Parents Told to Rethink ‘Top School’ Lists in India - Here’s What Truly Matters for Your Child’s Future
Experts urge Indian parents to look beyond rankings and focus on schools that support holistic child development.
Each year, Indian parents are bombarded with lists of the "top schools" across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. These rankings, often based on board exam results, infrastructure, or reputation, lure families into equating academic scores with school quality. But education experts warn that these glossy rankings can mislead and don’t reflect what truly matters for a child's long-term success.
According to education researchers and child psychologists, most school rankings in India focus heavily on CBSE/ICSE/State Board exam performance or cut-offs for elite junior colleges. While these metrics may indicate academic strength, they rarely account for deeper, day-to-day factors such as teaching quality, student well-being, or values-driven learning. Experts argue that many "top" schools in urban areas benefit from access to better resources and affluent student populations — not necessarily better teaching or nurturing environments.
A growing body of research, including recent insights from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizes the need to shift focus from rote learning and test-based performance to holistic development. The NEP highlights the importance of critical thinking, emotional well-being, creativity, and inclusivity. Similarly, international frameworks like UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report stress that real learning happens when students feel safe, valued, and supported — not pressured to constantly outperform their peers.
Parents are being encouraged to move away from relying solely on media rankings or word-of-mouth reputations. Instead, they should engage with schools more meaningfully. Visiting campuses, sitting in on classes (if allowed), interacting with teachers, and speaking to current students and parents can reveal more about a school’s true culture. Do teachers foster curiosity or just focus on completing the syllabus? Are students encouraged to explore arts, sports, and co-curriculars? Is there a strong emphasis on values, empathy, and mental health?
Moreover, many Indian families face constraints based on location, affordability, and availability of seats — making “top school” lists largely inaccessible or irrelevant to most. The best school, therefore, isn’t the one topping a survey — it’s the one where your child feels seen, heard, and supported. It’s the school that aligns with your family’s values and nurtures your child’s individuality, whether they’re a budding artist, coder, sportsperson, or quiet thinker.
In the race for elite badges and 99% scores, many schools forget the real purpose of education — to prepare children not just for exams, but for life. Indian parents are now being urged to ask more meaningful questions: Will my child be happy here? Will they grow into a confident, ethical, resilient human being? The right school will not just teach subjects — it will shape character.
So before chasing the next “top 10 schools in India” article, take a step back and focus on what matters most: finding a school where your child can learn, belong, and thrive. After all, a happy child will always outperform a stressed one — in life, if not on a leaderboard.
