Nita Ambani: “acknowledgement of DAIS’ strengths across most critical parameters”

The 2026-27 league table of Ivy League international day schools — the glamour section of EWISR — has undergone a transformation

Last year, responding to perceptive feedback from school education stakeholders and EW readers that the annual EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR) were becoming somewhat predictable, with some schools repeatedly occupying top table, your editors — following consultations with our trusted ally, the US-based Raymond Ravaglia, former Dean & Director of Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies and currently Director of US-based education research firm Launchpad Rankings LLC — devised a new supernova category of “cluster-ranked” schools — all excellent institutions deserving #1 rank with differentiators too close to call. These schools were elevated to a new Ivy League category. This created greater headroom for other high-performing schools to compete for top positions in the annual EWISR.

The 2026-27 league table of Ivy League international day schools — the glamour section of EWISR — has undergone a transformation. While Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai and Oberoi International School, Mumbai have retained their Ivy League status, Aditya Birla World Academy, Mumbai and Riverside School, Ahmedabad have been replaced by new entrants Pathways School, Gurgaon and JBCN International School, Parel, Mumbai. Although these four globally comparable international schools are all ranked India #1, they are minutely differentiated by award of stars (1-5) and decimal points to encourage continuous improvement.

Unsurprisingly, the superbly equipped no-expense spared Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai (DAIS, estb.2003) — ranked India’s #1 international day school in EWISR for the past 14 years — is included in the exclusive Ivy League category with 5 stars. This Cambridge and IB-affiliated school — promoted in memoriam of legendary business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani (1932-2002), founder-chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s most respected, efficient and valuable company (market cap: Rs.17.46 lakh crore) — has been awarded top score under ten of 15 parameters of school excellence. Among them: teacher competence, teacher welfare and development, academic reputation, sports education, leadership, special needs education and quality of alumni. Currently, DAIS has 1,198 students and 244 teachers on its muster rolls.

“It’s joyous and fulfilling to learn that DAIS has retained its Ivy League status. While this recognition is gratifying, the true measure of a school is not only in its achievements, but also in the type of individuals it shapes. Therefore, it is more gratifying to witness our students grow into confident, compassionate and capable young individuals, ready to find their own place in the world and contribute meaningfully to it. Yet what makes EWISR 2026-27 especially meaningful is that it acknowledges DAIS’ strengths across the most critical parameters of school education including teacher welfare and development, teacher competence, academic reputation and mental and emotional wellbeing services. The worth of a school cannot be defined by any one measure. Education institutions are evaluated by the knowledge, commitment and professionalism of teachers, wellbeing of its students, strength of relationships, community outreach and capability to enable young people to develop the skills, values and character to find their place in the world,” says Nita M. Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of DAIS and the Reliance Foundation (estb.2010), the philanthropic initiative of Reliance Industries.

As per Ambani, the secret of DAIS’ continued success is that “we are constantly asking ourselves how we can make learning more meaningful, joyful and connected with the world in which our children are growing up”. “This year, one of the innovations we are especially proud of is Tree House — a nature-inspired learning space. This wooden haven features six carefully curated zones to nurture children’s creativity, inquiry, movement, play and storytelling skills,” she adds.

Capt. Bajaj: next chapter excitement

The sole non-Mumbai international day school included in the Ivy League category is Pathways School, Gurgaon (PSG, estb.2010), with excellent scores under the parameters of teacher welfare and development, curriculum and pedagogy, co-curricular education, and mental and emotional wellbeing services. In early July, PSG made national headlines with news that the school has been acquired by Lighthouse Learning Group (formerly EuroKids International), backed by KKR, one of the world’s leading private equity firms, for a staggering Rs.1,500 crore.

“We are elated to learn that PSG has been elevated to the Ivy League category this year. It’s validation of the globally benchmarked international education experience we provide our students. I am also delighted that our highest scores are under the parameters of teacher development, curriculum and pedagogy and co-curricular education. The high score for teacher development is warranted because we spare no expense to develop our teachers’ professional skills to enable them to continually innovate and introduce new pedagogies, as reflected in our high score for curriculum and pedagogy. Mental and emotional wellbeing services are another big focus area, with a seven-strong team of well-qualified counsellors ensuring children’s emotional care. Moreover, PSG is an outward looking school and a member of highly-respected well-known international organisations such as the Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges, enabling the sharing of global best practices. As we move forward, we are excited about the school’s next growth chapter with Lighthouse Learning,” says Capt. Rohit Sen Bajaj, Director of the IB-affiliated PSG which has 1,470 students mentored by 270 teachers on its muster rolls.

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