Nestled in the lap of the Aravalli Hills on an eco-friendly three-acre campus on the banks of River Ayad in the charming city of lakes and temples Udaipur, the K-12 Central Public School (CPS, estb.1989), currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, is ranked among the Top 10 co-ed day-cum-boarding schools nationally and #2 in Rajasthan (pop. 42 million) in the latest EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR) 2023-24.

Promoted over three decades ago by Alka Sharma — chairperson of the Child Welfare Society, which also runs the city’s Rockwoods High School (estb.2009) and Rockwoods International School (2016) — to offer high-quality English-medium education in then underserved Udaipur, this CBSE-affiliated coeducational school provides new age technologies driven holistic education rooted in traditional values to its 2,061 students, including 151 boarders, mentored by 102 teachers.

For pioneering smart education in south Rajasthan, CPS was conferred the Union ministry of Communications and IT’s Computer Literacy Excellence President’s Award in 2003 by then President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Teaching & Assessment A+

• CPS management is committed to the all-round professional development of its teachers. The school’s 100 teachers are mandatorily required to attend in-house and external training workshops.
• In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers were intensively trained in digital tools and platforms usage to enable seamless transition to online /hybrid teaching-learning.
• Teacher appraisal is accorded top priority at CPS and gives weightage to self and peer assessment and observations by direct supervisors who evaluate teachers’ instructional skills, classroom management, professional development, adherence to curriculum, and overall performance.
• At CPS, rigorous academics with sports, co-curricular and life skills education is integrated with the academic curriculum to nurture well-rounded and confident school-leavers who are physically strong, mentally alert, emotionally stable and equipped with social and life skills.
• Formative Assessments (quiz, class discussions, homework assignments, interactive activities) are integrated into the teaching-learning process to enable teachers better their teaching methodology and enhance learning levels. As part of Summative Assessments, students are evaluated at the end of a unit, course, or term. Final exams, standardized tests like Olympiads help assess students’ learning outcomes.

Technology Integration A+

• The lush green 3-acre school campus hosting four three-storeyed buildings house 56 air-conditioned Smart classrooms, 5 state-of-the art science and computer laboratories and hi-tech multimedia rooms.
• Technology is well integrated into CPS’ teaching-learning process with teachers delivering engaging teaching-learning experiences using cutting-edge digital tools and technologies.
• The school’s in-house Learning Management Systems (LMS) offers teachers video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Google Meet for live virtual classes, webinars, and meetings, content creation and sharing tools, online assessment platforms, digital whiteboards among others.
• In 2022, the school established a first-of-its -kind Aerobay Lab in Rajasthan envisioned to incorporate real-world skills among students, empowering them to translate their passions into career pathways. The lab promotes STEAM-based experiential learning aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020.
• The school has developed proprietary software for conducting objective exams across various subjects for classes III-VIII.

External Linkages A+

• Committed to providing students multiple platforms for knowledge and skill enhancement and international exposure, CPS has initiated several partnerships at the community, national and global level.
• In 2015, CPS introduced student exchange programmes with schools in Sweden and Germany for its students to explore new countries, cultures and ideas and improve their communication and collaborative learning skills.
• CPS’ membership of FTI Education since 2017 and AFS since 2022 enables students to connect with peers in member schools worldwide and engage in transnational projects.
• The AFS membership also provides CPS students exposure to cultures Worldwide, enhancing their global outlook through international collaboration programs, including partnerships with wesleyan university, USA.
• The school has partnered with Didac India, a professional development partnership with the Victorian government, Australia — Study Melbourne familiarisation program and with the MCA (Michigan College Alliance), USA under which online and offline courses are taught to Grades IX-XII students.
• Each year, over 50 students participate in exchange programs visiting Germany, Sweden and Japan schools for 15 days, fostering cultural understanding and understanding of global perspectives.

Student Achievement & Support A

• The school’s curriculum and pedagogies are customised to enable every child to realise her full potential Differentiated instruction is used to meet children’s varying learning abilities and needs
• CPS’ highly trained special needs department ensures that children with special needs receive high quality instruction and mentoring
• In 2022, nine CPS students were awarded certificates of merit (for scoring 100 percent) by CBSE for their outstanding performance in the class X and class XII board exams.
• Junior children are encouraged to use a specially designed mathematics app that offers diverse exercises that help reinforce their understanding of different math concepts.
• Remedial education is offered to slow learners to assist them to ace board exams with personalized instruction and targeted support.
• A full-time psychological counselor offers confidential sessions to address emotional and behavioural challenges and enhance coping skills.
• Separate air-cooled dormitories for 106 boys and 45 girls are provided to CPS students
• CPS has signed up with Mindler, a leading career and higher education advisory company to provide expert guidance and psychometric testing to explore career paths and international study opportunities.

Sports and Co-curricular Education A+

• CPS’ sports infrastructure includes a multi-sports ground, a 15-metre swimming pool, synthetic badminton and tennis courts, cricket and soccer fields and Rajasthan’s first roller skating rink. CPS students have excelled at the International Roller Speed Championship in Nepal as also in other sports events organised by CBSE and the School Games Federation of India.
• Co-curricular education — debate, elocution, vocal and instrumental music, art and crafts, wood and stone sculpture, pottery, batik art and the performing arts — is an integral component of the school curriculum.
• CPS offers a range of hobby clubs — road safety, entrepreneur, environment, rotary, ecological, first aid legal literacy for students to deepen their knowledge and sharpen critical thinking abilities.
• Highly qualified sports coaches 12 full-time and 6 part-time – mentor students in several sports including Cricket, Basket ball, Roller Skating, Badminton.

Facts File

Year of Establishment: 1989
Board : CBSE
Co-ed, day-cum-boarding, K-12
Campus size: 3.33 acres
No. of students: 2061
No. of teachers: 102
Teacher: Student ratio: 1:30
Special needs education: No
Admission deadline: November
Admission age: 3 years
Registration process: Offline/Online
Seats: Applications ratio: 1: 3
Annual tuition fee: Rs. 53,625
Fee payment schedule: Quarterly
Transport: Yes
Medical care centre: Yes
School meals: Yes
Number of day scholars: 1910
Number of boarders: 151

Encomiums

• Four CPS students (Arham Babel, Bhavin Ahari, Bhavishy Agarwal, and Sanyam Babel who wrote the IIT-JEE (Advanced) exam in May 2024 qualified for admission into the IITs /NITs.
• In May 2024, Divyanshi Yadav, a class X student, and Jayaditya Panwar, a class XI student, were awarded a cash prize of Rs.10,000 for their innovative model under the Manak Inspire Award initiative staged in Udaipur.
• In 2023, the school was presented the Road Safety Ambassador Award under the 52nd National Road Safety Week.
• Last December, Sayam Kothari, a class X student, bagged a bronze medal in the CBSE national-level badminton tournament staged at Jhunjhunu Academy.
• On October 2023, CPS’ U-19 cricket team won the title of Rajasthan Champion in the Inter School Girls Cricket Tournament organised by the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals and selected for a national-level tournament it was held at Mumbai.
• In April 2024, Rohit Choudhary, a class XII student, won a gold and bronze medal in the All India Shooting Championship at Indore Public School.

 

CPS LEADERs PROFILEE

Alka Sharma
Chairperson
An English postgrad of Rajasthan University and recipient of the Union ministry of Communications and IT’s Computer Literacy Excellence President’s Award in 2003, Alka Sharma is the architect and driving force of the reputed Central Public School and Rockwood Schools. Under her exemplary leadership, CPS has transformed into a premier day-cum-boarding school with focus on embodying traditional ethics and values, innovative methodologies, technological advancement, and sharing of best educational practices.

Sharma is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the EDU LEGEND of the year award 2022-23; Lifetime Achievement Award by the Udaipur-based Sanchi Group and “Global Talks and CED” in 2023 Dainik Bhaskar ‘Woman of the Year’ Award”.

 

Deepak Sharma
Director
A commerce and business management alum of Pune and Symbiosis universities who quit a high-profile corporate career in 2009 to lessen the burden of managing the three thoroughly modern and progressive schools promoted by his mother, Deepak Sharma is a dynamic edupreneur with keen interest in innovative education pedagogies, and passionate about taking his mother’s legacy forward. An avid biker and fitness enthusiast, Deepak’s first priority was to sharply improve sports education in the flagship 35-year-old school.

Moreover, Deepak is the chairman of the Rajasthan chapter at FICCI Arise and contributes to bring decisive change in education in his home state Rajasthan. His passion for social issues and efforts to promote equity in education is reflected in the scholarships that are provided to students at his educational institutions for academic, co-curricular and sports achievers.

 

Poonam Rathore
Principal, CBSE city coordinator
A double postgraduate in psychology and education, complemented by an MBA in human resource and operational management with over two decades of teaching and admin experience (Ryan Group of Institutions), Poonam Rathore took charge as principal of CPS in 2019. Rathore is also a certified career counselor and CBSE resource person, deeply committed to advancing educational excellence and fostering innovation. She is instrumental in implementing innovative teaching methods and administrative strategies to enhance students’ educational experience.

In 2018 Rathore was awarded the Avantika Award for contributions to education in Udaipur, by the New Delhi-based Avantika Group, Appreciation Award from Rotary Club of Mewar for active participation in education and contribution to Udaipur’s development, ISA Award (2016-19) from British Council for Outstanding Development of the International Dimension in the Curriculum, Creative Educator Award’ by Blub (2016) among others.