Top 10 Best Schools in India for Quality Education [2025-26]

Schools play an important role in a child’s development, as they lay the foundation for future learning and growth. A better school ensures better education, better skills, better values, and all-round personality development. So, choosing one of the top schools in India is of utmost importance. These best schools in India have earned their title by providing high-quality education.

In fact, passing from one of these schools have opened the doors for students to advanced career opportunities in the healthcare, IT, banking and finance, and social development sectors. So, if you are looking to enroll your child in one such top school in India, you have come to the right place.

India happens to have the best-known schools that have shaped some of the most successful individuals. The institutes that made it through the list of the best schools in India were assessed against certain parameters like the state of infrastructure, strength of the faculty, collective academic performance, and the total number of students. Read on to know more about these schools.

List of Top 10 Schools in India

Here is the list of top 10 best schools in India for your child and their better future.

1. Hiranandani Foundation School, Thane
2. Laidlaw Memorial School, Ooty
3. St. George’s College, Mussoorie
4. Mayoor Chopasni School, Jodhpur
5. Lala Kamlapat Singhania Education Centre, Gotan
6. Mayo College, Ajmer
7. Lawrence School, Ooty
8. Unison World School, Dehradun
9. St. Joseph’s School, Darjeeling
10. St. Hilda’s School, Ooty

1. Hiranandani Foundation School, Thane

   Among the list of best schools in India, Hiranandani Foundation School tops the chart. Founded by Lakhumal Hiranand Hiranandani, the school came into being in the year 1999. This top school in India spread over a sprawling 3-acre site, is affiliated with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Hiranandani Foundation School currently operates multiple branches across Mumbai. It offers top-notch facilities like computer labs, libraries, smart classes, and science labs. Besides academics, the school has attained an excellent reputation for promoting sports and extracurricular activities among students.

2. Laidlaw Memorial School, Ooty

   
   Second on the list of best schools in India is Laidlaw Memorial School, a prestigious institute located at the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’. The school was founded in 1914 by the Late Rev. John Breeden. He established the school with the intent of providing educational opportunities to students from surrounding residential communities. Having started out with three students, the institute today boasts a total strength of 1500+ students. The biggest attraction is the lush-green campus spread across 224 acres of land facilitating adequate indoor and outdoor amenities for teaching and learning.

3. St. George’s College, Mussoorie

   St. George’s College is one of the top schools in India and is affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). This all-boys residential and non-residential institution was established way back in 1853 by the Capuchin fathers of Ireland. Ever since, the school has earned a reputation throughout Uttarakhand for its academic excellence and laying extra emphasis on athletics. Up until now, St. George’s has trained and produced Olympic gold winning athletes and students who have gone on to join  the armed forces. The institution is also equipped with a computer lab, swimming pool, auditorium, library, archives museum, music room, and creative laboratory.

4. Mayoor Chopasni School, Jodhpur

   Amongst the top schools in India, is Jodhpur’s Mayoor Chopasni School. The campus of the institution came into existence in 1914 and the school was established in 2012. Today, the institution is fondly known for having an illustrious  heritage attached to it. From the time of commencement, the institution has laid great emphasis on helping students nurture life skills. With the same intent, the school facilitates 40 distinct clubs.  It hosts a range of events like photography, vocal music, football, skating, yoga, horse riding, cricket, and pottery. Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Mayoor Chopasni School is a co-ed institution and has a total strength of 1772 students.

5. Lala Kamlapat Singhania Education Centre, Gotan

   Another institution in our list of top 10 best schools in India, is Lala Kamlapat Singhania Education Centre. The co-ed school is located in Gotan and is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The institution was established in July 1987, and ever since, it has been counted among premier residential schools in Rajasthan. It is managed by Lala Kamla Sansthan. Spread over 250 acres with complete boarding facilities, the school currently accommodates approximately 1700 students, including 950 boarders.

6. Mayo College, Ajmer

   If you want to know which is the best school in India, here comes another recommendation. Richard Bourke started Mayo College, a boys-only private boarding school in the year 1875. He was the Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872. The school has affiliations with CISCE and CAIE (Cambridge) boards and follows English as a medium of teaching. Mayo has a holistic approach to education. Thus, they encourage extra-curricular activities like music, art, technical skill development, community service, and cultural activities. The institution also offers a range of hobby classes like 3D printing, astronomy, carpentry, pottery, woodwork, and sculpture.

7. Lawrence School, Ooty

   Founded in 1856, this co-ed school is one of the top schools in India, located in Lovedale​, Tamil Nadu. Lawrence School is governed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and follows the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum. Along with academics, Lawrence School also focuses on all-round development of students. The campus hosts a number of events throughout the year, such as annual day and sports day. They also conduct skill building activities like science exhibitions, yoga classes, art & craft workshops, and calligraphy classes. The school is also equipped with a spacious library and has well-maintained science and computer labs.

8. Unison World School, Dehradun

   This is another popular all-girls school that came into existence in 2007 with the objective of imparting quality education and life skills to students. The values envisioned by the late Shri. Navin Aggarwal form the basis on which the institution is founded and run. He strongly believed that when we teach a boy, we teach one man. But if we teach a girl, we will be teaching an entire family. In accordance with this ideology, the institution provides its students the opportunity to learn all kinds of activities in addition to theoretical education. Unison is sited in Dehradun and has an affiliation with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

   

9. St. Joseph’s School, Darjeeling

   Founded in 1888, St. Joseph’s School North Point is among the best schools in India. The school is managed by Jesuit Education, and is affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). St. Joseph’s is located far from the chaos of city life and amid the picturesque valleys of Darjeeling. This all-boys school emphasizes concept-based learning by leveraging an in-depth curriculum and extracurricular activities. The school currently offers facilities like drama classes, art and craft workshops, and dance & music training.

10. St. Hilda’s School, Ooty

    Founded in 1895, St. Hilda’s is an all-girls school with boarding facilities. The institution is affiliated with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and admits students from classes 1 to 10. Located 300 feet above the lake, amid the majestic Nilgiris, the school enjoys an expansive campus and a view of hills and valleys. Over the years, the institution has advanced its infrastructure to help students experience top-notch facilities. Some of the amenities that the school offers include a science laboratory, library, music class, chapel, and playground.

The Role of the ‘Great Schools of India’ Initiative by Extramarks

The Great Schools of India, powered by Extramarks, is an initiative launched with the aim to recognize and promote some of the best schools in India. Through a series of videos, the edtech platform has covered the top 10 schools in India that have carved a legacy and deliver high-quality education to its students. Each of these schools are known for striking the right balance between academics and co-curricular activities. Parents looking to enroll their kids for the 2024-25 session will most likely find this list of Great Schools in India useful.

Explore the complete series of GOI by Extramarks:

Empower Children to Succeed at School

Choosing the right school is an important decision for parents, as it can make or break a child’s career and future. So, it is essential that parents shortlist schools that not only offer top-notch education but also a safe and inclusive learning environment. So, refer to this list of top schools in India, do your research, and opt for the best one.

Also Read:

• Top Schoos in Hyderabad
• Top Schools in Kolkata
• Top Schools in Bangalore
• Top Schools in Noida
• Top Schools in Faridabad

Best Schools in India – FAQs

1. Which school is rank 1 in all of India?

There is no single school that is universally recognized as the number one school in India for the session 2024-25. The concept of the “best” school is subjective and varies depending on individual needs, preferences, and criteria such as academic performance, infrastructure, faculty quality, extracurricular activities, and location. Several prestigious schools are often considered among the best, including The Doon School in Dehradun, Mayo College in Ajmer, The Shri Ram School in New Delhi, and others. Each of these schools has its own strengths and unique offerings, making them top choices for different reasons.

2. Which is the No. 1 school board in India?

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considered one of the top education boards in India. It is recognized for its comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for competitive examinations and provides a robust framework for learning across various subjects.

Last Updated on November 14, 2024