“We are delighted to be ranked the country’s #1 Central government day school for the fourth consecutive year. This award places greater responsibility on us to strive to maintain our reputation. Especially satisfying are our top scores under the parameters of teacher welfare and development, co-curricular education, parental involvement and value for money. This is evidence that we have been successful in creating an enabling work environment where teachers feel respected, supported and encouraged to contribute beyond the curriculum. I strongly believe that when teachers flourish, children succeed, and when both do well, the institution flourishes. Our co-curricular programme is wide-ranging and complements academic education through arts, cultural activities, clubs, and leadership training. Another important focus area is preparing students for the Armed Forces through a balanced mix of physical fitness, discipline and leadership experiences to nurture courage, integrity and a spirit of service. We are equally conscious of value for money, ensuring resources are used prudently, with priority given to student learning, safety, well-being and overall development” — Dr. Neetu Kapoor (centre left), Principal, Army Public School, Delhi Cantt. (3,307 students, 173 teachers)

“We are satisfied with our consistent India ranking within the Top 3 in this competitive category. Strong collaborative leadership, competent faculty, continuous professional development programmes, student-centric practices, robust infrastructure and active parental involvement are factors contributing to our sustained success. In particular, we attach great importance to the parameter of teacher welfare and development. Regular capacity-building sessions, peer learning, collaborative lesson planning, professional learning communities, and effective technology integration are part and parcel of our continuous professional development programmes. Therefore, our high score for faculty competence is especially satisfying. Our motivated teachers are responsible for our school’s strong academic reputation, for which we have also received high score. Over the next five years, we will focus on equipping our children with 21st-century skills by integrating latest technologies, individualised learning in our curriculum and tracking students’ progress through data-informed analysis” — Dr. Parul Kumar, Principal, Navy Children School, Nausena Baugh, Visakhapatnam (3,042 students, 140 teachers)