Education is the most valuable legacy a parent can provide to children. That’s why parents are very careful in choosing school for their child. Because, the environment, faculty’s care, and each and every factor of the school campus can impact a student’s life. In case you’re the one who is on a mission to find the best CBSE schools in Chennai, then you’re not alone. 

This is a blog from the responsible man who also tried to find the best CBSE schools in Chennai recently; who is me. So, I hope this will help you to make the right decision.

Before starting this blog, I want to let you know that; it’s not about the promotion or a list created by assumption or for any favor. It’s drafted based on personal R&D and for information purposes only; the final decision is all yours! Let’s go back to the mission.

When I Started Searching for “The Best CBSE Schools in Chennai”…

I got a pile of blogs that contains a list of CBSE Schools and claimed those are top 10 schools, these are top 15…bla bla. I was literally tired. At that time a few questions arose in me; how do people claim ‘Top 10 or Top 5, or something? Because, each blog has a different set of schools (a few were the same). If they’re listed based on a standard manner or evaluation process the list should be the same (at least for a year) right? But they weren’t. That’s the problem and where the point my research started. 

I just noticed that there is a ranking system to evaluate and rank the educational institutions of India officially from the government side. It is named “NIRF India Rankings” by the Department of Higher Education and Ministry of Human Resource Development, GoI. Simply a trustworthy resource. But later I found that it was only for higher educational institutions and not for schools. The research continued…

How To Evaluate CBSE Schools in India?

This is the question I had in my mind; probably you also. 

CBSE has some set of standards and best practices to ensure institutional excellence, named “School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF)” but it’s not a ranking system, it’s a framework. CBSE-affiliated schools must complete the SQAA process and self-assess annually on the SQAA Portal. So. it’s a basic quality of a CBSE School not the tool to validate their excellence.

Here, IIRF Centre For Institutional Research came to consideration. It’s a non-Government ranking framework that has seven parameters to evaluate and rank the institutions. They are;

1. Placement Performance (PP)
2. Teaching Learning Resources & Pedagogy
3. Research
4. Industry Income and Integration
5. Placement Strategies & Support
6. Future Orientation (FO)
7. External Perception & International Outlook

When it comes to school ranking, the platform claims, it considers various parameters such as 

1. Academic Reputation, 
2. Faculty Quality, 
3. Infrastructure, And 
4. Student Outcomes.

Based on these parameters they listed the top 100 schools in India in two categories (Academic Performance and Overall Performance (State Wise))which includes ICSE, CBSE, Montessori, and State board schools. Based on the ranking, you can see the list of the best CBSE schools in Chennai below.

List of 10 Best CBSE Schools in Chennai (Academic Performance)

1. Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore
2. Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Virugambakkam
3. Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Nungambakkam
4. Hindustan International School
5. Chettinad Vidyashram
6. Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar
7. Mangadu Public School
8. Vani Vidyalaya Senior Secondary and Junior College
9. The PSBB Millennium School Chennai
10. Chennai Public School Anna Nagar

#1 Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Mylapore

With excellence in both academic and overall performance, this school holds first rank in TamilNadu and 15th nationwide (for academic) in IIRF ranking system. By considering its attractive performance, it is listed in first place in our article also. In this school they are offering the following courses for Class 11th and 12th:

1. Group I a : English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
2. Group I b : English, Psychology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
3. Group II : English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology
4. Group III : English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science
5. Group IV a : English, Maths, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies.
6. Group IV b : English, Applied Maths, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies.
7. Group V : English, Legal studies, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies.

#2 Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Virugambakkam

This school has multiple departments through which pupils can leverage their knowledge well. The departments include, Department of English, Hindi, Tamil, Sanskrit, Mathematics, Science, Computer Science, Humanities and Business Studies, Physical Education, Value Education, Arts & Craft, and Fine Arts. It offers Science Group (Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology/Computer Science), Commerce Group (Business Studies, Economics, Accountancy and Mathematics) in class 11th and 12th.

#3 Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Nungambakkam

This school has an interesting history that was established by an enterprising group of housewives under the auspices of the Nungambakkam Ladies Recreation Club in 1958. Now, the school has been functioning at three other places in Chennai (K.K Nagar, T,Nagar, and Siruseri). The official resource of the school claims that its T.Nagar branch has been educating more than 8000 students with 500 staff members. 

#4 Hindustan International School

Hindustan International School is one of the schools that offers international curriculum Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and open-school curriculum NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) along with CBSE. It has institutes in three places of Chennai (Karapakkam, Padur, and Guindy). Guindy facility has come under CAIE. The other two are affiliated with CBSE.

#5 Chettinad Vidyashram

Chettinad Vidyashram is promising for excellent academic experience along with extra curricular activities and cultural activities. It offers the following groups for 11th and 12th students. 

1. Group A1    :  Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics or Biotechnology or Psychology. 
2. Group A2    :  Physics, Chemistry,    Mathematics, Biotechnology.
3. Group A3    :  Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Computer Science.
4. Group A4  : Business Studies, Accountancy, Economics, Mathematics (General or Applied) or Computer Science or Legal Studies.
5. Group A5  : Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History or Political Science or Legal Studies.
6. Group A6:     Economics, History, Political Science and Legal Studies

#6 Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Anna Nagar

This is another school branch of Chinmaya Vidyalaya which is located at Anna Nagar. There is a need to mention this branch separately in this list as IIRF Ranking includes both these branches of Chinmaya Vidyalaya individually. This institution has been providing Science Group (English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Informatics Practices/Psychology, Biology/Computer Science), Commerce Group (English, Business Studies, Economics, Accountancy and Mathematics/Informatics Practices/ Psychology) and Humanities Group (English, History, Sociology, Psychology, Economics/Political Science) for 11th and 12th students.

#7 Mangadu Public School

You can consider this school in case you’re living south-western side 20 kms away from Chennai city as it’s located at Kovur/ Mangadu. Students have to clear the entrance examination conducted by the school to get admission for classes I to IX and XI. This school has been providing the following groups for the 11th and 12th students:

1. Group I      : English Core , Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science & Physical Education.
2. Group II    : English Core , Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology & Physical Education
3. Group III  : English Core , Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science & Physical Education
4. Group IV   : English Core , Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies, Maths & Physical Education
5. Group V     : English,  Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies, Computer Sci. & Physical Education
6. Group VI   : English Core , Economics, Accountancy, Business Studies, Entrepreneurship & Physical Education

#8 Vani Vidyalaya Senior Secondary and Junior College

This school can be considerable if you’re looking for the best CBSE schools in Chennai city as it’s located at K.K Nagar. As like other CBSE schools it also ensures the best academic and non-academic activities. It also disclosed the fee structure in its official site; as per that it charges only 51,000/- rupees per annum for high school studies (11th and 12th). It’s providing the following groups for the 11th and 12th students:

1. I – English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physical Education.
2. II – English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Education.
3. III – English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Technology, Physical Education.
4. IV– English, Mathematics, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Physical Education.
5. V – English, Applied Mathematics, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Physical Education.
6. VI – English, Information Technology, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Physical Education.
7. VII – English, Entrepreneurship, Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies, Physical Education.

#9 The PSBB Millennium School

PSBB Millennium School has multiple branches in TamilNadu such as OMR, Chennai, Gerugambakkam, Chennai, Coimbatore, and Cuddalore. The details provided here for the Gerugambakkam entity. You can check the OMR division details here. As per its disclosed fee structure, it charges Rs.1,02,420/- for class 11 and 12th. It’s providing the following groups for the 11th and 12th students:

1. GROUP I: English Core , Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics / Entrepreneurship/ Psychology, Biology.
2. GROUP II: English Core , Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science
3. GROUP III: English Core, Accountancy, Business Studies, Mathematics / Entrepreneurship, Economics.
4. GROUP IV: English Core, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Mathematics / Entrepreneurship / Biology.

#10 Chennai Public School

Chennai Public School has two branches in Chennai; they are; Anna Nagar, Thirumazhisai Campus. Along with CBSE it provides academic curriculum under Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and International Baccalaureate (IB). It’s providing the following Science, Commerce, Humanities groups for the 11th and 12th students.

These are the best CBSE schools in Chennai based on IIRF Ranking. Please note that it is prepared in 2024; there is a possibility of change in the rank in coming years. However, I hope this article is helpful for you to make important decisions on your child’s education path. Let’s meet again in another article! 

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