For the second year consecutively, the girls day schools national league table is topped by two vintage Kolkata-based schools — La Martiniere for Girls and Loreto House, Middleton
Even though an overwhelming majority of greenfield K-12 schools being promoted in the new millennium are co-educational institutions, the country’s established all-girls day schools haven’t quite lost their sheen. With many households still preferring single sex education institutions for cultural and religious reasons, girls day schools are flourishing countrywide. In the EW India School Rankings 2015, 71 girls day schools (cf. 42 boys day schools) have been rated and ranked by the 11,660 sample respondents interviewed by C fore field researchers in 27 cities countrywide.
For the second year consecutively, the girls day schools national league table is topped by two vintage Kolkata-based schools: La Martiniere for Girls (LMG, estb.1836) and Loreto House, Middleton, (estb.1942). But while these two Kolkata-based schools have retained their premier positions, there’s been a re-arrangement of seating at the Top 10 league table.
Carmel Convent, Chandigarh has risen in the public perception to be ranked #3 (#4 in 2014) and St. Mary’s School, Pune to #4 (7) while J.B. Petit, Mumbai has slipped to #5 (#3 in 2014). Modern High School, Kolkata — ranked #1 in 2013 and #5 in 2014 — is ranked #6 this year. The Top 10 girls day schools league table is completed by Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls School, Jaipur (#7), Sacred Heart Senior Secondary, Chandigarh (#8), NASR School, Hyderabad, and Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls, Jodhpur (#9) and Villa Theresa High, Mumbai (#10).
“We are delighted that La Martiniere has retained the #1 girls day school title. The school has been committed to education excellence for 180 years, and our #1 ranking is recognition of the dedicated effort of our teachers to offer well-rounded education. In academics our students have recorded excellent scores in the 2015 ICSE and ISC board examinations. I’m specially pleased with our top rating under internationalism as we have increased the number of teacher and student exchanges with schools overseas to offer our students global exposure. La Martiniere will be happy to partner with EducationWorld and other organisations to share best teaching-learning methods and create awareness about the importance of quality education for all,” says Rupkatha Sarkar, an alumna of Calcutta University and vice principal of LMG since 2001 who was appointed principal in April. Currently the CISCE-affiliated LMG, sited on an eight-acre campus in the heart of Kolkata, has an enrolment of 2,604 girl students mentored by 104 teachers.
A substantial promotion to the Top 5 league table has also boosted morale in St. Mary’s School, Pune (estb.1866), ranked #4 (#7 in 2014) nationally and #1 in Maharashtra and Pune this year. “Our improved ranking this year is due to the committed efforts of our 135 highly competent and innovative teachers as reflected in our high scores under the parameters of faculty competence and academic reputation. St. Mary’s celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2016. As we prepare to celebrate this important landmark, we rededicate ourselves to the task of nation building by nurturing responsible individuals who will be worthy global citizens,” says Sujata Mallic Kumar, principal of St. Mary’s since 2010. Currently, this CISCE-affiliated all-girls K-12 day school hosts 2,500 students.
The sense of satisfaction and achievement is perhaps greater in the low-profile Rajmata Krishna Kumari Girls Public School (RKKGPS), Jodhpur, which has debuted at #9 in EWISR 2015. Promoted in 1992 by Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar, this new-gen school which has 1,300 day scholars (and 200 boarders), is ranked #2 in Rajasthan. “We follow the philosophy of karma — to do our best without thinking about reward. Our competent faculty, spectacular CBSE board results, excellent co-curricular education, and supportive parents, have all contributed to raising the school’s public profile. RKKGPS is also a member of several reputed international organisations such as the Round Square, American Field Service and the Indian Public Schools Conference,” says Neera Singh, an alumna of Rajasthan and SNDT universities with over 24 years teaching experience who was appointed principal of the school in 2008.
Further down the national league table of 71 all-girls day schools, there are several surprises. Our Lady Queen of the Missions School, Kolkata has leapfrogged from #43 in 2014 to #13 this year, Calcutta Girls High School (#27 in 2014), and DAV Girls Senior Secondary School, Chennai (#36) are tied at #17, Sophia High School, Bangalore has risen to #18 (#32), Queen Mary School, Mumbai to #19 (#33) and Convent of Jesus & Mary, Delhi to #21 (#26).
To view the EW India Girls Day Schools Rankings 2015 visit http://www.educationworld.in/rank-school/all-cities/day-school/girls/2015.html