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…
