Cradle to AbleParents in Pune often ask which school is the "best". There is no single answer, because the right school depends on your child, your budget, your commute and the board you want. This list gives you ten schools that appear again and again in published rankings and school profiles, so you have a sensible place to start.
How we chose these schools
We looked at EducationWorld India School Rankings (2025-26 and 2026-27, as reported in press releases) and three aggregator lists (SchoolDekho, Extramarks and NoBroker). We picked schools that showed up most consistently, and we kept to schools that general families can apply to. These sources use different methods and categories, and some school claims are the school's own, so a school appearing here is a reason to look closer, not a guarantee.
The 10 schools
1. St. Mary's School, Pune
- Area: Camp
- Board: ICSE and ISC; the school's site also lists the IB Diploma
- Classes: Girls from Nursery to Class 10; boys from UKG to Class 10; junior college
Founded on 5 November 1866. EducationWorld 2026-27 named it India's top 'vintage legacy' girls' day school. The school describes itself as an Anglo-Indian minority institution open to children of all communities.
2. The Bishop's School
- Area: Camp, with campuses in Kalyani Nagar and Undri
- Board: ICSE and ISC
- Classes: Nursery to Class 12 per Wikipedia
The Camp campus dates to 1864, Kalyani Nagar to 2003 and Undri to 2006. Check which campus offers which classes.
3. Indus International School, Pune
- Area: Bhukum, Mulshi taluka
- Board: IB (PYP, MYP, Diploma)
- Classes: Nursery to Class 12 per Careers360
A day and boarding school. EducationWorld 2026-27 reportedly ranked it first among Pune's international day-cum-boarding schools.
4. Symbiosis International School
- Area: Viman Nagar
- Board: IB and Cambridge IGCSE
- Classes: Early years to Grade 12
Reportedly ranked fourth among Pune's international day schools in EducationWorld 2026-27. Directories disagree on its founding year, so we leave that out.
5. Mahindra International School
- Area: Hinjawadi
- Board: IB (PYP, MYP, Diploma)
- Classes: Ages 3 to 18
Opened in 1998 with 16 students from five nationalities, per its site. The school says it was the first in India with all three IB programmes. It reportedly ranked first among Pune's international day schools in EducationWorld 2026-27.
6. Sahyadri School (KFI)
- Area: Tiwai Hill, near Rajgurunagar, about 70 km from Pune
- Board: ICSE/ISC (per directories)
- Classes: Classes 4 to 12 per directories
A residential school in the Krishnamurti Foundation India network, focused on outdoor learning and village engagement. Its site said applications opened on 1 October and closed on 15 December, with interviews in January and February. Check the current year's dates.
7. Army Public School, Pune
- Area: Southern Command, Ghorpadi
- Board: CBSE
- Classes: Class 1 to Class 12 per Careers360
Run by the Army Welfare Education Society. A day school without a hostel. Admission may prioritise defence families, so ask whether other children can apply.
8. Delhi Public School, Pune
- Area: Mohammadwadi, Nyati Estate Road
- Board: CBSE
- Classes: Nursery to Class 12 per directories
Part of the Delhi Public School Society network, run with Takshila Educational Society, per directories.
9. The Lexicon International School
- Area: Wagholi, with branches in Hadapsar and Kalyani Nagar
- Board: CBSE
- Classes: Nursery to Class 12
The school's claim of being Pune's top CBSE school in the Times School Survey is reported by a secondary source only. Treat it as unverified.
10. D Y Patil International School
- Area: Charholi Budruk, Lohegaon
- Board: IB or IGCSE per a directory (sources conflict)
- Classes: Check the entry class and last class
On the D Y Patil Knowledge City campus. This is the weakest entry in our list: sources disagree on boards and classes, so confirm everything with the school.
How to shortlist for your child
- Start with the board and the journey. Decide whether CBSE, ICSE/ISC, IB or Cambridge suits your plans, and check whether the school runs from nursery to Class 12 so your child does not have to change schools.
- Count the commute. A long daily bus ride is tiring for a young child. Distance can also count in admission.
- Visit, and ask about a normal day. Ask about class size, how teachers handle children who are shy or struggling, how much homework young children get, and how the school talks to parents.
- Ask what the admission interaction involves. Under the Right to Education Act, schools cannot screen children or parents at admission for Class 1 onward. For nursery, rules differ by state, so ask.
- Apply to more than one. Seats are limited and admission rules are strict, so keep two or three choices.
- Check the exact campus. Many schools have several campuses with different boards, classes and fees.
Admission notes for Pune
- Maharashtra has reportedly set phased minimum ages, with Class 1 age 6 coming from 2030-31, but reports differ. Check the current government resolution.
Who is not on this list
Other Pune schools such as Vibgyor and Vishwashanti Gurukul also come up often, but we did not verify them for this list. A school missing from this list is not a mark against it. There are many good schools in Pune that did not appear in the sources we used.
Is your child close to starting? Read when your child is ready for kindergarten before you apply.