2B: Parent Volunteers & Community Leaders
Phase 2B is where parent volunteers, clan/church members, and community leaders register. 29 schools had balloting at this phase in 2025. These are often the "traditionally popular" schools where parents sign up as volunteers years in advance.
| # | School | Applied | Vacancies | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tao Nan School | 57 | 20 | 2.85x |
| 2 | Ai Tong School | 56 | 20 | 2.80x |
| 3 | Nanyang Primary | 53 | 20 | 2.65x |
| 4 | Nan Chiau Primary | 99 | 42 | 2.36x |
| 5 | Nan Hua Primary | 40 | 21 | 1.90x |
| 6 | CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' | 38 | 20 | 1.90x |
| 7 | Red Swastika School | 38 | 20 | 1.90x |
| 8 | Chongfu School | 38 | 20 | 1.90x |
| 9 | Kong Hwa School | 44 | 24 | 1.83x |
| 10 | Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) | 54 | 30 | 1.80x |
Key takeaway: Tao Nan, Ai Tong, and Nanyang Primary — the well-known SAP schools — remain the most competitive. Even with years of volunteering, nearly 2 out of 3 applicants at Tao Nan were unsuccessful.
CCAs at Phase 2B Top Schools
| School | CCAs Offered |
|---|---|
| Tao Nan School | BadmintonBasketballNetballSailingTrack & FieldWushuChinese OrchestraChoirGuzhengPhysical Science |
| Ai Tong School | BadmintonTrack & FieldTable TennisWushuVolleyballChoirGuzhengChinese DanceRobotics |
| Nanyang Primary | BadmintonBasketballFootballTrack & FieldTable TennisTennisWushuGymnasticsChinese OrchestraChoirString EnsembleRoboticsChess |
| Nan Chiau Primary | BadmintonBasketballNetballFootballTrack & FieldTable TennisWushuChoirGuzhengRobotics |
| Nan Hua Primary | BadmintonFootballTable TennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWushuChoirChinese DanceDramaGuzheng EnsemblePercussion EnsembleArts & CraftsRoboticsInfocomm TechnologyPhysical ScienceChessWeiqiJournalism & BroadcastingGirl GuidesScouts |
| CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' | BadmintonNetballTrack & FieldTable TennisGymnasticsRhythmic GymnasticsChoirGuzheng |
| Red Swastika School | BadmintonTable TennisWushuChinese OrchestraGuzhengModern DanceChinese DanceRobotics |
| Chongfu School | Track & FieldTable TennisWushuFloorballChinese OrchestraGuzhengModern DanceMalay DanceInfocomm Tech |
| Kong Hwa School | BadmintonBasketballNetballTable TennisWushuTchoukballChinese OrchestraChoirGuzhengChinese DanceChinese Chess |
| Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) | BadmintonRugbyFootballSailingTable TennisTennisBowlingChoirString EnsembleModern DanceConcert BandChessPhysical Science |
What This Means for P1 Registration 2026
If you're registering your child for Primary 1 in 2026, here are the key lessons from the 2025 data:
- Living within 1km is necessary but not sufficient59 schools balloted among SC families within 1km. You need both proximity and luck.
- Have backup schools plannedNearly half of all schools are oversubscribed. Prepare at least 2-3 backups.
- Parent volunteering doesn't guarantee a spotAt top schools like Tao Nan (2.85x), it's still a lottery even after years of volunteering.
- 75 schools had no balloting at allMany excellent neighbourhood schools accepted all applicants. Don't overlook these — they offer great education without the stress.
How to Improve Your Chances
1. Check Your Distance Early
MOE uses OneMap (not Google Maps) to calculate distance. Verify which schools you're within 1km of.
Check Your Distance2. Research Past Balloting Data
Schools that didn't ballot in Phase 2C are generally safer choices.
View Full 2025 Data3. Explore Neighbourhood Schools
Browse all 179 primary schools with CCAs, programmes, and location.
Browse Primary SchoolsTools to Help You Plan
P1 Distance Checker
Check which schools are within 1km and 2km of your home.
Primary School CCA Browser
Search all 179 schools by CCA — find your child's favourite activity.
Primary School Directory
Browse all 179 primary schools with CCAs, programmes, and location.
Distance Rule Guide
How MOE calculates the 1km & 2km distance and why it matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many primary schools had balloting in 2025?
104 out of 179 primary schools conducted balloting in at least one phase. 81 schools balloted in Phase 2C (open registration). The remaining 75 accepted all applicants without balloting.
Which primary school was most oversubscribed in 2025?
Among high-volume Phase 2C schools, Princess Elizabeth Primary had the highest ratio at 4.71x (193 applicants for 41 vacancies among SC within 1km). Nan Hua Primary (3.88x) and South View Primary (3.56x) were second and third.
Does living within 1km guarantee a place?
No. 59 schools were oversubscribed even among SC within 1km. At Princess Elizabeth Primary, only about 1 in 5 within-1km SC applicants were successful. Living closer gives priority but doesn't guarantee a place.
What happens if my child is unsuccessful in Phase 2C?
Unsuccessful applicants move to Phase 2C Supplementary. In 2025, 18 schools also balloted at 2C Supp. If unsuccessful again, MOE places your child at a school with vacancies.
When does P1 Registration 2026 start?
P1 Registration typically begins in June/July each year. MOE announces the exact dates around May 2026.
Data source: All data from the Ministry of Education (MOE) P1 Registration Results 2025. Analysis and ratios computed by SGSchoolKaki from official balloting figures. CCA data from MOE school profiles 2025.