Guide

How to choose a school for your child in India (parents' guide)

Choosing a school is the highest-stakes local search Indian parents make. This guide gives you a structured way to evaluate options using real data.

Updated 2026-05-20

1. Decide the board first

CBSE for mobility across India, ICSE for English depth, IB/IGCSE for global pathways, state board for regional culture and lower fees.

2. Use the 30-minute rule

Commute over 30 minutes one-way correlates with lower academic performance and higher dropout from extracurriculars.

3. Teacher tenure > infrastructure

Schools with average teacher tenure over 5 years consistently outperform glossy new buildings with high turnover.

4. Read parent reviews critically

Filter for reviews mentioning specific teachers, communication, and discipline, not generic 'good school'.

5. Check FindWise for ranked picks

FindWise surfaces schools by parent sentiment, infrastructure mentions, fee transparency, and recent results.

Try FindWise now

Get an Intelligence-ranked shortlist of schools in your city, with live reviews, pros & cons, and reasoning.

Schools in Mumbai →Schools in Delhi →Schools in Bangalore →Schools in Hyderabad →Schools in Chennai →Schools in Kolkata →Schools in Pune →Schools in Ahmedabad →

FAQ

Is CBSE better than ICSE?

CBSE is broader and more mobile, ICSE goes deeper in English and analytical skills. Neither is universally better, match it to your child's learning style.

How much should school fees be?

In tier-1 cities, quality CBSE schools range from ₹80k-₹3L/year, IB from ₹4L-₹12L/year. Above this, you're paying for brand, not learning.