Some of the best-known and best-ranked schools in India are boarding schools. These schools have produced some of the brightest academic talents, sportsmen, and administrators in the country. Here is a list of the top 5 boarding schools in the country ranked on the basis of their academics, sporting tradition, culture and extracurricular activities, discipline, community service, infrastructure, and overall development of the pupils.
Admission to most boarding schools in India is granted if the applicants clear the respective admission tests. Schools differ in the class to which admission may be sought. Parents are advised to check the education board and curriculum, sporting and cultural activities, and student itinerary before seeking admissions into a boarding school.
- The Doon School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Established in the year 1935 by Satish Ranjan Das, the Doon School of Dehra Dun continues to remain one of the most sought after full boarding schools of the country for boys. Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is one of the best known alumni of the Doon School.
School for – Boys
Board/Affiliation –
- Class X – IGCSE (since 2017. ICSE till 2016)
- Class XII – ISC or IB
Facilities – The state-of-art library, laboratories music and arts school, sports training and full- fledged medical services are its greatest highlights. The students are taken on various adventure trips and excursions. They are encouraged to participate in various sporting activities such as golf, badminton, and boxing and also in theatre and other cultural activities.
- Mayo College, Ajmer, Rajasthan
Founded in 1875 by the 6th Earl of Mayo, Richard Bourke, erstwhile Viceroy of India, the Mayo College is one of the oldest public boarding schools in the country. It is also one of the best CBSE affiliated schools in the country. Mayo College is a boy’s only school while Mayo College Girls’ School is an all girls boarding school. The Mayo College has been the alma mater of many royals and celebrity children in India. Current Chief of Navy Staff, Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba is from the Mayo College.
School for – Boys
Board/Affiliation – CBSE
Facilities – Mayo College is known for its rich heritage and stately school premises. The school offers students a variety of sports, arts, cultural activities. With the vast library and museum and the advanced laboratories in the premises, Mayo College offers the best to its students.
- Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Founded in 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, this is another one of the oldest and the best boarding schools in India. Bishop Cotton has produced numerous politicians and statesmen, diplomats, judges, and armed forces services officers over the years. Noted author Ruskin Bond and business magnate Ratan Tata are among its alumni. Bishop Cotton School in Bangalore and Bishop Cotton Girls’ School (also in Bangalore) were also established by the same founder.
School for – Boys
Board/Affiliation –
- Class X – ICSE
- Class XII – ISC
Facilities – From a modern library to a state-of-art swimming pool, from an internal war memorial to parks and chapels Bishop Cotton offers it all. The school emphasizes on the cultivation of sports and fine arts apart from other social activities.
- Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
School for – Girls
Emphasizing on Indian traditional values and holistic systems of learning is the Welham Girls’ School in Dehradun. It was established in the year 1957 and has been one of the most sought after school for privileged girls from across the country. The nearby Welham Boys’ School provides admission only to boys while Welham Girls’ School is an all girls school.
Board/Affiliation –
- Class X – ICSE
- Class XII – ISC
Facilities –
Apart from the regular sports options, students can choose to train in music, classical and contemporary dance forms, craft, photography, foreign languages, and dramatics.
- Rishi Valley School, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
Founded in the year 1926 by the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti Rishi Valley School follows the founder’s pedagogical vision emphasising on social service and environmental activism. It is built in a vast area of greenery and is one of the most sought after boarding schools in the country.
School for – Boys and Girls
Board/Affiliation – IB and ISC
Facilities – Rishi Valley emphasises on academics and holistic learning processes. It offers training in a number of cultural activities and is a well-known school for music and dance training. The sports culture of the school is also popular among its students.
6. Sherwood College, Nainital
More than 100 years old, the school is located on a Ayarpata Hill in Nainital and boasts of a large, sprawling campus. This boarding school was established in 1869 by the British in India.
School for – Boys and Girls
Board/Affiliation – CICSE
Facilities – Apart from academics, sports, and extra curricular activities, the college also offers facilities of Library, Playground, Bus Transport, Computer Laboratory, and Science Laboratory.
7. The Scindia School, Gwalior
Established in 1897, The Scindia School is very closely located to the Gwalior fort. The school was first built to provide education only to the royal families, but today students can enrol without any discrimination from all over the country.
School for – Boys
Board/Affiliation-CBSE
Facilities: The school has the facility of Well equipped audio-visual department with LCD projector, Career guiding center, Travel desk for ticketing and escorting services, and School broadcasting system. There are many extra-curricular activities offered by the schools like Archery, Horse riding, Shooting, Football, Hockey, Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Cross country, Table tennis, Squash, Lawn tennis, Swimming, Skating, Adventure sports, School clubs, societies, and Tournaments.
8. The Daly College, Indore
The Daly College is a day boarding school established by Sir Hugh Daly in 1905. It is ranked first in India by Educationworld India for the year 2015 in the category day-cum-boarding schools.
School for – Boys and Girls
Board/Affiliation-CBSE
Facilities: Recording studio, Physiotherapy lab, Ramesh Mittal learning center, Kalukheda shooting range, Transporation, and Sanjay Aggarwal resource center.
9. St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling, West Bengal
St. Paul’s School was founded in then Calcutta and later on shifted to Darjeeling to provide an invigorating environment amid the Himalayas. The school thrives to make the boys think big and achieve great things in life.
School for – Boys
Board/Affiliation-ICSE
Facilities:Qualified doctors, Tennis and other sports courts, Dormitories, Playgrounds.
