Best Schools in Maharashtra 2026 – Top CBSE, ICSE & International Schools
MAHARISHI Public School Amravati
Podar International School Amravati
St. Francis High School Amravati
Dnyanmata High School Amravati
School Of Scholars, Amravati
Titans Public School Amravati
Happy Kids International school Amravati
Best Schools in Maharashtra — World-Class School Education in India's Financial Capital
Maharashtra, home to Mumbai — India’s financial and entertainment capital — and Pune — the country’s educational heartland — has one of India’s most diverse and capable school education ecosystems. The state has everything from century-old missionary institutions in Mumbai with legacies stretching back to the British era, to modern international IB schools in Pune serving global families, to strong government schools that have produced some of India’s finest scientists, bureaucrats, and artists.
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) governs state board schools across 9 regional divisions. Private schools in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik are predominantly CBSE or ICSE affiliated. International schools offering IB (International Baccalaureate) and IGCSE (Cambridge) curricula are concentrated in Mumbai’s suburban belt and Pune’s expanding tech districts.
Annual fees: Government Maharashtra board schools — Free or ₹1,000–₹5,000/year. KV schools — Nominal. Private CBSE/ICSE schools: ₹50,000–₹2,00,000/year. Elite Mumbai schools: ₹2,00,000–₹5,00,000/year. International IB schools: ₹5,00,000–₹15,00,000/year. JNV schools across all districts: Free residential. Explore best colleges in Maharashtra and best universities in Maharashtra.
Top Schools in Maharashtra
Consistently top-rated schools include Cathedral and John Connon School (Fort, Mumbai), Campion School (Mumbai), Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS, Mumbai), Oberoi International School (Mumbai), The Bishop’s Co-Ed School (Pune), Symbiosis International School (Pune), Pune International School, Delhi Public School (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur), Kendriya Vidyalayas (across Maharashtra), JNVs across all 36 districts, Ryan International School (Mumbai), Vibgyor High School (Mumbai), Podar International School (Mumbai), St. Vincent’s High School (Pune), and Munsif’s International School (Aurangabad). Cathedral and John Connon is widely regarded as Mumbai’s most elite ICSE school — its alumni roster includes leading industrialists, politicians, and filmmakers. DAIS is the premier IB school in India. Also see best schools in Goa and best schools in Karnataka for neighboring state comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Top schools include Cathedral and John Connon School, Campion School, DAIS Mumbai, Oberoi International, Bishop’s Co-Ed School Pune, Symbiosis International School, DPS Mumbai/Pune, Kendriya Vidyalayas, JNVs, Vibgyor High, Podar International, and Ryan International. These span CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE, and state board affiliations.
Cathedral and John Connon School (Fort, Mumbai) is widely considered Mumbai’s most prestigious school with an ICSE affiliation and 150+ year history. Campion School is the premier boys’ ICSE school. Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) is the most prestigious IB school. For CBSE, DPS and Ryan International are the most recognized brands.
Government state board schools: Free or ₹1,000–₹5,000/year. KV: ₹1,500–₹3,000/year. JNV: Free residential. Private CBSE/ICSE schools: ₹50,000–₹2,00,000/year. Elite Mumbai ICSE schools: ₹2,00,000–₹5,00,000/year. DAIS and Oberoi International (IB): ₹8,00,000–₹15,00,000/year. Pune CBSE schools: ₹60,000–₹1,80,000/year.
CBSE is ideal for JEE, NEET, and national competitive exam preparation. ICSE is premium for strong English-medium academics, particularly for arts and international higher education. The Maharashtra State Board (SSC/HSC) is appropriate for MHT-CET (local engineering) and state competitive exams. IB/IGCSE suits students targeting foreign universities.
Pune has excellent schools — particularly in private CBSE and international IB categories. The Bishop’s Co-Ed School, Symbiosis International School, Orchid International School, and Pune International School are among Pune’s finest. While Mumbai’s heritage schools (Cathedral, Campion) carry more historical prestige, Pune offers comparable quality at slightly lower fees.
Elite Mumbai ICSE schools (Cathedral, Campion) have highly competitive admissions with limited seats and waitlists years in advance. CBSE school admissions run January–March. State board school admissions follow MSBSHSE and local authority guidelines. IB school admissions are rolling and year-round. KV admissions are centralized online.
Yes. Nagpur has DPS, DAV, and several CBSE-affiliated private schools. Nashik has Orchid International, DPS, and established CBSE schools. Aurangabad has Munsif’s International, Delhi Public School, and state board schools. All cities have KV schools and JNV residential schools providing national-standard education.
Yes. Maharashtra — particularly Mumbai and Pune — has one of India’s largest concentrations of international schools. DAIS (IB), Oberoi International (IB), Ecole Mondiale World School (IB), Pathways World School (Pune), and others serve expat and internationally-oriented Indian families. Fees range from ₹8–15 lakh per year.