Rishi Valley School, Chittoor is a co-ed boarding school affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Promoted in 1926 by seer-educationist J Krishnamurti, Rishi Valley School is ranked among India’s premier boarding school in the EducationWorld India School Rankings every year. With a sprawling campus spread over 350 acres in Chittoor area of southern Andhra Pradesh, Rishi Valley was chosen by Krishnamurti for its peaceful and serene atmosphere.
The school admits students from classes IV-XII. The school aims to not only provide academic education but also holistic development of children and places strong emphasis on inculcating in them awareness and appreciation for nature.
Rishi Valley School is a member of Indian Public Schools Conference (IPSC).
The Rishi Valley School campus is spread over 350 acres of land in the valley region of Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. Ancient granite hills with striking formations surround Rishi Valley on all sides. It prides in providing a peaceful and austere environment to its students. The rural health centre, the Krishnamurti study centre, a small hospital with a resident doctor, a dairy, farm, organic vegetable garden, herb garden and fruit orchard are part of this campus.
The junior school, includes a preparatory section for campus children and classes IV, V and VI is contiguous with the middle school, which consists of classes VII and VIII. These are housed together in the same complex of buildings and share the facilities of an open assembly hall, a well-stocked library, science laboratories and a mathematics-cum-computer laboratory. There are also audio-visual facilities, a yoga-cum-activity room and commodious sports facilities for cricket, tennis and football.
The senior school is housed in a separate complex of buildings. The facilities include a separate, well-stocked library, various specific subject rooms, an audio-visual room, separate laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology and a computer room. An open visitor’s lounge, a work space for teachers and a large staff-room are also part of the main senior school building.
Sports and games facilities include three levelled fields and several courts for playing field games like cricket and football, as well as throwball, basketball, tennis and badminton.
The junior school curriculum provides a framework for sensory and experiential learning and the development of basic concepts and skills including the following languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Sanskrit, mathematics and environmental studies. Knowledge-based learning is combined with exposure to nature and the social reality surrounding the school. Evaluation is based on close observation of each child and regular class-work; reports to parents which are sent each term are primarily descriptive.
The middle-school curriculum broadens to include subjects like geography, history and the sciences and is also more challenging. Classroom teaching, teacher-designed learning material, audio-visual media, laboratory work and field trips are part of the curriculum. Arts and crafts, sports, drama and music are an integral part of the school programme. Evaluation is based on classroom observations and written assignments; it is supplemented with periodic tests until class VII. By the second term of class VIII students receive marked evaluation of their tests. Reports to parents at this stage continue to reflect the overall growth of the child, but now contain more pointed comments and suggestions in each subject-area. There are no cumulative end-of-term-examinations until the end of class IX.
In the senior school the educational programme shifts in its emphasis towards preparation of students in the syllabus for the ICSE examinations. Students take an internally administered cumulative exam for the first time at the end of class IX.
Classes XI and XII form a separate programme for which admissions are open and students of class X need to apply anew as candidates. Each student in the ‘plus two’ course selects four subjects in addition to English. The subject combinations are broadly divided between science, humanities and business studies. Subjects offered are mathematics physics, chemistry, biology, computer science; English literature, history, geography, economics, commerce, accountancy, environmental studies, music in the Carnatic style, fine arts, Hindi and Telugu literature. Culture classes remain an integral part of the timetable, right until class XII.
Evaluation for senior-school students is based on a series of written assignments and tests, apart from project work and classroom observations. The reports contain comments and suggestions on formatted report forms, along with a qualitative achievement grade. The principal’s and house-parent’s reports also give an overall profile of the student’s growth, interests and involvements in life at school.
Dr. Anantha Jyothi
Min Fee
Max Fee
Library
Student Mix
No of Students
Campus Size
Labs
Internet Wi-Fi
SportsOnly children who are at least seven years old can register. No weightage is given for early registration. Parents need to apply during the year prior to the academic year for which they seek admission for their wards.
The entry points into the School are classes IV, VI and VII, at the ages 8+, 10+ and 11+ respectively. Children are normally not admitted into classes higher than class VII and the institution does not have classes lower than IV. Admissions into classes V, VIII and IX are typically considered only when there are withdrawals of students from these classes.
In early January, application forms are examined by a selection committee and a shortlist is produced of those candidates who will be called for a formal test and interview.
The interviews are typically conducted in February/March of each year.
The written tests are in English and mathematics only. There is also an oral interview at which the parents or guardians are expected to be present. The tests conducted are meant to assess the child’s aptitude, comprehension capacity, computational skills and so on; there is no prescribed syllabus as such. Admission offers are made in early April; the parents or guardians of selected candidates are notified of the date on which the children are to be brought for admission.
Fee structure:
Non-refundable admission fee of Rs 7,500 payable at the time of admission.
Annual fees- Rs.5,90,000/- (Voluntary higher fee up to Rs.6,50,000)
An additional fee of Rs.25,000/- per annum is charged for students of classes XI and XII.
Rishi Valley School is ranked the country’s most respected legacy boarding school in the EW India School Rankings every year.
There are 20 small hostels each of which accommodates a number ranging from 12 to 22 students. Boys and girls belonging to classes IV and V live together with older girls of classes VI and VII in the same house. Older boys and girls live in separate houses, usually with a mixed-age of two classes being together.
Members of the teaching staff, who live in staff quarters within a house, act as house-parents.
Limited accommodation is available at Rishi Valley School. Parents/guardians may come and stay at the guest house after receiving prior confirmation from the School.
