Page 272 - EW September 2025 Final

Cover Story EW BOYS DAY SCHOOLS RANKINGS 2025-26

INDIA’S TOP BOYS DAY SCHOOLS

With co-ed schools having
become the fashion,
boys-only schools are
an endangered species.
Nevertheless, some of them
have established national
reputations for stellar
academic results, enviable
sports culture and excellent
co-curricular education

ith the overwhelming
majority of new K-12
institutions promot-
Wed as co-educational
schools, gender segregated schools
are an endangered species and India’s
boys-only day schools have become Campion principal Sarah Thomas: collective commitment outcome
outliers. In the latest EW India School
Rankings 2025-26, a mere 31 boys day pion School, Mumbai (estb.1943), spiritually,” says Thomas, an alumna
schools (cf. 3,000 co-ed schools) are is “honoured and humbled” that this of Mumbai University who served
sufficiently well-known to be rated year’s sample respondents have reaf- with the Cathedral & John Connon
and ranked. Yet while their numbers firmed this CISCE-affiliated school School and Oberoi International,
have shrunk, some of them have es- India’s #1 boys day school for the sec- Mumbai prior to her appointment as
tablished outsized national reputa- ond consecutive year with top scores principal at Campion (795 students
tions for stellar academic results, under the parameters of academic and 60 teachers) in June.
enviable sports culture, and excellent reputation, teacher welfare and devel- This year marks an important mile-
co-curricular education. opment, sports education, and value stone for this 75-year-old all-boys
In 2025-26, the 31-strong league for money. school. It has begun the inevitable
table of India’s best boys day schools “Being ranked India’s #1 boys day transition into a co-educational insti-
has undergone a rejig (for vintage school for the second year in a row tution by admitting its first batch of
boys day schools, see p.276). While is the outcome of the collective com- girl children in the kindergarten sec-
this year’s 9,500 sample respondents mitment of our students, teachers, tion. “This transformation, which will
— parents, principals, teachers and parents, and alumni to education ex- happen gradually, is an inclusion ini-
education counselors — polled by cellence. The pillars of Campion are tiative aligned with global best prac-
the Bengaluru-based AZ Research academics, sports education, teacher tices. Looking ahead, Campion will
Partners have re-voted Campion welfare and development, and value also be introducing the Cambridge A
School, Mumbai India’s #1 all-boys for money. Under all these parameters Levels in classes XI and XII, providing
day school, they have rearranged we have been awarded top score. This our students with the option of inter-
top table seating. St. John’s High, is very satisfying. It’s proof that we are national certification. These forward-
Chandigarh has been promoted to providing excellent holistic education looking initiatives reflect our commit-
#2 (3 in 2024-25), M.C. Kejriwal to our students. Another key factor ment to providing globally relevant,
Vidyapeeth, Howrah to #3 (6), and behind Campion’s success is our em- future-ready education while remain-
Don Bosco School, Park Circus, phasis on our children’s mental and ing deeply rooted in Jesuit values,”
Kolkata to #4 (10). St. Columba’s emotional well-being. We ensure that adds Thomas.
School, Delhi has slipped to #5 (4). each student is seen, heard, and sup- Campion is not the only boys school
Sarah Thomas, principal of Cam- ported academically, emotionally, and going co-ed. Over the past quinquen-

272 EDUCATIONWORLD SEPTEMBER 2025