IB schools in India: A Guide to Choosing the Right School

When it comes to schooling, there are plenty of boards to choose from, ranging from State boards to your typical CBSE and IGCSE etc. International Baccalaureate is one such board that offers a totally different take on education and there are plenty of IB Schools in India to choose from as well. Founded in 1968, the IB program takes a practical and a more application-based approach, the ability of the students to choose from a variety of courses brings forth an all rounded development.

The students are also free to choose their own books which makes them proactive and interested in school work. Many also ask the question about how challenging the IB program is? But the challenge is in the quality of work not in the amount of work assigned. The IB Diploma has earned a universal reputation for rigorous assessment, giving students access to the top colleges and universities in India and the world.

The board segregates grades into three categories:

• Primary Years Programme (PYP)
• Middle Years Programme (MYP)
• Diploma Programme (DP)

IB World Schools are schools recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization and offer the IB programme. Here’s a list of IB schools in India.

Benefits of studying in an IB school

A world-class education awaits those who choose to study in an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. With its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on critical thinking, the IB program offers numerous benefits for students.

Studying in an IB school prepares students to become global citizens. The program encourages cultural understanding and promotes open-mindedness through its focus on international perspectives. Students are exposed to a diverse range of ideas and experiences, fostering empathy and respect for different cultures.

The IB curriculum is designed to develop well-rounded individuals. It goes beyond academics by promoting holistic growth through extra-curricular activities such as sports, arts, and community service. This not only helps students discover their passions but also cultivates leadership skills and a sense of responsibility towards society.

Another advantage of studying in an IB school is the opportunity for personalized learning. The small class sizes enable teachers to provide individual attention to each student’s needs and strengths. This tailored approach ensures that every student receives support in areas they may be struggling with while also challenging them academically.

Moreover, the IB program emphasizes inquiry-based learning rather than rote memorization. Students are encouraged to ask questions, conduct independent research, and think critically about complex issues. This fosters intellectual curiosity and equips students with essential lifelong skills like problem-solving and analytical thinking.

Furthermore, universities worldwide recognize the value of an IB education due to its reputation for academic rigor. Graduates from IB schools often have a competitive edge when it comes to college admissions as they have already demonstrated their ability to excel in demanding coursework.

Top 20 International Baccalaureate(IB) Schools in India

School	Location
Dhirubhai Ambani International School	Mumbai
Bombay International School	Mumbai
Heritage Xperiential Learning School	Gurgaon
The International School Bangalore	Bangalore
Good Shepherd International School	Tamil Nadu
Jayshree Periwal International School	Jaipur
Oberoi International School	Mumbai
Ahmedabad International School	Ahmedabad
Scottish High International School	Gurgaon
American School of Bombay	Mumbai
Ecole Mondiale World School	Mumbai
Pathways World School	Gurgaon
Kodaikanal International School	Tamil Nadu
Oakridge International School	Hyderabad
Mahatma Gandhi International School	Ahmedabad
GD Goenka School	Gurgaon
American Embassy School	New Delhi
Canadian International School	Bangalore
Podar International School	Mumbai
Lancers International School	Gurgaon

1) Dhirubhai Ambani International School

Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) is a private, co-educational school located in Mumbai, India that was established in 2003. The school offers education from kindergarten to 12th grade. It follows the IGCSE, IBDP and ICSE curriculum for its students. The seven-story school building has playgrounds, landscaped gardens, and lawns. About 130,000 square feet of classrooms and laboratories are located on the school grounds. It has been ranked No.1 for 7 consecutive years by the Education World India School Rankings. The school offers world-class educational opportunities in the city of Mumbai. The school also has a teacher-student ratio at 1:7 and is committed to providing holistic educational opportunities to the students.

Website: https://www.dais.edu.in/

2) Bombay International School

Bombay International School is a co-ed international day school affiliated with the International Baccalaureate (IB), Geneva and the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), UK. The school, which was founded in 1962, is a pioneer in integrating active learning, innovative teaching, and learning by doing. The school sees parents as significant contributors who support many aspects of the IB school life in India. They are regarded as priceless resources with a range of viewpoints that can assist the educational process be improved.

Furthermore, the school provides spaces for after-school activities such an AV room, a music room, an art room, and a space specifically for gymnastics, yoga, and dance. The institution also features a sizable theater with an adjacent green space.

Website: https://bis.edu.in/

3) Heritage Xperiential Learning School

Heritage Xperiential Learning School is an independent, co-educational experiential learning school based in Gurgaon. The school is affiliated with the International Baccalaureate’s Diploma Program (IBDP).  It stands out as perhaps the lone instance of a progressive institution providing alternative instruction in a traditional setting which is why it makes it one of the top IB schools in India, debunking the myth that experience learning can only occur in limited settings. Aside from everything else, this particular school provides the finest value for the money.

Heritage Xperiential Learning School stands out for the quality it delivers, not just in terms of infrastructure but, most significantly, through the quality of teaching and learning, even though its tuition is comparable to that of other day schools in the NCR. In the NCR, it has the best teacher-to-student ratio (1:9). Its huge 11.3-acre campus is completely air-conditioned and has one of the greatest infrastructures among schools in the NCR.

Website: https://www.heritagexperiential.org/

4) The International School Bangalore

The International School Bangalore (TISB) is a private educational institution located in Whitefield in Bangalore, India. It was established in 2000 and is a sister institution of Bangalore’s National Public Schools. After finishing the 10th grade, TISB students enroll in the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). The EW India School Rankings listed TISB as one of the top international day/combination schools.

A vast art studio, a theatrical area, a music room, an audio-visual room, and a cutting-edge auditorium with seating for 1,400 people are all part of the academic facilities. There are also libraries, banks of computers that are always online, well-equipped laboratories, and enormous art studios, these are just some of the reasons why this school is up here in the top 10 IB schools in India but wait there’s more… Similar to the extracurricular programme, the co-curricular programme also features a variety of facilities, including a 400-meter track, football, hockey, and cricket fields, a 25-meter swimming pool, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and squash courts, a billiards room, and a gymnasium.

Website: https://www.tisb.org/

5) Kodaikanal International School

The prestigious co-educational boarding school Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is situated in the picturesque highlands of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. KIS was established in 1901 and has a long history of giving pupils from many cultural backgrounds a well-rounded education. The IB school is dedicated to supporting the academic, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth of its pupils, as evidenced by its motto, “Where Children Blossom.”

This IB school currently operates out of seven separate sites in Kodaikanal, Tamil nadu in India, which is its major town. They are a co-educational school with a student to staff ratio of 7:1. There are two academic campuses there that also offer housing for employees and students. They feature excellent recreational and sporting facilities, including an Olympic-caliber badminton court and two covered basketball, indoor football, and volleyball courts.

Website: https://www.kis.in/

6) Jayshree Periwal International School

Jayshree Periwal High School is a private high school in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, and is a part of the Jayshree Periwal Group of Schools. The school was founded by Jayshree Periwal in April 2002 as a middle school, under the name “Step by Step High School”. The institution provides courses in the humanities, business, and sciences. It instructs pupils in pre-primary to grade 12 and are affiliated to the IBDP. The campus is located in Jaipur on 50 acres of land, close to the upcoming Mahindra World City on Ajmer Road. A variety of amenities are available on the site, including indoor swimming pools, badminton courts, and basketball courts.

JPIS strives to be a top university for global education with a dual emphasis on conceptual and contextual learning. Additionally, starting in the early years, environmental protection and resource conservation are taught as a core subject. They are encouraged to be in touch with nature continually because the campus has been created to give them the most room and proximity to it.

Website: https://jpischool.com/

7) Oberoi International School

Oberoi International School is a co-ed IB school in Mumbai, offering IB Diploma, Middle Years and Primary Years Programmes to over 2,750 students. One of Mumbai’s original IB schools, Oberoi International School is spread across two campuses. Its mission is to “nurture leaders of the future, prepared with personal achievement and intellectual distinction.” The school was founded in 2008 and is associated with IB PYP for grades Pre-KG through 5, as well as IBDP for grades 11 and 12. The School, which is located on 80 acres of land, was created by a group of famous Singaporean architects.

The School provides curricula that are accepted by the greatest number of colleges worldwide. OIS provides students with profoundly transformative learning opportunities that are shaped by forward-thinking teachers who ignite in them a passion for knowledge, leadership, and service. In order to achieve this, we work to develop compassionate, perceptive, and welcoming global citizens.

Website: https://www.oberoi-is.org/

8) Ahmedabad International School

The Ahmedabad International School (AIS) was established in 2000 and is a coed, international day school affiliated to the International Baccalaureate (IB) among other boards. From kindergarten to class XII, it is regarded as one of Gujarat’s top international schools. The Ahmedabad International School has large classrooms, an auditorium, a well-stocked library, and labs for math, science, physics, and computer science. The emphasis at AIS is on extracurricular pursuits including music, art and design, yoga, and life skills instruction.

All significant holidays are observed by the school, and pupils take part in conferences and competitions amongst schools. PYP exhibitions, scientific and math exhibitions, picnics, and field trips are planned throughout the academic year.

Website: https://www.aischool.net/

9) Pathways World School

Pathways is one of the top ten IB schools not just in Gurgaon, but also in India. PWS was established in the year 2003, the large campus is situated along the majestic foothills of the Aravali Range, with 34 acres of land green expanse that homes both residential and day boarding facilities in its environment-friendly modern architecture. It is one of such institutions that promotes Indian culture while still providing an international exposure. The school offers the Primary Years (Pre Nursery to Grade 5), Middle Years (Grade 6 to 10) and Diploma Programme (Grade 11 and 12) of the IBO.

The school offers several programmes over the weekend such as Hiking, Robotics, Community Service, Design and Technology, Photography and many more. Their well-equipped campus includes multiple amenities such as smart classrooms, laboratories, studios, atriums, amphitheatre, dance, music and theatre, Sport fields, Horse riding etc. 

Website: https://www.pathways.in/

10) American School of Bombay

The American School of Bombay, founded in 1981, is an independent, coeducational day school in Mumbai, India. The International Baccalaureate Program is integrated with an American approach to education in the school’s organization, curriculum, and pedagogy. ASB changed from being a single campus school to a dual campus school.

Located in the city’s central suburbs, the two campuses provide 200,000 square feet of specially constructed classroom space for offering the students specialized and personalized programming. The 100,000 square foot elementary campus is built around flexible online-blended learning spaces with movable walls and specially designed modular furniture, as well as common learning and multipurpose spaces, allowing teachers to rearrange the learning environment to tailor the learning experience for the students.

Website: https://www.asbindia.org/

Here are a few other IB schools that follow up after the list above:

1. Ecole Mondiale World School
   Website: https://www.ecolemondiale.org/
   
2. Good Shepherd International School
   Website: https://gsis.ac.in/
   
3. Oakridge International School
   Website: https://www.oakridge.in/
   
4. GD Goenka School
   Website: https://gdgps.gdgoenka.com/
   
5. American Embassy School
   Website: https://www.aes.ac.in/
   
6. Canadian International School
   Website: https://www.canadianinternationalschool.com/
   
7. Podar International School
   Website: https://www.podareducation.org/
   
8. Lancers International School
   Website: https://www.lis.ac.in/
   
9. The British School
   Website: https://www.british-school.org/
   
10. Indus International School
    Website: https://www.indusschool.com/
    

These are 20 of the top IB schools in India. However, keep in mind that this ranking is subjective to each student depending on their needs. Each of them is capable of offering you access to one of the most reputed curricula in the world. Before you enroll, you may benefit from making a site visit and talking to parents and students studying at the school currently.

Factors to consider when choosing an IB school in India

Choosing the right International Baccalaureate (IB) school for your child can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it’s important to consider certain factors that will ensure your child receives the best education possible.

First and foremost, you should look at the curriculum and teaching methodologies of the IB school. Each school may have its own unique approach to delivering the IB program, so it’s crucial to choose one that aligns with your child’s learning style and goals. Some schools may focus more on project-based learning, while others emphasize traditional classroom instruction.

Next, consider the extracurricular activities and facilities offered by the school. Engaging in sports, arts, or other hobbies outside of academics is essential for a well-rounded education. Look for schools that provide a wide range of extracurricular options suited to your child’s interests.

Additionally, take into account the qualifications and experience of teachers at each IB school. Experienced educators who are passionate about their subjects play a vital role in shaping students’ academic journeys. Researching teacher credentials can give you insight into their expertise and dedication.

Furthermore, consider class sizes when selecting an IB school. Smaller class sizes often allow for more personalized attention from teachers, fostering better student-teacher relationships and individualized support.

Another factor worth considering is accreditation. Ensure that any IB school you’re considering has proper authorization from relevant educational authorities such as CIS (Council of International Schools) or NEASC (New England Association of Schools & Colleges).

Lastly but certainly not least important is location and accessibility. Selecting an IB school within reasonable proximity to your home can make commuting easier for both you and your child.

Tips for the application process and admissions requirements

When it comes to applying to an IB school in India, there are a few tips and tricks that can help you navigate the application process smoothly. First and foremost, make sure you thoroughly research each school’s admissions requirements. This will give you a clear understanding of what documents and information you need to provide.

Next, pay close attention to the deadlines for submitting your application. Missing these deadlines can result in your application being rejected or put on hold until the following year. It’s always best to submit your application well in advance to avoid any last-minute stress.

Another important tip is to showcase your extracurricular activities and achievements. IB schools look for well-rounded students who have excelled not only academically but also in other areas such as sports, arts, community service, or leadership roles.

In addition, don’t forget about recommendation letters! These letters play a crucial role in highlighting your strengths and abilities from someone else’s perspective. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak positively about your character and academic potential.

Prepare for interviews if they are part of the admissions process. Practice answering common interview questions while showcasing confidence and passion for learning.

By following these tips, you’ll increase your chances of getting accepted into the IB school of your choice! So take some time to carefully plan out each step of the application process – it will be worth it in the end!

Cost of attending an IB school in India

One important aspect to consider when choosing the right IB school in India is the cost of attendance. It’s no secret that international education can come with a hefty price tag, and IB schools are no exception. However, it’s crucial to understand that the cost can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, facilities, reputation, and additional offerings.

In metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Delhi, where living expenses tend to be higher, you might find IB schools with higher fees compared to smaller towns. The tuition fees alone can range anywhere from 2 lakhs to 10 lakhs per year! Keep in mind that this doesn’t include other expenses such as transportation or extracurricular activities.

While the cost may seem daunting at first glance, it’s essential to weigh it against the benefits an IB education offers. The rigorous curriculum and holistic approach provide students with valuable skills and knowledge for their future endeavors.

Additionally, many IB schools offer scholarships or financial aid programs for deserving students who may not have the means to afford full tuition fees. So don’t let finances discourage you from exploring your options!

Remember that attending an IB school is an investment in your child’s education and future prospects. Consider your family’s financial situation carefully before making a decision but also keep in mind the potential long-term returns on this investment.

Conclusion: Is an IB education in India worth it?

Is an IB education in India worth it? That is the question many parents and students ponder when considering their educational options. After exploring the world of IB schools in India, weighing the benefits, considering factors to choose the right school, learning about top institutions and their unique offerings, understanding application processes and cost implications, and even hearing about alumni success stories – it’s time to come to a conclusion.

While there is no definitive answer that applies universally to every individual or family, one thing is clear: an IB education in India offers a plethora of advantages. The rigorous curriculum fosters critical thinking skills, global awareness, cultural understanding, and independent inquiry – qualities that are highly sought after by universities and employers worldwide.

Beyond academic excellence, studying in an IB school equips students with essential life skills such as problem-solving abilities, effective communication techniques, self-discipline, leadership qualities,and collaboration skills. These attributes form a strong foundation for future personal growth and professional success.

Moreover,the international perspective offered by IB schools opens doors to diverse opportunities both within India and abroad. Students develop a broader worldview through exposure to different cultures,countries,and languages,making them well-prepared for our increasingly interconnected world.

However, it must be noted that choosing the right IB school requires careful consideration of various factors such as location, duration of study, facilities available, school ethos, class sizes, and extracurricular activities offered.

It’s important for families to visit potential schools, talk with current parents or students, gather information from reliable sources, and assess whether these institutions align with their values, everyday commitments, budgets, and aspirations.