With schools across Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula buzzing with nursery admissions, Hindustan Times is pleased to present to its readers the first HT Top Schools' Survey. It's the first-ever ranking of the top ten schools of the tricity and three top schools each of SAS Nagar and Panchkula. In all, twenty-five schools, which participated in the survey conducted by C-fore, a Delhi-based research organisation, were assessed on as many as 14 parameters - from academic rigour and infrastructure to social accountability and the use of innovative teaching methods. The ratings may offer a helpful guide to parents seeking entry-level admissions for their children. Every school has its pros and cons. Parents, of course, look for a school with a good academic record, infrastructure and a host of other facilities. But at the end of the day, intangible factors such as teaching philosophy also matter in their choice of school.
St John's High School
Address: Sector 26, Chandigarh
Website:www.stjohnschandigarh.com
HISTORY
Founded by the Christian Brothers on November 15, 1959, St John's High was the first English-medium school to come up in Chandigarh. The first academic session of the all-boys school began on February 1, 1960. It began by enrolling students in classes 3 to 8. It is a Christian mission minority educational institution and its motto "Pro Deo et Patria" translates into "For God and Country".
UNIQUE FEATURES
The school has national presence in gymnastics, chess, football, golf, tennis, horse riding, badminton and archery. Scholarships for deserving students,
PRINCIPAL'S QUOTE
We strive to inculcate in every student a strong sense of social responsibility. Our aim is to groom our students into responsible citizens. Our students are encouraged to value people for who they are.
Kavita Das, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Good teachers
Infrastructure and facilities
Value system
BOARD:
Class 10 -
CBSE
Class 12 (commerce and non-medical) -
CBSE
Fee:
R30,000 annually
Students:
2,600 boys
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Carmel Convent School, Chandigarh
Address:
Sector 9, Chandigarh
Website:
carmelconvent.org
History:
The school, founded on July 16, 1959, is administered by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters. The all-girls school has branches in Delhi, Giridih, Bhopal, and Faridabad. It is affiliated to the CBSE and recognised by the UT directorate of education.
{{/usCountry}}The school, founded on July 16, 1959, is administered by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters. The all-girls school has branches in Delhi, Giridih, Bhopal, and Faridabad. It is affiliated to the CBSE and recognised by the UT directorate of education.
{{/usCountry}}Unique features: The school has a spacious, well-planned building. It provides quality infrastructure for the overall growth and development of students.
Sister Maria Swati:
"The school strives to serve society and transform young individuals into leaders."
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Academic rigour
Life skills education
BOARD:
CBSE up to Class 12
Fee:
R20,000 annually
Students:
2,000
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Delhi Public School, Chandigarh
Address:
Sector 40, Chandigarh
Website:
History
The school is a co-educational institution and was established in 2003. Though only 10-years-old, there are 3,465 students enrolled in Delhi Public School. It is among one of the many Delhi Public Schools established across India.
Unique feature:
A large and aesthetic amphitheatre and a newly inaugurated auditorium, known as "Rajiv Gandhi Hall of Excellence", add to the beauty of the school.
PRINCIPAL's QUOTE
We try to equip our students with life skills and groom them to become future leaders. Education to us is not a destination but a journey of discovery and introspection.
Reema Dewan, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Academic rigour
Competence of teachers
Social accountability
BOARD:
CBSE up to Class 12
Fee:
R40,000 (approx)
Students:
3,465
Teacher-student ratio:
1:40
Sacred Heart School
Address:
Sector 26, Chandigarh
Website:
NA
History:
It was established in 1968 and is managed by the Institute of Franciscan Clarist Sisters. The all-girls school has six grounds and two buildings, which comprise a junior and a senior block.
Unique feature:
Large playing areas and discipline. The school believes in grooming its students into future leaders.
Principal's quote
We strive to be the best. We work hard to ensure our students are groomed well and have strong moral values.
Sister Nisha, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Academic rigour
Competence of teachers
Value system/integration
Board:
CBSE till class 12
Fee:
R15,000
Students:
2,000
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
St Kabir Public School
Address:
Sector 26, Chandigarh
Website:
stkabir.co.in
HISTORY
The school, founded by JP Singh in 1974, has the motto 'Labor Omnia Vincit' (Labour wins all). A co-educational institution, the school is run by Kabir Educational Society and shifted to its present location in Sector 26 in 1991.
UNIQUE FEATURE
The school is in a tie-up with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Besides, two students of the school attended a summer studies programme organised by Duke University, a US-based private research university, last year.
PRINCIPAL's QUOTE
The all-round development of a child is our focus. We believe in imparting child-centric education and grooming the students to excel in life.
Gurpreet Bakshi, school administrator
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Competence of teachers
Academic rigour
Board:
Class 10 - ICSE
Fee:
R53,400 at the entry-level (approx)
Students:
2,600 approx
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh
Address:
Sector 27, Chandigarh
Website:
History
Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, was established by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, a charitable public trust, on November 30, 1983. The co-educational school is affiliated to the CBSE.
Unique feature
The school ranked 42nd in an all India survey conducted in 2012. It regularly plans fieldtrips for its students.
PRINCIPAL'S QUOTE
We always strive to instil good qualities in our students. We believed that is no formula to success that is devoid of hard work, commitment and professional ethics.
Vineeta Arora, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Academic rigour
Value for money
Value system
BOARD:
CBSE till class 12
Fee:
R30,000 (approx)
Students:
3,000 (approx)
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30-35
Strawberry Fields World School, Chandigarh
Address:
Sector 26 Chandigarh
Website:
History:
The Durga Das Foundation started Strawberry Fields World School in Chandigarh on October 11, 2003. Set up in 1991, the foundation was registered as a trust in 1994.
Unique feature:
The school has world-class infrastructure and claims to have state-of-the-art facilities. The architecture of the school - designed by Mani Chowfla, the man who designed the Indian Habitat Centre - is also unique.
We provide the best of facilities to our students. We try to ensure that our students stand out in a crowd.
Atul Khanna, director
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Individual attention to students
Extracurricular activities
Innovative teaching
Safety and hygiene
BOARD:
Class 10 - ICSE
Fee:
R1 lakh at entry level
Students:
2,000
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Vivek High School, Chandigarh
Address:
Sector 37, Chandigarh
Website:
History
Established on April 4, 1984, the school is administered by Bhagwant Singh Charitable Trust. It has been named 'Vivek' after a house of an ancient Buddhist university in Nalanda.
Unique feature:
The school is known for taking different initiatives. Eminent personalities such as Tom Alter, BV Karath, MK Raina and others are associated with the school.
PRINCIAL's QUOTE
Vivek High is a school where education means more than just imparting knowledge. It is about growing up and finding experiences that develop the character of a student.
PK Singh, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Extracurricular activities
Individual attention to students
Infrastructure and facilities
Safety and hygiene
BOARD:
CBSE till class 12
Fee:
R46,000 entry level
Students:
2,600
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Yadavindra Public School
Address:
Sector 51, SAS Nagar
Website:
History:
The school was established on April 9, 1979. Raja Ram Pratap Singh was its founder and first chairman. The school is based on the lines of public schools and is a member of the Indian Public School Conference.
Unique features:
The school focuses on sport. Students have the option to choose from squash, soccer, hockey, cricket and tennis. The school has computers in every classroom and was appreciated for being the most computer-literate school in state of Punjab in 2004.
PRINCIPAL's QUOTE
The holistic development of a child is what YPS stands for. We offer a three-dimensional compulsory programme which helps in the growth of a child.
Anita Kashyap, vice principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Sports
Infrastructure and facilities
Board:
ICSE till class 12
Fee:
R90,000 approx
Students:
3,000 approx
Teacher-student ratio:
1:30
Hansraj Public School, Panchkula
Address:
Sector 6, Panchkula
Website:
hansrajschool.org
HISTORY
The school was established in 1994 and named after eminent luminary Mahatma Hansraj, the headmaster of the first DAV school.
UNIQUE
The school stands out for having an amusement park and a Playroom. Another interesting feature about the school is that cartoon characters have been drawn on its buses.
Principal's quote
We care for our children and believe in the overall development of a child.
Jaya Bhardwaj, principal
HIGHEST RATINGS FOR
Sports
Social accountability
Board: CBSE till class 12
Fee: R30,000 annually
Students: 2,600 approx
Teacher-student ratio: 1:30