Boarding schools are a great way to help children develop their character and independence. While boarding schools may not be the right choice for every child, they can be a great fit for kids who need more structure and support in their lives.
Boarders and students who attend boarding schools in India usually stay within the school premises throughout the school year except for long vacations or breaks.
Over time, countries like India, Britain, the United States of America, Russia, Canada, Nigeria, Ghana and some other African countries, Pakistan, and so on adopted the system of lodging students and training them in formal education within the school.
In India, the first boarding school was established in the nineteenth century by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, particularly in 1860, on the Yakima Indian Reservation in Washington. Then, subjects like the English language, arithmetic, science, history, and the arts were taught to the students, as well as the ability to interact with their peers and be self-independent. These subjects and skills are taught in schools to this day.
Their parents are permitted to visit on special days, commonly referred to as visiting days, so the boarders are mainly cared for by housemasters and house mistresses. These are teachers who live in the school, especially to monitor the activities of the students after school hours.
There are also janitors, in-house medical personnel, and chefs. Most boarding schools boast dormitories (rooms), refectory (dining rooms often designed to seat many students at once), libraries, standard rooms for leisure activities, gymnasiums, storage facilities, and regular school facilities like classrooms, laboratories, art rooms, and sports facilities. In this article, we’ll show you some of the best boarding schools In India.
Page Contents
- Top Boarding Schools In India
- 1. Ecole Globale International Girls School
- 2. Doon School
- 3. St. Thomas School, Thiruvananthapuram
- 4. Sainik School, Satara
- 5. Jain International Residential School, Bangalore
- 6. Welham Girls School, Dehradun
- 7. Rishi Valley School, Chittoor
- 8. Lawrence School, Sanawar
- 9. Scindia School, Gwalior
- 10. Mayo College
Top Boarding Schools In India
A boarding school is an institution where the students are lodged and fed within the school premises. This system of lodging students dates back to over 1000 years when boys were sent to learn in the houses of clergy members or monasteries in Europe.
The best boarding schools in India provide children with an enriching, supportive learning environment that promotes personal growth and academic performance.
Most boarding schools offer extracurricular activities such as sports teams and clubs so that students can develop interests outside of academics. If you live in India, these are some of the best boarding schools in the country.
1. Ecole Globale International Girls School
This school is an excellent pick for 4th to 8th graders who enjoy the idea of attending an all-girls boarding school. It was founded in 2013 by Amarjeet Juneja to provide education that can prepare girls in India and from overseas for college, with over 300 students currently enrolled. The school offers subjects in Hindi, English, Computer, and Mathematics.
Every child sent to a boarding school is expected to be kept safe and provided state-of-the-art learning facilities and a conducive learning environment to be trained to become excellent individuals. Ecole Globale International Girls School meets these standards, boasting of qualified teachers and professional administrative staff that can nurture and give attention to the students for 24 hours, both in and out of the classroom.
As a parent, you do not have to worry about your children running wild and too free because the school is keen on the discipline and security of its students. They are kept under strict vigilance, rules, and regulations to help breed them into proper individuals.
To back up the claims of its quality education, the Ecole Globale International Girls School won the National Excellence Award at the 3rd National School Excellence Award Ceremony held in New Delhi in 2016.
In 2018, Guntash Obhan from the school came third in the Central Board of Secondary Education Class 12 Examination results in Uttarakhand, scoring 495 points out of 500. Another school student, Aayat Azim, scored 98% on the same exam in 2020, and Sneha Jain topped the CBSE Class 10th examinations by scoring 96.6% in 2021.
As icing on the cake of all this school offers, it also provides sporting facilities and physical education training with a full-day schedule for sports, life skills, soft skills, training, non-scholastic, cultural, and outreach activities.
- Location: Village Horawalla, Near Sahaspur Dehradun – 248197, Uttarakhand, India
- Contact: +919557291888
- Email Address: ecoleglobale@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.ecoleglobale.com/?amp=1
- Tuition Fee: 10,00,000 – 12,00,000 Indian Rupees annually.
2. Doon School
Founded in 1935, the Doon School is one of India’s best boarding schools for boys. It is an All-Indian school for Indian boys aged 12-18 years living in the country and overseas, with over 500 students currently enrolled.
Doon School is the right option if you want a school that teaches and inculcates Indian cultures and values. It has affiliations with the International Baccalaureate (IB), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
Offered subjects include English, Hindi, geography, economics, political science, commerce, art and design, environmental studies, accountancy, psychology, mathematics, science, technology, engineering (STEM subjects), music, and Sanskrit.
The Doon school building consists of reading rooms, hardcopy and digital resources stocked libraries, a 100-seater acoustically engineered auditorium, a film studio, an Apple Mac studio, museum spaces, an Art and Media, a music school, and sports facilities.
Apart from academic activities, students are involved in seventy to eighty clubs and societies, participate in theatre productions, and go on expeditions during mid-term to the Siwalik Hills or the Himalayas as part of the school’s extracurricular activities.
The school has produced notable alums that have achieved feats in politics, arts and entertainment, sports, literature, and business. Famous people like the founder of NDTV, Aroon Purie; Former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi; Novelist Amitav Ghosh; India’s first Rhodes scholar, Lovraj Kumar; Turner Prize-winning sculptor, Sir Anish Kapoor; Founder of Indigo and Qualia, Rahul Akerkar as well as many others are all alumni of the school.
- Location: The Doon School, Mall Road, Dehradun, India, Pin-248001
- Contact: +911352526400 (Direct Number), +911352757275 (Fax Number), +911352526406 (Telephone).
- Email Address: info@doonschool.com
- For admission inquiries: admissions@doonschool.com
- Website: www.doonschool.com
- Tuition Fee: 1,025,000 Indian Rupees (home students) and 1,281,000 Indian Rupees (international students)
3. St. Thomas School, Thiruvananthapuram
St. Thomas School, Thiruvananthapuram, is an English boarding high school founded in 1966 in Kerala, a southern part of India. It accommodates both boys and girls (co-educational), so if you are looking for a mixed boarding school for Kindergarten to Class 12, this is a good option.
The renowned school boasts a population of over 6000 students. It offers syllabi of examination, namely Kerala State Board, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education/Indian School Certificate (ICSE/ISC).
Offered subjects include English I and II, environmental education, second language (Hindi, Malayalam, and French), history and civics, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer application / economic application. For higher secondary students, subjects are classified into the science group; mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology/computer application, and the commerce group; accounts, business studies, economics, and computer science, mathematics, or commerce.
It contains advanced facilities that enhance quality learning, such as technology-activated classrooms. This state-of-the-art computer laboratory has over 250 computers and fully computerized and well-equipped science laboratories.
Sports facilities for extracurricular activities, such as a tennis court, a skating rink, a football field, a hockey field, a basketball court, and a 400M running track, are also available in the school. For easy accessibility around the city, the school runs a transportation system with 27 different bus routes.
Notable alums from this school include an Indian film music composer and playback singer, Jassie Gift; Kerala State Film award-winning film editor, Appu.N.Bhattathiri and Indian film director, editor, and producer Arun Kumar Aravind.
- Location: Marthoma Church Educational Society, St. Thomas School Road, near Marthoma Stadium, Mukkolakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695044, India
- Contact: Reception (24 Hours) +91-471-2511122
- Schools Office +91-471-2511220
- Principal’s Office +91-471-2511221
- Fax – +91-471-2732600
- Email Address: strstvm@gmail.com
- Website: www.stthomastvm.edu.in
- Tuition Fees: 1,20,000 Indian Rupees
4. Sainik School, Satara
Sainik School, Satara, is a school that prepares boy and girl students from 6th to 8th grade for entry into the National Defense Academy (NDA), the Indian Naval Academy (INA), and other military educational institutions.
It is one of the first Sainik systems of schools to be established in India. If you envision becoming military personnel (or, as a parent, your child desires to join the military), this school is a great pick.
The school was established in 1962 by the government of India and is affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education. Interestingly, students in this school are referred to as cadets. The houses (cadets’ residences) and the Mess (cadet refectory) are designed to accommodate 620 cadets simultaneously.
The infrastructure at Sainik School is similar to that in regular boarding schools. It contains classrooms, libraries, laboratories, administrative offices, a medical inspection room (MI room), and a fully stocked Canteen stocked department.
The cadets in the school participate in all National Cadet Corps activities. Sometimes abbreviated to NCC, the National Cadet Corps is the Indian military cadet corps with its headquarters in New Delhi. Facilities like an auditorium, e-learning laboratories, and an art and craft center are available.
If anyone thinks a military boarding school is boring, Sainik School proves them wrong. The extracurricular activities are intense as the school has nine playfields and basketball courts, lawn tennis courts, volleyball courts, a hockey court, a football field, and a squash court.
It also has a riding school with boxing activities, hikes and treks, athletics, and obstacle courses. Cadets can also participate in indoor and outdoor games in the stadium, water facility, and indoor games facilities available in the school.
- Location: Post box no 20, Sadar Bazar, Satara 415001, Maharashtra
- Contact: 02162 234483, 235860
- Email Address: sainikss@rediffmail.com
- Website: https://www.sainiksatara.org/
- Tuition Fees: 1,30,982 Indian Rupees (total payable fees by General cadets at the time of admission) and 1,29,482 Indian Rupees (total payable fees by SC/ST cadets at the time of admission) per annum.
5. Jain International Residential School, Bangalore
The Jain International Residential School was established in 1999 by the JGI Group and has continued to set the bar for academic excellence, intellectual development, ethical awareness, behavior, and sportsmanship for more than 20 years.
The school’s aim extends far beyond the classroom; in addition to providing academic rigor, emphasis is placed on extracurricular activities in order to better prepare students for the rigors of life. English is the language of teaching at the school, which offers lessons for students in grades 4 through 12. The school provides several amenities for its students, including a gym, a library, and badminton courts.
- Location: Jain Global Campus, Jakkasandra Post, Kanakapura, Bengaluru Karnataka 562112
- Contact: +91 78998 88099
- Email Address: Info@Jirs.Ac.In
- Website: https://www.jirs.ac.in/
- Tuition: 2,00,000 Indian Rupees
6. Welham Girls School, Dehradun
Being the “school capital of India,” Dehradun’s schools are unique in many ways. Welham Girls School is one of the several girls’ boarding schools in Dehradun that offers girls from all over the world a top-notch education.
The CISCE is affiliated with this educational institution (Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations). The performance of these kids in the various fields of teaching and learning has been excellent.
The school’s true legacy lies in the social and emotional skills it teaches its students, enabling them to become responsible agents of change and socially aware citizens with strong ethics and integrity.
This also provides experiences that foster 21st-century skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Among the numerous top universities in the country, the school stands out because of its history of character development and leadership in students.
- Location: 19, Municipal Rd, Panchpuri Colony, Dalanwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India
- Contact: +91 135 667 0100
- Email Address: mainschool@welhamgirls.com
- Website: http://www.welhamgirls.com/
- Tuition: 7,50,000 Indian Rupees
7. Rishi Valley School, Chittoor
This school, associated with the ISC and ICSE Boards, is a co-educational institution that offers instruction to students in grades 4 through 12. It was created by the well-known philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti in 1926 and concentrates on the ideas of Murti.
The Valley School in Bengaluru and Rajghat Besant School in Varanasi are two of its seven sister institutions. For the past 50 years, the school has observed customs such as morning assembly, Asthachal, and folk dancing. Its cultural offerings are Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music, Tabla, the violin, piano, and other instruments. Both Varun Gandhi and Aditi Rao Hydari are famous graduates of this university.
Students are provided with a top-notch education at this institution. It is outfitted with every amenity that guarantees the students’ educational experience. The knowledgeable and experienced staff mentors the students with passion and dedication.
- Location: Rishi Valley, Chittoor District, Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh 517352, India
- Contact: +91 85712 80044
- Email Address: office@rishivalley.org
- Website: https://www.rishivalley.org/
- Tuition: 4,00,000 Indian Rupees
8. Lawrence School, Sanawar
Sir Henry first opened this school back in 1847. Initially, most of the students at the institution were white orphans and orphans of British soldiers. Lawrence and other British commanders supported its development, and Gulab Singh—the first Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir—contributed significantly.
Sanawar is a co-educational boarding school that is associated with the CBSE. Its students come from various socioeconomic backgrounds and regions throughout the subcontinent. It allows students many opportunities to express their ideas and develop their talents in a setting that fosters a questioning mindset.
- Location: Sanawar, Kasauli, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173202, India
- Contact: +91 1792 261 208
- Email Address: office@sanawar.edu.in
- Website: http://www.sanawar.edu.in/
- Tuition: 4,83,000 Indian Rupees
9. Scindia School, Gwalior
One of the most renowned and top boarding schools in India for boys is Scindia School. The Scindia School, formerly known as The Sardaar School and founded in 1897 by the famous Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia, was given that name in 1933.
It catered only to royal youngsters and was situated on the famous Gwalior Fort. Later, the school removed that restriction and began accepting students from grades VI through XII without regard to their class. Education World Magazine rated it the third-best boys’ school in India in 2014.
For the students’ overall growth, the school has several societies. Some of India’s most well-known individuals, including Salman Khan, Bharat Vir Wanchoo, and Anurag Kashyap, are Scindia School graduates.
- Location: Gwalior Fort, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474008, India
- Contact: +91 751 248 0750
- Email Address: principal@scindia.edu
- Website: http://www.scindia.edu/
- Tuition: 1,200,000 Indian Rupees
10. Mayo College
Mayo College is one of India’s first boarding schools for guys only. At both the HSC and SSC levels, it is associated with CBSE. The college is frequently known to hold some of the top sports events in all of India, including shooting, tennis, squash, and cricket.
Today’s schools provide children with top-notch education to help them succeed. The university boasts a sizable campus with beautiful and natural surroundings.
Smart classroom technologies and cutting-edge labs are available. The original goal was to provide royal state rulers with a curriculum resembling that of Eton College. For the boys of the Indian elites, particularly the princes and nobles of India, the British created Mayo.
- Location: Srinagar Road, Alwar Gate, Rajasthan 305001, India
- Contact: +91 145 266 1154
- Email Address: principal@mayocollege.com
- Website: https://mayocollege.com/
- Tuition: 1,375,650 Indian Rupees
You might have heard the notion that boarding schools are better than day schools, and truth be told, it could be true. There are a couple of reasons why a boarding school can be considered to be a better option. As mentioned earlier, boarders learn how to interact with their peers more; they eat, study, play, and read together, which ultimately builds strong social skills.
Besides social skills, boarders tend to develop discipline and a sense of responsibility at a tender age because most boarding schools employ a military mode of operation. There’s a time to wake up, eat, get to class, study after school, for sports, and for bedtime. It goes a long way in conditioning the students’ minds to discipline.
Another advantage is that boarding schools have smaller class sizes than day schools. Smaller sizes mean an increased communication flow between teachers and students, a prerequisite to quick learning.
Students can interact with each other better and even foster healthy competition and growth. After school, they can extend their interaction into extracurricular activities, promoting personal development, leadership, crisis resolution, and relationship building.
In boarding school in India, you might consider enrolling in one (or enrolling your children as students if you are a parent reading this). If this is the case, there are impeccable schools in India, and it could be overwhelming to select which one to enroll in. We’ve given you a list of some of our top-choice boarding schools in the country.