The Real Reason Young Families Are Flocking Here
If you’ve been browsing for HDB BTO flats in Yishun, you might have noticed something interesting—Northland, North View, and Huamin Primary Schools are consistently oversubscribed during the Primary 1 registration exercise.
Is it because they’re top-performing schools?
Not quite.
The real reason is geography, not prestige.
Thousands of young families have moved into new BTOs in Yishun over the past decade—and naturally, they all want schools within 1km of their homes.
Let’s break it down.
1. 📈 The Yishun BTO Boom: Where Young Families Are Moving In
Between 2015 and 2019, 16 BTO projects in Yishun reached their TOP dates, welcoming a surge of first-time homeowners—many of them young couples starting families.
These projects were mostly located along Yishun Avenue 4 and 6, and include well-known names like:
- Grove Spring
- Acacia Breeze
- Jade Spring
- Vine Grove
- Palm Breeze
- … and more
Here’s a breakdown of which primary schools fall within 1km of each major BTO:
🏠 Yishun BTO Projects and Nearby Schools
| BTO Project | TOP Year | Primary Schools Within 1km |
|---|---|---|
| Grove Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View |
| Valley Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View |
| Meadow Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View |
| Blossom Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View |
| Jade Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View, Naval Base, Northland |
| Vista Spring | 2016 | Huamin, North View, Naval Base, Northland |
| Acacia Breeze | 2018 | Huamin, North View, Naval Base, Northland |
| Vine Grove | 2018 | Huamin, Naval Base, Northland |
| Melody Spring | 2015 | Huamin, North View |
| Forest Spring | 2015 | Huamin, North View |
| Casa Spring | 2015 | Huamin, North View |
| Floral Spring | 2015 | Huamin, North View, Northland |
| Palm Breeze | 2019 | Naval Base, Northland |
| Saraca Breeze | 2019 | Naval Base, Northland |
| Oleander Breeze | 2019 | Naval Base, Northland |
| Angsana Breeze | 2019 | Naval Base, Northland |
🧠 What This Means:
- Huamin Primary appears in 12 out of 16 projects.
- North View Primary is within 1km for 11 projects.
- Northland Primary serves 9 projects.
- Naval Base Primary covers 8 projects.
2. 🎯 The 1km Rule: Why Proximity Drives Demand
Singapore’s primary school registration follows a priority system, where children who live within 1km of a school have higher chances in Phase 2C (the public balloting phase).
That means families who live in Yishun BTOs will naturally prioritize the nearest school—not necessarily the best-ranked one.
🔥 2024 Phase 2C Application-to-Vacancy Ratios (A:V):
| School | A:V Ratio |
|---|---|
| Northland Primary | 2.74:1 (peaked at 4.74:1 in 2022!) |
| North View Primary | 1.79:1 |
| Huamin Primary | 1.62:1 |
| Naval Base Primary | 1.15:1 |
| Xishan Primary | 0.70:1 |
Northland Primary is especially competitive because it serves multiple BTOs like Vista Spring, Floral Spring, Acacia Breeze, and more.
3. 🏫 Are These Elite or Branded Schools? Not Really — Except One
Let’s be honest: Northland, North View, and Huamin are not considered elite or “branded” schools. They’re not affiliated with top secondary schools, and they’re not known for academic excellence compared to others in Singapore.
But there’s one exception in Yishun:
⭐ Chongfu School: The Real Academic Powerhouse in Yishun
- It is a SAP (Special Assistance Plan) school
- Offers Higher Chinese Language
Due to its SAP status and heritage, Chongfu is extremely competitive. Most spots are taken up in Phases 1 to 2B, leaving very few vacancies in Phase 2C. If you’re not within 1km or don’t have alumni/volunteer priority, it’s nearly impossible to get in.
🧠 Final Takeaway: Location Wins, Not Prestige
The truth is, Northland, North View, and Huamin Primary Schools are popular not because they’re elite, but because they are the only schools near major BTO clusters in Yishun.
And as upcoming projects like Yishun Glen (TOP 2026) go live, expect the competition to get even tougher.
🏡 Proximity is king. Balloting stress is the price you pay for school convenience.