<![CDATA[ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school?]]>Hi all,


My son qualifies for ACS (I) but we are not from a well-to-do background. We can afford the fees but my son is concerned that he subject to peer pressure from the rich kids and feel inferior..

Can anyone shed some light if you have experience?

I understand that the school fees will increase 2013.. Are there any other hidden extras.. like compulsory boarding, donations, etc. etc?

Thanks

Very worried :gloomy: :lightrod: :udaman: :udawoman:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/46189/acs-i-is-it-a-rich-man-s-schoolRSS for NodeThu, 30 Apr 2026 11:48:12 GMTSun, 25 Nov 2012 11:01:18 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Sun, 24 Nov 2019 00:47:20 GMT]]>Hi, I am now making a xhoice between Victoria IP and ACS I and tearing my head apart on benefits of IB vs IP school…


Also Victoria IP is close to home. Any thots on which programme is better? IP or IB?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1948548https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1948548Sun, 24 Nov 2019 00:47:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Wed, 15 May 2019 03:47:53 GMT]]>Sorry.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910370https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910370Wed, 15 May 2019 03:47:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Wed, 15 May 2019 03:45:29 GMT]]>Just a gentle reminder to KSP postings that u’re on a specific thread meant for ACSI sharing.


So wld appreciate no generalization & if u do not hv a direct contribution to the an posted earlier whether ACSI kids are spoilt/blessed then pls refrain fr responding. Let those parents who hv specific inside info (those whose kids are studying inbthe sch to be able to give real & not assumed info) to speak up. Thank you very much.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910365https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910365Wed, 15 May 2019 03:45:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Wed, 15 May 2019 03:21:54 GMT]]>

Estéema\" post_id=\"1910329\" time=\"1557885944\" user_id=\"66413:

Leah.A\" post_id=\"1910324\" time=\"1557885339\" user_id=\"177652:

[quote=mylilgirl post_id=1892809 time=1546490357 user_id=171733]Every school has its fair share of rich kids, not just ACSI I feel. When DD was in Pri sch, it is not uncommon to hear classmates going holidays and flying on first or business class. Kids are much more fortunate these days.

Yes and they have the latest iphones.

Leah,

Don’t fan such unsubstantiated sweeping statements just to gain posting as a new member. Some students are given old sets esp when they just started sec 1. :mad:[/quote]I'm speaking from experience! My daughter asked me why her phone so laoya.... or why she cannot have the same model. Of course it is our responsibility as parents to explain. I am certain many other parents would have encountered similar situations. No intention to offend but I didn't feel having the latest phones and flying on business class are too big a difference.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910355https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910355Wed, 15 May 2019 03:21:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Wed, 15 May 2019 02:05:44 GMT]]>

Leah.A\" post_id=\"1910324\" time=\"1557885339\" user_id=\"177652:

mylilgirl\" post_id=\"1892809\" time=\"1546490357\" user_id=\"171733:

Every school has its fair share of rich kids, not just ACSI I feel. When DD was in Pri sch, it is not uncommon to hear classmates going holidays and flying on first or business class. Kids are much more fortunate these days.

Yes and they have the latest iphones.

Leah,

Don’t fan such unsubstantiated sweeping statements just to gain posting as a new member. Some students are given old sets esp when they just started sec 1. :mad:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910329https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910329Wed, 15 May 2019 02:05:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Wed, 15 May 2019 01:55:39 GMT]]>

mylilgirl\" post_id=\"1892809\" time=\"1546490357\" user_id=\"171733:

Every school has its fair share of rich kids, not just ACSI I feel. When DD was in Pri sch, it is not uncommon to hear classmates going holidays and flying on first or business class. Kids are much more fortunate these days.
Yes and they have the latest iphones.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910324https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910324Wed, 15 May 2019 01:55:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Mon, 13 May 2019 22:38:14 GMT]]>My DD wants to DSA into ACSI for year 5. Will there be any social concerns since i have heard most of the peers have been tgt since year 1? Thank you

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910189https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910189Mon, 13 May 2019 22:38:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Mon, 13 May 2019 05:53:37 GMT]]>I have two boys who will be going to ACS in a few years. They will be 4th generation AC boys from my grandfather’s time back in the day, my father in law, my husband and now my boys.


I also had some concerns initially as well. But i realised that my hubby’s friends (who are almost all old AC boys) come from a mix of well to do and middle income families. It could do with the fact that most are Christians so they don’t really discriminate and are generally quite nice and not snobbish.

I do see some difference in world views though, because AC boys tend to be more well traveled. I myself was from a neighborhood school so my friends tended to be from lower-middle income. When the time comes, i will encourage my boys to be themselves as I’m not the type of parent to over indulge them.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910110https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1910110Mon, 13 May 2019 05:53:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:44:15 GMT]]>

mylilgirl:
Every school has its fair share of rich kids, not just ACSI I feel. When DD was in Pri sch, it is not uncommon to hear classmates going holidays and flying on first or business class. Kids are much more fortunate these days.


Absolutely agree. Somehow ppl forget that HCI, NJC, MGS, SCGS, NYGH, etc hv plentiful of students fr along Bt Timah landed residences, just as I hv some frds fr those landed having their kids in neigbourhood schools so as to reduce that stresses fr their kids. It’s a matter of choices. In Spore, there’s no rich man’s sch except their parents managed to wriggle kids into ang moh pai Int’l Schools. :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892811https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892811Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:44:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:39:17 GMT]]>Every school has its fair share of rich kids, not just ACSI I feel. When DD was in Pri sch, it is not uncommon to hear classmates going holidays and flying on first or business class. Kids are much more fortunate these days.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892809https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892809Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:39:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:16:32 GMT]]>Thanks for your posts Esteema & Chief Kiasu! They’ve come in timely for me as I’m deciding between ACS Barker & ACS (I) for my DS and like most parents, I’m also concerned abt the reputation of these 2 schs.


We’re likely going thru the DSA route for either of these schs. I’d greatly appreciate it if anyone has any feedback on entry thru DSA for these 2 schs. TIA!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892807https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892807Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:16:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 01 Jan 2019 07:33:37 GMT]]>It only takes one or two cohorts of students for a school to develop a reputation. Much of the rumours are from stories we hear from the papers. I’ve not-so-well-off friends from ACS(I) who are willing to claim that ACS is as open as any other school, and there’s no reason to disbelieve them. What is most important is whether the school brings benefits to its students, which it obviously does.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892425https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892425Tue, 01 Jan 2019 07:33:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 01 Jan 2019 06:14:37 GMT]]>

zac's mum:
Estéema:

[quote=\"travoltagetriggered\"]I watched the Crazy Rich Asians movie. A lot of references made to this school lol


Is that a TRUE FACT?

I watched the movie AND read the books too. The ACS mentioned by the author was ACS (Barker Road). He studied there when younger.[/quote]I thot so. Thank you zac’s mum for clarification. So it is NOT a reference to ACSI. That wld hv been years ago in Barker when Kelvin Kwan was there.

ACSI is NOT an atas school but we’ll diversified with many worthy students who hv worked hard & excelled to qualify to join the ACSI environment & for its CCA or its culture/value system, etc as their choice school. Some may hv chose it for its proximity to home to save travel time. I’ve met many neigbourhood boys of diff races fr diff religious bkgrd who are very impressive with their verbal communication & confidence level.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892421https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892421Tue, 01 Jan 2019 06:14:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:15:50 GMT]]>

Estéema:
travoltagetriggered:

I watched the Crazy Rich Asians movie. A lot of references made to this school lol


Is that a TRUE FACT?

I watched the movie AND read the books too. The ACS mentioned by the author was ACS (Barker Road). He studied there when younger.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892407https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892407Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:15:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:10:04 GMT]]>

travoltagetriggered:
I watched the Crazy Rich Asians movie. A lot of references made to this school lol

Is that a TRUE FACT?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892405https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892405Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:10:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:04:58 GMT]]>I watched the Crazy Rich Asians movie. A lot of references made to this school lol

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892402https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1892402Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:04:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Sat, 29 Dec 2018 21:53:33 GMT]]>My boy is sec 2 and I must say that I was also paranoid like most parents when I enrolled him in ACSI. It was so far a pleasant experience so far 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1891920https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1891920Sat, 29 Dec 2018 21:53:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Mon, 11 Jun 2018 01:33:52 GMT]]>Hi. I am an undergrad at NTU and an ACSI alum. Honestly it is a rich guys school, but in that it is more English speaking and people you mix with are more open minded than your typical Singaporean. I met people who tried sending a satellite to space, start their own business, and many students even start their own clubs. It is good to have this type of experience, it alters your way of thinking. And if you can get into the IB programme, where people are taught in TOK to question everything, even how people feel what they feel, it really adds to helping your child dream, something that is very lacking in most Singaporeans. Dreaming helps you understand the possibilities and help you therefore consider alternatives that your peers might not to your problem:)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1851873https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1851873Mon, 11 Jun 2018 01:33:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Thu, 17 May 2018 06:36:40 GMT]]>The sch is open to a mix of boys fr diff strata of society.


When they’re required to do projects, they’ll be socializing & bonding. They’ll learn to accept each other. The culture encourages all to learn values that as parents we’ll appreciate. The sch is very strict abt bullying.

My child chooses diff frds for his projects & mingles well with new students as well as seniors. His teammates come fr diff strata & im proud to say parents who are the haves open their homes to diff kids (whether same sch as u’ve indicated & those fr diff & neigbourhood schools. It depends really on how we allow our kids to negotiate their frdships. We shld not generalize nor worry too much.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1848319https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1848319Thu, 17 May 2018 06:36:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Thu, 17 May 2018 05:28:58 GMT]]>My thoughts:


1. How is your child like? Is he friendly sociable self-confident? These will help him fit in, even if he doesn’t have much common topics with the rest of the kids. Good at sports? - ACS also has a rich sports culture so your kids can still fit in. If he is the opposite of what i said, then do you think he will grow in such an environment to excel? or do you think he will feel miserable?

2. How are the teachers like? sometimes, the pressure can come from teachers. With regards to donations, selling fun fair tickets. Some teachers are just sickeningly insensitive. They like to create "competition" to sell the tickets, or pressure the kids to sell.

3. Which class do you think he will be in? Traditionally, if your kid ends up in those science classes - there will likely be more mix of rich and lower income kids who did well in school. For kids who do arts / econs, chances are hmm there are there coz they are from the primary schools, who regularly got in because of their alumni connections. note: this is just a generalization and with all generalization, it is based on stereotypes and likelihood.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1848304https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1848304Thu, 17 May 2018 05:28:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:22:16 GMT]]>Hi,


I'm an old-boy of ACS(Independent) and I'd just like to clarify some of the questions many of you may have. After having spent 6 years in ACS(I), I would first like to say that it has been the best period of my life. I don't think anything could top all the experiences I've had in AC. To all parents who are worried about sending their kids to ACS(I), do not listen to the rumours about the school. They are mostly unfounded.

For those wondering if it's a 'rich-man school', the simple answer is that yes, many of the kids come from well-to-do families, but the same can be said of other 'elite' schools such as RI or HCI. These schools have built a strong network of successful alumni who will give back to their school and definitely will want to send their children to study there as well.
HOWEVER, rich or not, the kids do not discriminate. I am not from a rich family (I live in a HDB), but I have managed to make long-time friends from ACS(I). Whether you have money or not is NOT a criteria for friendship. In fact, if they know you're struggling, the other kids actually will not hesitate to chip in and help. The teachers will as well.

People tend to believe negative things about the school - that the kids are arrogant and selfish. It's actually the opposite. The school puts christian values first, and that translates into the students being very respectful and kind towards each other. We do, however, hold a lot of pride for our school and that may be what have turned off some of the 'outsiders' and created rumours. If you've gone through education in ACS, you'll understand that this pride is well-founded; the school environment is safe and brilliant, the kids are helpful, there's a plethora of activities to get involved in.

I can guarantee that if you send your son to this school, he will walk away a better man and he will 100% love the school, his friends, and the amazing teachers. Rumours and misconceptions can be hard to erase, so I suggest that if you're really curious, set some time aside and head down to ACS(I) for their yearly open house. The student-leaders will be the ones leading the open house so you will have plenty of opportunities to ask them questions and gain a firsthand understanding of the school culture. You will not be disappointed 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1844429https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1844429Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:22:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Sat, 22 Apr 2017 13:18:28 GMT]]>Quite a number of students are from modest or average-means households and I think everyone has friends from the same or different backgrounds

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1769412https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1769412Sat, 22 Apr 2017 13:18:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Fri, 30 Jan 2015 07:00:44 GMT]]>

kenneth_lau68:
Personally I have a friend who had similar concerns in putting his son in ACS (I)... his feedback was that these concerns are actually rather non-existent in reality.. they are under financial assistance scheme.. in fact he shared that some of the more 'well-to-do' friends are actually the more humble and understanding ones.. personally i think in the end, everything boils down to individuals and not so much of the culture of the school.


My $0.02
Your $0.02 x1000
:goodpost:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459451https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459451Fri, 30 Jan 2015 07:00:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to ACS (I)- Is it a rich man's school? on Fri, 30 Jan 2015 06:10:41 GMT]]>

zbear:
So is it a better choice NOT TO go to ACSI if you don't come from a rich family?

not true. both my ds are from ACS(I) and they have friends from different background. they mingle well together too. i even invited them over to my place for dinner or lunch when they come and do project work or some team work thing.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459425https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1459425Fri, 30 Jan 2015 06:10:41 GMT