One of the most distinctive qualities about Bukit Timah is the presence of an entire cluster of historically distinguished schools with long and illustrious histories.
Many of these schools started in a small compound in town and later moved to Bukit Timah when their student numbers grew. Another interesting fact to note is the concentration of Chinese schools here. They left an indelible mark in Singapore's history with their support of the pre-war Chinese Nationalism movement, involvement with the Communist Party and their role in the 1950s Hock Lee bus riots.