Primary and Secondary Schools in India

India has one of the largest school systems in the world, ranging from free government schools to private day and boarding schools that teach in English. Since the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act of 2009, enrolment in elementary school has risen and the number of out-of-school children has fallen, according to UNICEF India; completing secondary school remains a challenge, with around half of adolescents not finishing it.

For international families, the schools that matter most are usually private English-medium schools affiliated to a national examination board. This directory lists three primary and secondary schools in India, in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttarakhand.

How schooling is organised

Schools are grouped by the board whose curriculum and examinations they follow. The two national boards are:

• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): publishes the curriculum for secondary (Classes IX and X) and senior secondary (Classes XI and XII) education. Its 2026-27 curriculum includes Indian and foreign languages such as French, German and Spanish, and subjects such as vocational education and computational thinking and AI
• Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE): runs the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) exam at the end of Class X and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) at the end of Class XII

Many schools follow a state board instead. Schooling runs from pre-primary or kindergarten through Class XII, and the Class XII certificate is the qualification used for university admission.

Examples of schools

Brindavan Vidyalaya ICSE School in Thiruvanaikovil, Trichy (Tamil Nadu), was founded in 2000 by the Chidambaram Chettiar Charitable and Educational Trust. It teaches from pre-reception to Class XII, uses the Montessori method up to Class II, and obtained permanent CISCE affiliation in February 2020. The Creek Planet School in Hyderabad follows the CBSE curriculum on several campuses, including Bowrampet, Bachupally, Kukatpally and Medchal; its operator started with one school in 2008. The Aryan School in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, founded in 2001, is a co-educational day, day-boarding and residential school with ICSE and ISC curricula; the school states that its students come from 20 Indian states and 9 countries.

Admission for international students

Private schools admit students directly and set their own procedures. Brindavan, for example, sells an application pack (Rs. 300 in person), admits on a first-come, first-served basis when seats are available, and invites parents and students to an informal meeting with its international school coordinator. The Aryan School asks for an application form followed by an assessment and interaction session with teachers. Bring previous school reports and, when moving from another country, ask how the school will place your child in the CBSE or CISCE system.

Foreign students who come to India to study need a student visa. According to the Embassy of India in Bogotá, the application includes an admission letter with details of the course, proof of the institution's registration and proof of payment; if a parent or spouse pays the student's expenses, a notarised letter and their bank statements are required. All travellers to India, whatever their age, must present an International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, with only children under 6 months exempt. Check the requirements of the Indian embassy or consulate in your country.

Costs

Government schools are free, while private schools set their own fees, which vary widely by city, board and facilities. Boarding is the most expensive option: a guide published by The Aryan School puts annual boarding fees in Dehradun at between Rs. 3 lakh and more than Rs. 26 lakh. Ask for the full fee schedule, including transport, meals and boarding; Brindavan, for instance, states that it accepts no capitation fee or donation for admission.

How to choose

• Board: CBSE, CISCE (ICSE/ISC) or a state board, depending on where your child will study next
• Language: English-medium teaching and the second languages offered
• Day or boarding: day school, day-boarding, weekly boarding or full residential
• Stages: whether the school runs all the way to Class XII and which streams it offers there; Brindavan's Classes XI and XII offer only the commerce stream
• Activities: sports, arts and programmes such as the International Award for Young People

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between CBSE and ICSE schools?

They follow different national boards. CBSE schools follow the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education, while ICSE schools follow the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, which runs the ICSE exam in Class X and the ISC exam in Class XII.

Do foreign children need a visa to attend school in India?

Foreign students who come to study need a student visa, with an admission letter and proof of the school's registration. Requirements vary by embassy, so check with the Indian mission in your country.

Are there boarding schools in India?

Yes. Dehradun in Uttarakhand is known for boarding schools such as The Aryan School, which offers day-boarding, weekly boarding and full residential places.