Rulang Primary School is a popular co-educational school in Jurong West known for its strong academic program and emphasis on robotics education. Like many sought-after primary schools in Singapore, admission can be competitive, especially in the later phases of the Primary 1 registration process.
Understanding Rulang’s P1 Registration Phases
Let’s examine the recent registration trends at Rulang Primary School based on available data from 2022-2024:
Vacancies vs Applicants (Balloting Trends Revealed)
| Year | Phase | Vacancies | Applicants | Balloting? | Balloting Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Phase 1 | 210 | 120 | No | – |
| 2A(1) | 90 | 107 | Yes | SC >2km | |
| 2B | 20 | 34 | Yes | SC <1km | |
| 2C | 40 | 95 | Yes | SC <1km | |
| 2023 | Phase 1 | 210 | 122 | No | – |
| 2A(1) | 88 | 102 | Yes | SC >2km | |
| 2B | 20 | 26 | Yes | SC <1km | |
| 2C | 41 | 112 | Yes | SC <1km | |
| 2024 | Phase 1 | 210 | 126 | No | – |
| 2A(1) | 84 | 88 | Yes | SC >2km | |
| 2B | 20 | 37 | Yes | SC <1km | |
| 2C | 41 | 115 | Yes | SC <1km |
Key Takeaways From Data:
1️⃣ Phase 1 (Siblings): Safest phase – 210 seats vs 120-126 applicants (no balloting).
2️⃣ Phase 2A(1): High competition – 90-107 applicants for 80+ seats (SC >2km always ballots).
3️⃣ Phase 2B/2C: Even <1km isn’t safe – ballots every year with rising demand!
4️⃣ Total Seats: Consistently 270, with ~75% allocated in early phases.
2. Understanding Balloting Categories
A) SC >2km Balloting (Phase 2A Only)
- Who? Singaporean children of alumni living beyond 2km.
- Why? Those within 2km get priority first.
- 2024 Example: 88 applicants for 84 seats – >2km families balloted.
B) SC <1km Balloting (Phases 2B & 2C)
- Shocking Reality: Even living next door isn’t guaranteed!
- 2024 Case: 37 Phase 2B applicants (<1km) competed for 20 seats.
- Distance Hierarchy:
<1km (still ballots) → 1-2km (rarely gets in) → >2km (no chance)
C) No Balloting (Phase 1 Only)
- Only siblings enjoy guaranteed placement.
- 2024: 126 applicants for 210 seats = 84 leftover vacancies.
3. 2026 Winning Strategies (Based on Data)
For Alumni Families (Phase 2A)
✔ Move within 2km before registration (use OneMap to verify).
✔ Join Alumni Association early (processing may take time).
✖ Don’t risk applying from >2km – high balloting chance.
For Volunteers/Community Leaders (Phase 2B)
✔ Secure school volunteer slot early (40+ hours required).
⚠ Even then: 2024 had 37 <1km applicants for 20 seats!
For General Public (Phase 2C)
✔ Must live <1km + prepare for balloting.
✔ Backup plan: Shuqun Primary (see Section 5).
✖ 1-2km applicants: Nearly 0% chance since 2022.
5. Best Backup School: Shuqun Primary
Why It’s a Smart Choice:
📍 Just 1.2km from Rulang (Jurong West cluster).
🎯 Consistent Phase 3 vacancies (2023: 15 seats remaining).
📚 Strong robotics & applied learning program.
🏫 Smaller class sizes = more teacher attention.
2024 Vacancy Data:
- Phase 1: 100 seats → 80 applicants
- Phase 2C: 40 seats → 35 applicants
- Phase 3: 10 seats remaining (no balloting).
Pro Tip:
If Rulang is your dream school but you’re >2km away, consider renting within 1km for 6 months during registration!