With most schools promoted in the new millennium being of mixed gender and some vintage all-boys schools going co-ed, the league table of boys schools is static at 30. Nevertheless some all-boys institutions enjoy king-size national reputations

The league table of all-boys day schools has been shrinking over the years in the annual EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR). With most K-12 education institutions promoted in the new millennium being of mixed-gender and some vintage all-boys schools going co-ed (such as St. Germain High School, Bengaluru and Joseph’s Boys School, Jalandhar), the league table of boys schools has remained static at 30 primary-secondaries in EWISR 2024-25 (cf.28 in 2023-24).

Yet while co-ed day schools steal the limelight in the annual EWISR, it bears repetition that the country’s shrinking minority of gender-segregated schools — especially boarding schools (Doon, St. Paul’s, Bishop Cotton) — enjoy king-size national reputations and often outperform their co-ed peers in school-leaving board exams.
The 2024-25 league table of India’s best boys day schools has undergone a makeover (for vintage boys day schools, see p.284). Campion School, Fort, Mumbai, ranked #1 in 2021-22 and #2 in 2022-23 and 2023-24, has reclaimed its pre-eminent position.

This year’s 8,700 sample respondents — parents, principals, teachers and education counselors — interviewed by the Bengaluru-based AZ Research Partners, have restored Campion (estb.1943) to its premier position, awarding this 81-year-old school top scores under five parameters of K-12 education excellence including faculty competence, teacher welfare and development, co-curricular and sports education, and community service.

“We greet the news that Campion has regained its rightful #1 rank with pride, joy and satisfaction. Rather than being a setback, our #2 ranking of the past two years proved a stimulus to introspect, innovate and update. We focused our attention on improving curriculum and pedagogies and co-curricular and sports education — our traditional strengths. The top score this year for faculty competence and teacher development shows that this strategy paid off with our motivated, and tech-savvy teachers providing creative pedagogies and academic excellence. Another traditional strength of Campion is our comprehensive and intensive sports coaching programs in football, basketball, cricket, table tennis and chess enabling our students to excel in regional and state sports competitions. I am also pleased with our top score in social and community service because our boys work in active collaboration with several NGOs,” says Fr. (Dr.) Francis Swamy, former principal of the always high-ranked St. Mary’s, Mazgaon, who was appointed principal of Campion in 2020. Currently, the school has an enrollment of 762 students and 64 teachers.

Following Campion is Birla High School, Moira Street, Kolkata promoted to #2 (#3 in 2023-24) and the previously #1 ranked St. John’s High School, Chandigarh at #3, jointly with DAV Boys Senior Secondary, Gopalapuram, Chennai, which has received a big promotion (from #5 in 2023-24). St. Columba’s School, Delhi is ranked #4 (4). SGVP International, Ahmedabad has leapfrogged to #5 (16) co-ranked with DAV Boys Senior Secondary, Mogappair, Chennai (9).

“We are elated to learn that Birla High is steadily moving ahead in the league table from #4 in 2022 to #3 in 2023 and to #2 this year. I credit our continuous promotion to our dedicated faculty and staff who work very hard to ensure all-round development of our students. Our high scores for faculty competence, academic reputation, and co-curricular education validate our strategy of providing balanced education with students mentored to excel academically as well as given every opportunity to participate in a range of sports and co-curricular activities. We are a happy school, quick to adopt best practices and new technologies such as design thinking and AI while staying true to established traditions and values. We have already started to work towards being ranked India’s #1 boys’ day school next year,” says Loveleen Saigal, principal of Birla High School for Boys (estb.1941) which has 2,222 students mentored by 186 teachers on its musters.

The satisfaction of zooming up the league table is greater in SGVP International School, Ahmedabad (SGVPIS) which has risen spectacularly in esteem of the informed public to #5 in 2024-25 from #16 last year. Promoted in 1999 by the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Sarvajivhitavah Trust, this CISCE-affiliated school has been awarded high scores under the parameters of co-curricular education, infrastructure provision, individual attention to students and mental and emotional well-being.

“We are proud to be ranked among India’s Top 5 boys day schools. This great forward leap from last year’s #16 position is an outcome of the dedication and hard work of our entire school community — diligent students, supportive parents and committed teachers and staff. I attribute SGVPIS’ rise in the 2024-25 rankings to our sharp focus on academic excellence balanced with excellent co-curricular education. Moreover our substantial investment in the professional development of our teachers and quick adaptation to the National Education Policy 2020 has strengthened our academic framework. I am also pleased with SGVPIS’ high scores for individual attention to students and their mental and emotional health — which are our prime objectives. We offer regular counseling sessions and mental healthcare programmes to our students,” says Padma Kumar, principal of SGVPIS which has 1,890 students mentored by 106 teachers and 20 sports coaches on its muster rolls.

Beyond the top table there’s considerable churn in the 30-strong 2024-25 all-boys day schools league table. MC Kejriwal Vidyapeeth, Howrah, has inched up to #6 (#7) while Sacred Heart Boys High, Santacruz (W), Mumbai has been awarded a big promotion to #7 (#13). NASR Boys, Hyderabad has retained its #8 rank, while Loyola School, Pune has advanced to #9 (#12) co-ranked with St. Bede’s Academy Sr. Sec School, Chennai, which has moved up substantially (#26). The Top 10 table is completed by Don Bosco High & Technical School, Liluah, Howrah, which has leapfrogged from #20 in 2023-24 to #10 this year ranked jointly with Don Bosco School, Park Circus, Kolkata, which has ceded ground (6).

Similarly, several schools further down the league table have also improved their rankings. Bishop Scott Boys School, Patna has risen to #14 (26), Bikaner Boys School to #15 (17), and Salwan Boys Sr. Sec School, Rajinder Nagar, Delhi to #20 (24).

It is important to bear in mind that for parents selecting most suitable day schools for their children, city ranks are more important than national and state rankings. Many boys day schools ranked beyond the Top 10 in the 2024-25 national table have established excellent reputations in their host cities and states. For instance, Campion School, Bhopal, ranked #17 nationally is the #1 boys day school in Madhya Pradesh; Don Bosco High, Panjim #16 all-India is Goa #1; and St. Patrick’s High School, Bengaluru, ranked nationally #19 is #1 in Karnataka.
(For vintage boys day schools league table see p.284)