In EWISR 2024-25 in the broad international schools category, the fastest growing segment is that of international day schools because they provide globally benchmarked teaching-learning at relatively affordable prices compared with capital-intensive international day-cum-boarding and fully residential schools.

Even if governments at the Centre and in states haven’t yet cottoned on that high-quality globally benchmarked school and higher education is the best passport to success in the competitive and increasingly complex workplaces of the 21st century, India’s fast expanding middle and elite classes are well-aware of this truism.

Therefore, they are in a rush to sign up their progeny for international schools affiliated with foreign exam boards such as Cambridge International (UK), International Baccalaureate (Geneva) and Advanced Placement (USA).

And supply is rising to meet demand. According to India Report 2023-24 of ISC Research, a UK-based research organisation that collates and disseminates data on international schools worldwide, 900 international schools with an aggregate enrollment of 416,000 students are operational in India. And over the past five years, this sector has witnessed a 14 percent increase in the number of schools, 40 percent rise in student enrollment, 36 percent growth in staff recruitment, and 49 percent surge in fee income.

Unsurprisingly, in the broad international schools category, the fastest growing segment is that of international day schools because they provide globally benchmarked teaching-learning at relatively affordable prices compared with capital-intensive international day-cum-boarding and fully residential schools. It’s not surprising therefore that the largest league table under the international schools category of the EW India School Rankings 2024-25 is of day schools. With greenfield schools mushrooming in metros, state capitals and even tier-II, III and IV cities to meet surging demand for international certification, the 2024-25 league table of India’s top-ranked international day schools is 157-strong (cf. 117 in 2021-22) with schools rated and ranked in 45 cities across the country.

In the 2024-25 EW league table of India’s most admired international day schools, there’s a minor reshuffle at top table. This year, the 8,700 knowledgeable sample respondents interviewed by our new field research agency AZ Research Partners, Bengaluru have promoted Oberoi International School, Mumbai to #1+ (2 in 2023-24) co-ranked with Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai, which has retained its #1 rank of the past 12 years.

Aditya Birla World Academy, Mumbai and Pathways School, Gurgaon have retained their #2 and #3 ranks of 2023-24 while JBCN International School, Parel, Mumbai has inched up to #3 (4). Ecole Mondiale World School, Mumbai has ceded ground and is ranked #4 (2) jointly with Jamnabai Narsee International School, Mumbai (3). Three schools jointly ranked #5 — The Riverside School, Ahmedabad (5), Utpal Shanghvi Global School, Mumbai (4) and Podar International School, Santacruz (W), Mumbai (6) — complete top table.

Established in 2008, the IB-affiliated Oberoi International School (OIS) has been awarded highest scores under the parameters of faculty competence, teacher welfare and development, parental involvement, sports education and infrastructure provision. Currently, OIS has an enrolment of 3,100 students mentored by 600 faculty and staff across two campuses.

Comments Bindu Oberoi, Board Chair of Oberoi International School: “We are proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement, made possible by the unwavering dedication of the entire OIS community — students, parents, educators, and staff. This ranking reflects the creativity, curiosity, and ambition of our students, who inspire us every day to strive for excellence. They are at the heart of all we do. Our success is driven by continuous evolution in teaching methods, a focus on future-readiness, and a commitment to innovation. At OIS, faculty competence is a key priority, and we invest significantly in their growth and welfare to ensure they are fully equipped to inspire and lead. Our educators engage in ongoing professional development, integrating advanced technologies like AI and fostering inquiry-based, experiential learning. This empowers students to take ownership of their education, encouraging independent thinking and creativity. Beyond academic excellence, we emphasize global citizenship and adaptability, preparing students to navigate an increasingly complex and changing world. With a holistic approach that values faculty development, co-curricular engagement, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, OIS ensures students are equipped with the skills and mindset to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.”

Though obliged to share top rank this year, the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS, estb.2003) has lost none of its sheen. DAIS is awarded highest scores on several critical parameters of education excellence including academic reputation, curriculum and pedagogy, mental and emotional well-being services, leadership/management and special needs education.

“We are deeply honoured that differing sample respondents have ranked DAIS India’s #1 international day school for 12 years consecutively. This pride of place year after year is validation that we provide a holistic and happy learning experience to our children. It’s especially satisfying that DAIS has been awarded highest scores for academic reputation, curriculum and pedagogy, and special needs education. These are focus areas for us. At DAIS, we have always accorded primacy to academic excellence and our outstanding board results and university placements are proof of faculty competence and curriculum and pedagogy innovation, for which we have been awarded highest scores. But our top scores for curricular and sports education indicates the comprehensive learning experience we provide to all our children. Similarly our highest score for special needs education reflects awareness that we have a strong team of special educators and counsellors to mentor children of diverse learning and developmental needs,” says Nita Ambani, founder-chairperson of DAIS.

According to Ambani, the academic year 2024-25 “has been a major milestone in DAIS’ journey” with the launch in August of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School and NMAJS-Early Years Campus. “Led by my daughter and vice-chairperson Isha Ambani Piramal, our future-ready campuses feature flexible and collaborative learning spaces, seamless technology integration, specialised laboratories for experiential learning, and comprehensive facilities for sports, co-curricular activities, and the performing arts,” adds Ambani, also chairperson of the Reliance Foundation.

Beyond top table, there’s a major re-arrangement of seating among the Top 10. Chatrabhuj Narsee School, Kandivali (E), Mumbai is promoted to #6 (10) co-ranked with KC High, Chennai (6) and Ascend International School, Mumbai (6). CHIREC International School, Hyderabad has retained its #7 rank which it shares with Legacy School, Bengaluru (8) and The Gaudium School, Hyderabad ranked #38 in the co-ed day category in 2023-24. Prometheus School, Noida has vaulted to #8 (14) co-ranked with CP Goenka International School, Oshiwara, Mumbai (8) and Heritage International Xperiential School, Gurugram (8).

The Top 10 table is completed by Ryan Global School, Andheri, Mumbai ranked #9 (10) jointly with the Garodia International Centre of Learning, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai (10) and Mahindra International School, Pune, co-ranked #10 (9) with NWS, Ghaziabad (14).

Sudeshna Chatterjee, head of school (HOS) at The Gaudium School, Hyderabad (TGS, estb.2014), is delighted that TGS has debuted in the competitive international day schools league table in its tenth anniversary year with a promotion to the Top 10.

“Our India #7 and Telangana #1 rank in our tenth anniversary year is very special for us. Over the past decade, we have experienced fast growth as reflected in the steady rise of our school in the EW league tables. I attribute our fast inclusion into India’s Top 10 international day schools to the vision of the management especially founder K. Kirthi Reddy, a Rutgers University alumna, who travelled the world before promoting Gaudium as a world-class K-12 institution with globally benchmarked academic and sports facilities. Our 27-acre green, sustainable campus is fully equipped with IT-enabled classrooms, modern science and STEM labs, fine arts studios, Olympic size swimming pool, athletics track, soccer fields, basketball, badminton, tennis courts and gymnastic academies. Therefore, I’m not surprised that we have been awarded top scores for infrastructure provision, sports and co-curricular education. Our objective is to provide a liberal and rounded education with equal importance to academics and co-curricular and sports activities,” says Chatterjee, an alum of Mumbai University and former principal of Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai and EuroSchool, Airoli, appointed HOS at Gaudium in 2022.

 

Likewise Mukesh Sharma, promoter-director of the Prometheus School, Noida (estb.2019) is gratified with the school’s elevation to India #8 with high scores on the parameters of academic reputation, curriculum and pedagogy, and sports education.

“It’s a great achievement for a five-year-old education institution to be included among India’s Top 10 international day schools. From inception, our objective has been to create a new-age K-12 school which not only develops students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship skills but also to nurture future Olympians. It’s very satisfying that your knowledgeable sample respondents have awarded us high scores on the parameters of academic reputation, curriculum and pedagogy and sports education. Our Cambridge and IBDP board results are above the India average because our teachers are well-trained to deliver contemporary IT-enabled pedagogies. And our sports facilities — eight badminton courts, heated swimming pool, table tennis hall, shooting and gymnastics academies and coaching programmes — are among the best countrywide. Academics, sports and entrepreneurship education are our focus areas,” says Sharma, an alumnus of BITS-Pilani and the University of Colorado, Boulder, tech entrepreneur (QA Infotech Pvt. Ltd) and also co-founder and trustee of Plaksha University, Mohali.

It’s pertinent to note that of the 44 schools ranked in the Top 20 international co-ed day league table, 21 are based in Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. Among them several have been granted promotions by this year’s 8,700 sample respondents. They include: JBCN International School, Oshiwara, Mumbai to #11 (15), Adani International School, Ahmedabad to #15 (17), DPS International, Gurugram to #17 (20) with JBCN International School, Chembur, Mumbai being awarded the biggest promotion to #18 (27).

In the 157-strong league table of India’s best international day schools, it’s also important to highlight that several schools ranked below the Top 20 enjoy king-size reputations in their host cities. And with city rankings more important than national rankings for day schools, city league tables should be studied carefully by parents and students.

For instance, Fountainhead School, ranked India #49 is the #1 international day school in Surat (pop.6.9 million); Eastern Public School, ranked #58 nationally is the #1 school of Bhopal (2.9 million); Oak Valley International, ranked #60 nationally is the #1 school in Visakhapatnam (2.3 million), and Rungta International School, India #71 is #1 in Raipur (1.8 million).