Hello readers, we have ranked the top 10 schools in the west zone in Mumbai. Some of these also figure in the list of top 10 schools in Mumbai, published on Monday.
Parents give a lot of thought and time to selecting a school for their child. Curriculum, teaching standards, school infrastructure, fees, location, safety — all are crucial while making that choice.
Earlier, there were few options in curriculum and a small list of old and established institutions to choose from. Now, new-age campuses and legislation, such as the Right to Education Act, are revolutionising school education. With an explosion in the number of schools and a wider choice of Indian and international curricula, the task of finding the best school is tougher than ever. We hope our list of the top schools in Mumbai will help you arrive at that important decision.
The methodology used to select Mumbai’s top schools involves a formula that has proved its efficacy since 2009, when HT first gave you a list of Mumbai’s best schools. Over the years, some of your suggestions have been incorporated in the selection process.
Over the next few days, we will also list the best schools in the south zone and Navi Mumbai. Apart from the rankings, we will have profiles of the top institutions in each zone, followed by a series of reports next week that will track the trends and developments in school education.
{{/usCountry}}Over the next few days, we will also list the best schools in the south zone and Navi Mumbai. Apart from the rankings, we will have profiles of the top institutions in each zone, followed by a series of reports next week that will track the trends and developments in school education.
{{/usCountry}}The 10 schools from the south zone that ranked highest on various parameters — this includes areas between Byculla and Colaba:
1) The Cathedral & John Connon School
6, Purshottamdas Thakurdas Marg | Website: www.cathedral-school.com
History: The Anglo-Scottish Education Society founded in 1860, later became The Cathedral & John Connon School. It became a co-educational school in 1965.
Unique features: With a beautiful heritage façade, the schools has new technologies ranging from IT-enabled smart classrooms to state-of-the-art music and art studios, and libraries with 35,000 books. It was the first school in India to hold a MUN, which is in its 19th year. The school’s 80-member choir is one of the oldest in the city.
"Our students are confident people empowered with knowledge and skill to make their way successfully through life." ~ Meera Isaacs, principal
Highest ratings for: Cultural Activities, Attitude towards learning, Teachers, Academic Rigour
Boards: Class 10 — ICSE, Class 12 — ISC
Annual fee: Rs 1,20,000 (From pre-primary to Class 12)
Students: Around 2,000 boys and girls | Student-teacher ratio: Between 10:1 and 38:1 (depending on the class)
2. Campion School
Cooperage Road, Fort | Website: www.campionschool.in
History: Campion School was founded in 1943, by the Jesuits and Father Joseph Savall was the founder principal. The school started with 23 students, before shifting to Wellesely House and Arthur House in 1948.
Unique features: It has added a new subject - skill-development - in the curriculum this year for up to Class 8. It received the Best Boys School in Sports Education award for 2014-15 by the Mumbai School Sports Association. Every classroom is equipped with a computer and a projector.
“We believe in creating citizens who will make a difference to society through competence, conscience, and compassion.” ~ Paul Machado, principal
Highest ratings for: Attitude towards learning, Sports, Governance
Boards: Class 10 — ICSE | Annual fee: Rs 70,000
Students: 770 boys | Student-teacher ratio: 19:1
3. JB Petit High School For Girls
5, Maharshi Dadhichi Marg, Fort | Website: www.jbpetithighschool.com
History: Established in 1860 by an Englishwoman, Ms. Prescott, the school was renamed The J B Petit High School for Girls in 1946, after a board of trustees took over the stewardship of the school.
Unique features: The school participated in Seeds of Peace Conflict Resolution Camp held in Maine, USA. It was the recipient of the International School Award from the British Council. The PTA and Alumnae Association support the programmes of the school.
“Our students learn in joyful and free environment, where they are allowed to question, argue, voice their opinions and fearlessly justify them.” ~ Benaifer Kutar, principal
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Breadth of vision, Teachers
Board: Class 10 — ICSE | Annual fee: Not available
Students: 900 girls | Student-teacher ratio: Not available
4. Aditya Birla World Academy
JD Road, Tardeo | Website: www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com
History: The Aditya Birla Group set up the school in 2008-09 and it is run by the Aditya Birla Education Trust. The chairperson of the school is Neerja Birla.
Unique features: The school has a comprehensive internship programme for Class 11. Senior students have undertaken an Indo-Swiss exchange programme. Students have visited CERN in Geneva to experience research projects there, and some even attend a three-week residential programme at universities such as John Hopkins, Princeton, Berkeley, and Yale.
“The ethos of an International school with an Indian soul makes us distinctive. We give our children the roots to stand strong and the wings to soar high.” ~ Radhika Sinha, principal
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Safety, health and hygiene, Attitude towards learning, Parent Participation
Board: Class 10: IGCSE, Class 12: IB DP, A Level | Annual fees: Not disclosed
Students: 600 boys and girls | Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
5. Bombay International School
Gilbert Building, Second Cross Road, Babulnath | Website: www.bisschool.com
History: In 1962, a group of parents came together and founded the school.
Unique features: A number of sports, such as football, tennis, table-tennis, swimming and chess are offered. Rhythmic gymnastics and karate are after-school activities. Students participate in a range of MUN programmes. Exchange programmes are held with schools from Spain and Germany – their languages are included in the curriculum. Cultural exchange programmes and environment camps are organised.
“We believe that a student learns at an individual pace, we support and nurture each one as they question and evolve.” ~ Mona Seervai, principal
Highest ratings for: Parent participation, Academic rigour, Selection process
Boards: Class 10 ICSE & IGCSE, IB-PYP and DP | Annual fee: Not disclosed
Students: Not disclosed | Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
6. St Mary’s School (ICSE)
Nesbit Road, Mazagaon | Website: www.stmarysicse.com
History: St Mary’s was established by the Jesuits as a Catholic orphanage in 1864, and very soon was opened to students from all castes and creeds.
Unique features: The school celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. It has one of the largest campuses in south Mumbai, with two sports grounds, an auditorium that meets international standards and two gymnasiums. Its inter-school cultural programme, Immaculata, has acknowledgement from US universities.
“At our school, students are safe, mentored to gain all-round education, trained to succeed academically and have a great future.” ~ Father Francis Swamy, principal
Highest ratings for: Sports, Selection process, Academic rigour
Board: Class 10: ICSE | Annual fees: Rs 59,550
Students: 1,450 boys | Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
7. Villa Theresa School
66, Peddar Road, Cumbala Hill | Website: www.vtsmumbai.org
History: The school was started in 1932 by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Society, which was founded in 1877 to promote missionary work and education.
Unique features: The school has an e-library with more than 500 digitised books. The auditorium has been upgraded. Basketball courts, a new playground for the kindergarten section and digital boards in every class are the other new features. It is a Bridge School centre.
“We blend the latest resources with a sound value system to make them our students women of substance.” ~ Sister Rani Anthony, former principal
(The school requested we speak to her as the survey was conducted during her tenure)
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Selection Process, Teachers
Board: Class 10: ICSE
Annual fees: KG: Rs 75,000- Rs 85,000 | Primary Rs 40, 000-Rs 50,000 | Secondary Rs 50,000-Rs 55,000
Students: Around 1,400 girls | Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
8. GD Somani Memorial School
625, Cuffe Parade | Website: www.gdsomani.org
History: Established in 1975 by industrialist GD Somani, the school started with 250 students. It switched from the state board to ICSE after requests from parents.
Unique features: The school inculcates cognitive learning based on audio, visual, tactile skills. A new method called Conscious Education has been developed for pre-primary and primary classes. It participates in Eumind (Europe meets India Network) and Harvard MUN. Teachers use animation modules. It provides sports facilities including fencing, archery and aero-modelling.
“We concentrate on the all-round development of our children and on instilling in them the power of thinking." ~ Brian Seymour, principal
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Teachers, Parent Participation
Board: Class 10 - ICSE | Annual fee: Rs 1,21,000
Students: 1,200 boys and girls | Student teacher ratio: 10:1
8. Greenlawns School
Warden Road, Bomanji Petit Road, Website | http://greenlawns.org/
History: The school was founded in 1959 by Daphne Clare Fraser Thompson. In 1965, Lalit Gandhi, her friend and guide, who was actively involved in the development and expansion of the school, purchased it. It was then taken over by the CU Shah Education Trust Foundation
Unique features: It won the first place in the Interschool English Elocution Competition organised by Bombay Gymkhana this year, and the first and third place, boys and girls respectively, in the one organised by the Goan Institute.
“We believe that the amalgamation of co-curricular activities, sports, the performing arts and academics leads to the overall development of a child.” ~ Kiran Bajaj, principal
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Teachers, Governance
Board: Class 10: ICSE | Annual fee: Rs 51,600
Students: 1,500 approximately | Student - teacher ratio: 18:1
10. Navy Children School
New Navy Nagar, Colaba, (Class 2 to 12); 4th Pasta Lane, Colaba (Class 1) | Website:www.ncsmumbai.com
History: Established on November 14, 1989, the school is run by the Navy Education Society and administered by the Western Naval Command.
Unique features: It has mass media and language labs; a science park, carpentry and pottery centres. It has a resource centre for special children and facilities for basketball, football, cricket, swimming, athletics, karate, badminton and table tennis. Students have set up a rain water harvesting and solar lighting system.
“The inclusive and diverse atmosphere of our school makes our children and teachers compassionate and tolerant." ~ Girija Singh, principal
Highest ratings for: Academic rigour, Teachers, Social engagement, Sports, Value for money
Board: CBSE | Annual fees: Rs 21,000 to Rs 24, 000
Students: 3,200 boys and girls | Student-teacher ratio: 23:1
Methodology
Hindustan Times commissioned research organisation C fore to conduct the survey to rank top Schools in Mumbai. The assessment parameters and corresponding weightages were set by HT and were the same as were used last year:
The 18 parameters on which the schools were rated are: Educational philosophy; attitude towards learning; breadth of vision; social engagement; academic rigour; innovative teaching; teachers; teacher-student relationship; sports; cultural activities; life-skill education; infrastructure and facilities; safety, health and hygiene; diversity; selection process; governance; parent participation; and value for money.
A perceptual survey was conducted among a carefully selected sample of teachers and parents using a structured questionnaire. In all, 5,356 teachers and parents participated in the survey. While simultaneously collecting objective data from various schools, the respondents were asked to evaluate the schools that they were aware of on 10-point scale against 18 parameters Hindustan Times set.
C fore researchers visited each school shortlisted for ranking based on the objective and perceptual data collected. The data gathered was also audited by talking to parents and students. To arrive at the ranking score, the figures of perceptual and objective data were combined. In case the objective data was not available, the perceptual data scores were extrapolated to rank top 10 schools of each of the five zones of Mumbai namely North Mumbai, East Mumbai, West Mumbai, South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Notes
1. Despite employing such a comprehensive process, we at HT believe that such rankings cannot be completely objective because people will have different opinions of what they believe constitutes good education. Some parents might be looking for a school that allows them to be closely involved, while others may want the opposite. Some parents might want schools that focus on sports, while others may want one where academics dominates.
2. We believe that beyond a particular threshold, it is difficult to rank schools in an objective manner. Indeed, as we have already said, our survey includes some subjective, perceptual inputs. We have, however, ranked the top ten schools overall in the city and will, from this year, rank the top schools in six zones because many readers have asked us for this kind of demarcation.
3. In any case, we advise parents to look carefully at how schools have scored against the various parameters instead of going just by the overall rank. These scores will indicate to parents which school might better suit their specific aspirations. Indeed, a school that is ranked lower in the Hindustan Times list might actually be better suited to a parent and his or her child/children than the top-ranked one.
Also read:
The 10 best schools in Mumbai’s north
The 10 best schools in Mumbai’s east
The 10 best schools in Mumbai’s west