Research organization C fore conducted a comprehensive nation wide survey
to rank the top schools in India across 20 distinct categories. These included:
- For Best Emerging Schools, the Placements/Alumni parameter was excluded.
- For Special Needs, Philanthropy, Government, and Budget Schools, a smaller set of parameters was used.
- Schools assessed by fewer than 25 respondents were excluded from the final rankings.
The perceptual survey was conducted between March and July 2025, covering 226 cities and towns across India. A total of 55,468 respondents were interviewed, including parents from Socio-Economic Category A, teachers, principals, educationists, and students from grades 10 to 12.
Respondents were shown a pre-selected list of schools in their respective regions and asked to rate the schools they were familiar with on a ten-point scale across 14 key parameters. The weightage assigned to each parameter was determined through a preliminary stakeholder survey.
Special considerations were made for different school categories:
Final scores were derived from the aggregate average rating each school received, and schools were ranked accordingly.
Following are the assessment Parameters used to evaluate school performance:
Competence &
Relationship:
Evaluates teachers’ qualifications, training, child development knowledge, and ability to foster a nurturing and trusting classroom environment. It also includes ongoing professional development and emotional support systems for teachers.
Relevant
Curriculum:
Assesses the effectiveness and modernity of the curriculum in encouraging creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. It also evaluates the integration of new teaching techniques like interdisciplinary and experiential learning, as well as emerging technologies such as AI.
Governance:
Looks at the vision, philosophy, and integrity of school leadership, their support for pedagogical systems, promotion of inclusivity, and creation of a positive school culture for students, staff, and families.
Growth Environment:
Examines the school’s initiatives for teacher development, including wellness programs, fair compensation, workload management, professional training, collaboration opportunities, and a positive workplace culture.
Education:
Measures how effectively a school adapts learning to individual student needs and interests. This includes differentiated instruction, student-teacher ratios, monitoring of individual progress, and support for diverse learning styles.
Rigour:
Assesses conceptual clarity, the robustness of assessment methods, and performance in board examinations. It evaluates a school’s commitment to academic excellence.
Evaluates efforts to encourage student participation in sports, the availability and quality of facilities, competence of coaches, and student achievements at state and national levels.
Activities:
Assesses the school's emphasis on arts, music, theatre, and other extracurricular pursuits, along with awards and recognition received at regional or national levels.
& Education:
Looks at how effectively the school engages with parents through regular communication, parenting workshops, transparent policies, progress updates, and receptiveness to feedback.
Facilities:
Reviews the quality, safety, and maintenance of infrastructure such as classrooms, playgrounds, libraries, science labs, smart classrooms, STEAM labs, and auditoriums.
(ROI) / Money’s Worth:
Analyses whether the school fees are justified by the quality of education, facilities, teacher quality, placements, and the overall value offered to students and families.
Social Intelligence:
Evaluates the integration of emotional and social learning into the curriculum. This includes conflict resolution, empathy, emotional regulation, availability of mental health resources, and the school's approach to behavioural issues.
& Inclusivity:
Assesses the school’s inclusivity for children with special needs, socio-economic and cultural diversity, and community outreach, particularly towards underprivileged sections of society.
Pastoral Care:
Examines the quality of boarding facilities, safety, and the pastoral care systems in place to support boarders' emotional and physical well-being.
Alumni:
Assesses the school's success in placing students in reputed national and international universities, alumni achievements, and career counseling. For newer schools, the focus is on preparation, networking, and soft skills training.
PARAMETERS WEIGHTAGE
