Choosing a boarding school for your child is one of the biggest decisions a Lucknow family makes, and it is natural to feel torn between tradition, academics, and the kind of care your child will receive once they are living away from home. Best boarding school in Lucknow is a search that comes up again and again from parents who want a place that balances discipline with warmth, and results with wellbeing.
Based on parent reviews, academic track record, fee value, and facilities, the 7 best boarding schools in Lucknow are: GD Goenka Public School, La Martiniere (Boys' and Girls' Branches), Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School, Army Public School (Nehru Road), Jagran Public School, Emma Thompson School, and The Lucknow Public Collegiate.
This guide covers the fee structure, admission process, parent reviews, curriculum, and location for each of these schools, so you have everything you need in one place before you shortlist.
GD Goenka Public School was established in 2011 and is part of the pan-India GD Goenka Group, offering both CBSE and Cambridge curricula on the same Sushant Golf City campus.
The school has been recognised as a Top School in Lucknow by C-Fore School Rankings and holds AAAA+ certification from Career 360 in both the Day and Residential School categories.
Its air-conditioned boarding houses for boys, run by experienced house parents, are a key differentiator for families considering full-time residential schooling.
GD Goenka Public School is a CBSE and Cambridge-curriculum boarding school in Sushant Golf City, Lucknow, offering classes from Toddler to Grade 12. Annual composite fees range from roughly ₹60,000 for the pre-primary years to close to ₹1,98,000 for senior secondary streams, excluding boarding charges. It is one of the few schools in Lucknow offering a dual-curriculum choice alongside dedicated boarding houses for boys.
GD Goenka Public School Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
82% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting consistent board results (82%) and well-planned lesson delivery (78%).
85% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, citing the air-conditioned classrooms and labs (85%) and clean, spacious campus (83%).
79% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, while 21% raise concerns around communication response time.
88% of parents are happy with the extracurricular exposure, particularly sports and technology-linked activities.
68% of parents feel the fee is justified for the facilities offered, while 32% feel the fee could be more transparent, especially around hostel charges.
Admission Process of GD Goenka Public School
Parents can visit the school's website or campus to collect the admission form.
The completed form must be submitted along with the required documents, including birth certificate and previous school records where applicable.
The school schedules an interaction session for the child (and, for younger classes, an informal conversation with parents).
Once the interaction is complete, the school communicates the admission decision, after which the admission fee and security deposit must be paid to confirm the seat.
Fee Structure of GD Goenka Public School
Class
Board
Annual Composite Fee
Admission Fee (One-Time)
Toddler
CBSE
₹60,000
₹40,000
Nursery
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,63,200 (incl. meals)
₹40,000
LKG
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,63,200 (incl. meals)
₹40,000
UKG
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,63,200 (incl. meals)
₹40,000
Class I
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,60,000
₹40,000
Class II
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,60,000
₹40,000
Class III
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class IV
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class V
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class VI
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class VII
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class VIII
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,68,000
₹40,000
Class IX
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,78,000
₹40,000
Class X
CBSE, Cambridge
₹1,78,000
₹40,000
Class XI (Science)
CBSE
₹1,98,000
₹20,000
Class XI (Commerce)
CBSE
₹1,92,000
₹20,000
Class XI (Arts)
CBSE
₹1,92,000
₹20,000
Class XII (Science)
CBSE
₹1,98,000
₹20,000
Class XII (Commerce)
CBSE
₹1,92,000
₹20,000
Class XII (Arts)
CBSE
₹1,92,000
₹20,000
Source: GD Goenka Public School, Lucknow — Official Fee Structure for Academic Session 2026-27 (school website). A one-time refundable security deposit of ₹15,000 and a ₹2,500 admission form fee apply across all classes; residential/hostel charges are billed separately.
Got Questions About G D Goenka Public School ?
1. GD Goenka Public School
GD Goenka Public School was established in 2011 and is part of the pan-India GD Goenka Group, offering both CBSE and Cambridge curricula on the same Sushant Golf City...
La Martiniere College is one school operating as two branches in Lucknow — the boys' branch (La Martiniere College, Martin Purva, founded 1845) and the girls' branch (La Martiniere Girls' College, Hazratganj, founded 1869) — both under the same founding trust established by Major General Claude Martin.
Both branches follow the ICSE curriculum up to Class 10 and the ISC curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, with Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams available.
Admission priority at the boys' branch is given to children of serving Army personnel, Army widows, and Territorial Army personnel with at least 10 years of embodied service, reflecting the school's long-standing military heritage; the girls' branch follows its own entrance-and-interview process.
Detail
Information
Curriculum
ICSE, ISC
Grades
Nursery to Class 12 (both branches)
Location
Boys' Branch: La Martiniere Rd, Martin Purva, Lucknow. Girls' Branch: Rana Pratap Marg, Hazratganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
La Martiniere is a single ICSE/ISC boarding institution in Lucknow running as two branches — La Martiniere College for boys in Martin Purva and La Martiniere Girls' College in Hazratganj — together covering Nursery to Class 12. Annual fees generally range from around ₹1,20,000 to ₹3,33,204 depending on branch, class, and boarding option. Between them, the two branches represent one of the oldest continuously running boarding school legacies in India, stretching back over 155 years.
La Martiniere Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
91% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting consistently strong ICSE/ISC results (91%) and a disciplined academic culture (88%) across both branches.
87% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, pointing to the expansive heritage campuses (87%) and well-maintained sports grounds (85%) at both the boys' and girls' branches.
87% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, while 13% mention that the school's traditional approach can feel rigid for some children.
91% of parents are happy with the extracurricular and sports culture, especially football, tennis, music, and leadership programmes.
59% of parents feel the fee is fair given the legacy and facilities, while 41% feel the overall cost, including boarding and one-time charges, is on the higher side.
Admission Process of La Martiniere
Parents need to obtain and fill the registration form from the relevant branch's office or website, along with the prospectus — boys apply to the Martin Purva branch, girls to the Hazratganj branch.
At the boys' branch, admission priority is given to children of serving Army personnel (including DSC), Army widows, and Territorial Army personnel with a minimum of 10 years of embodied service.
At the girls' branch, the school conducts an entrance assessment followed by a personal interview to evaluate aptitude and communication skills.
Once selection is confirmed at either branch, the school informs parents of further formalities, including document submission and fee payment.
Fee Structure of La Martiniere
Boys' Branch (La Martiniere College, Martin Purva):
New Nursery admissions: Prospectus & registration fee ₹5,000, admission fee ₹90,000 (one-time), with composite annual fees for the year totalling approximately ₹99,550.
Classes I to XI (new admissions): Admission fee of approximately ₹50,000 (non-refundable), with annual tuition and composite fees ranging from about ₹1,20,000 to ₹2,03,450 depending on the class.
Refundable caution money of approximately ₹45,000 is payable once at the time of admission, as per the Fee Regulatory Act, September 2018.
First-year total cost of admission (all one-time and annual charges combined) generally ranges from ₹1,92,792 to ₹3,48,528 depending on the class and stream chosen.
Girls' Branch (La Martiniere Girls' College, Hazratganj):
First-year total cost of admission (including composite fees and hostel charges) generally ranges from ₹2,88,000 to ₹3,33,204, depending on the class.
Fees are structured as a composite annual charge covering tuition, billed alongside hostel charges for boarding students.
A refundable caution deposit, in line with the state Fee Regulatory Act, is payable once at the time of admission.
Got Questions About La Martiniere College ?
2. La Martiniere (Boys' and Girls' Branches)
La Martiniere College is one school operating as two branches in Lucknow — the boys' branch (La Martiniere College, Martin Purva, founded 1845) and the girls' branch (La Martiniere...
Jagran Public School was founded in 2007 and has completed over 15 successful academic sessions, with a strong focus on shaping character alongside academics.
The school is CBSE-affiliated and offers both day and hostel facilities on its Gomti Nagar campus.
It maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio of around 15:1, which many parents cite as a reason for the personalised attention their children receive.
Smart class labs, library, sports, art, canteen, transport, school hall, hostel facilities
Jagran Public School is a CBSE school in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, offering classes from Pre-Nursery to Class 12 with both day and hostel options. Total first-year admission costs for hostel students generally range from around ₹2,96,304 to ₹3,24,900, while day-scholar costs are considerably lower. It stands out among Lucknow boarding schools for its low student-teacher ratio and character-development focus.
Jagran Public School Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
78% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting the NCERT-aligned teaching approach (78%) and personal attention in smaller classes (76%).
74% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, while 26% would like to see further upgrades to labs and sports areas.
76% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, appreciating their approachability and involvement.
80% of parents are happy with the school's extracurricular offerings, including cultural events and sports.
79% of parents feel the fee is reasonable for a mid-range CBSE boarding option in Lucknow.
Admission Process of Jagran Public School
Parents visit the school office during working hours to collect the admission form and prospectus.
The school follows a specific age criterion for each class, generally with LKG at 4 years and Class I at 6 years as on 31st July.
After the form is submitted, the child appears for an assessment based on the NCERT syllabus on a specified date.
Shortlisted candidates are notified by phone or through the school notice board.
Admission to Class XI depends on Class X board results and seat availability, and admission to Classes II–IX and the hostel depends on seat availability.
Selected candidates complete the formalities and pay the applicable fees to confirm the seat.
Fee Structure of Jagran Public School
Day-scholar first-year cost (Nursery and other classes) generally ranges from approximately ₹74,500 to ₹1,16,300, depending on the class.
Hostel/boarding first-year total cost generally ranges from approximately ₹2,96,304 to ₹3,24,900, inclusive of composite fees, security, imprest money, and hostel charges.
One-time charges include a prospectus & registration fee of ₹1,500, admission fee of ₹10,000 (for PG & Class I) or ₹15,000 (Class II to XII), and a refundable security deposit of ₹3,000 (₹15,000 for hostel security).
Got Questions About Jagran Public School ?
3. Jagran Public School
Jagran Public School was founded in 2007 and has completed over 15 successful academic sessions, with a strong focus on shaping character alongside academics.The school is CBSE-affiliated and offers...
Emma Thompson School was established in 1871 by missionary educator Isabella Thoburn and is one of Lucknow's oldest ICSE girls' schools.
The school prioritises academics alongside good behaviour and respect, fostering a collaborative learning environment for its students.
Its Cantonment Road campus in Lalbagh offers a wide range of sports, including cricket, basketball, volleyball, and taekwondo, along with a strong yoga and meditation programme.
Emma Thompson School is an ICSE girls' school in Lalbagh, Lucknow, offering classes from Nursery to Class 12. First-year admission costs generally range from around ₹45,000 to ₹69,700 depending on the class, making it one of the more affordable ICSE options among Lucknow's boarding schools. Its 150-year legacy and disciplined, values-driven environment remain a strong draw for parents.
Emma Thompson School Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
80% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting the school's disciplined ICSE preparation (80%) and focus on values-based learning (77%).
70% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, while 30% feel certain facilities could be modernised given the school's age.
83% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, appreciating their long-standing experience with the ICSE board.
72% of parents are happy with the extracurricular options, particularly sports and yoga programmes.
85% of parents feel the fee is good value, given the school's affordability relative to other ICSE boarding schools in the city.
Admission Process of Emma Thompson School
Parents must submit the application form, ensuring the child meets the eligibility criteria — for Nursery, the child should be 3 years 6 months by 1st April of the academic year.
All applicants are required to appear for an entrance assessment appropriate to their standard, designed to gauge academic readiness.
Shortlisted students may be called for a short interaction with school authorities.
Once selected, parents complete the registration formalities and submit the required documents, including a birth certificate and passport-size photographs.
Admission is confirmed on payment of the registration and admission fees.
Fee Structure of Emma Thompson School
Class
Board
Approx. Annual Fee
Admission Fee (One-Time)
Nursery
ICSE
₹29,000
₹15,000
KG
ICSE
₹29,000
₹15,000
Class 1
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 2
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 3
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 4
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 5
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 6
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 7
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 8
ICSE
₹30,000
₹15,000
Class 9
ICSE
₹32,000
₹15,000
Class 10
ICSE
₹32,000
₹15,000
Class 11
ISC
₹32,000
₹15,000
Class 12
ISC
₹32,000
₹15,000
Got Questions About Emma Thompson School ?
4. Emma Thompson School
Emma Thompson School was established in 1871 by missionary educator Isabella Thoburn and is one of Lucknow's oldest ICSE girls' schools.The school prioritises academics alongside good behaviour and respect,...
The Lucknow Public Collegiate was established in 1997 and was the first day-boarding school of Uttar Pradesh, combining day-school, day-boarding, and full residential options.
The CBSE-affiliated school aims to provide a well-rounded environment focused on both innovative teaching techniques and traditional values.
Its Sharda Nagar campus houses science and computer laboratories, an auditorium, and a multipurpose hall alongside dedicated clubs and societies.
Spacious classrooms, science and computer labs, library, sports facilities, cafeteria, auditorium, multipurpose hall, clubs and societies
The Lucknow Public Collegiate is a CBSE day, day-boarding, and full residential school in Sharda Nagar, Lucknow, offering classes from Nursery to Class 12. Its day-scholar annual fee is around ₹48,000, while full boarding costs approximately ₹2,60,000 to ₹3,21,000 per year. As Uttar Pradesh's first day-boarding school, it offers families a flexible middle ground between a purely day school and a full residential setup.
The Lucknow Public Collegiate Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
83% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting the school's structured teaching techniques (83%) and consistent results (81%).
81% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, citing the labs, auditorium, and multipurpose facilities (81%).
80% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, while 20% would like more frequent parent-teacher communication.
85% of parents are happy with the range of clubs, societies, and extracurricular activities on offer.
82% of parents feel the day-boarding flexibility offers good value for the fee charged.
Admission Process of The Lucknow Public Collegiate
Parents obtain the registration form from the school's office or website and collect the prospectus.
Care must be taken to ensure there is no discrepancy in the child's date of birth or name on the registration form, as corrections are not entertained later.
The school conducts an entrance assessment as part of the admission process for most classes.
Document verification and, where applicable, a parent-student interaction follow the assessment.
Final selection is communicated after the entrance test, document verification, and any interviews are completed, following which fees must be paid to confirm the seat.
Fee Structure of The Lucknow Public Collegiate
Option
Approx. Annual Fee
Day School
₹48,000
Full Boarding
₹2,60,000 – ₹3,21,000
Got Questions About The Lucknow Public Collegiate ?
5. The Lucknow Public Collegiate
The Lucknow Public Collegiate was established in 1997 and was the first day-boarding school of Uttar Pradesh, combining day-school, day-boarding, and full residential options.The CBSE-affiliated school aims to provide...
Army Public School, Nehru Road was established in 1981 to cater to the educational needs of the wards of Army personnel stationed in Lucknow, and functions under the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES).
The school introduced separate boarding facilities for boys and girls in 1994, later upgraded and named the Capt. Manoj Pandey, PVC, War Widows' Ward Boys' Hostel and the Swati Girls' Hostel.
Spread across a 14 to 22-acre Cantonment campus, the school offers Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams alongside a strong sports and cultural programme.
Detail
Information
Curriculum
CBSE
Grades
Class 1 to Class 12
Location
84, Nehru Rd, Near Red Eagle Army School, Neil Lines, Cantonment, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226002
Library, science and computer labs, multipurpose hall, gymnasium, badminton and sports facilities, canteen, infirmary, boys' and girls' hostels
Army Public School, Nehru Road is a CBSE day-cum-residential school in Lucknow Cantonment, offering classes from Class 1 to Class 12 with dedicated boys' and girls' hostels. Total first-year day-scholar costs generally range from around ₹81,492 to ₹96,252, with boarding students paying additional hostel charges. It primarily serves children of serving Army personnel while also admitting civilian students where seats are available.
Army Public School, Nehru Road Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
84% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting disciplined teaching methods (84%) and consistent CBSE results (82%).
82% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, citing the well-equipped labs and library (82%), while 18% feel certain facilities could be modernised.
86% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, appreciating the structured, values-driven environment.
85% of parents are happy with the extracurricular offerings, especially sports and the cultural programme.
88% of parents feel the fee is good value, particularly for defence families given the AWES-subsidised structure.
Admission Process of Army Public School, Nehru Road
Children of serving Army personnel (including DSC), Army widows, and Territorial Army personnel with a minimum of 10 years of embodied service are given priority, and admission is not denied to such candidates arriving on transfer, subject to seat availability.
Admission to any class except Class 1 requires clearing a pre-admission test.
A valid transfer certificate from the previous school is mandatory for admission.
Students cannot be admitted to a class higher than the one they were studying in at their previous school, unless already promoted.
No provisional admission is permitted under any circumstances; boarding applicants are considered from Class 5 onward.
Fee Structure of Army Public School, Nehru Road
First-year day-scholar cost of admission generally ranges from approximately ₹81,492 to ₹96,252, inclusive of laboratory, computer, registration, admission, tuition, and annual fees.
Boarding students pay additional hostel charges on top of the day-scholar fee structure; parents are advised to confirm current hostel fees directly with the school.
Got Questions About Army Public School ?
6. Army Public School, Nehru Road
Army Public School, Nehru Road was established in 1981 to cater to the educational needs of the wards of Army personnel stationed in Lucknow, and functions under the Army...
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School was established in 1960 and holds the distinction of being the first Sainik School in India, set up to prepare selected students of Uttar Pradesh for the officers' cadre of the Armed Forces through the National Defence Academy.
The school is fully residential, government-run, and spread across a sprawling 250-acre campus in Sarojini Nagar, making it one of the largest boarding campuses in the city.
Admission is highly selective, based on a written entrance examination followed by an interview and medical examination, with 100% of seats reserved for domiciled UP candidates.
Swimming pool, auditorium, hostel, library, science and computer labs, parade grounds, sports academy
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School is a fully residential CBSE school in Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow, offering classes from Class 6 to Class 12. Annual fees for normal (government-subsidised) seats are around ₹35,000 to ₹60,000, while payment seats are charged roughly double at up to ₹1,50,000. It is India's first Sainik School and remains one of the most affordable full-boarding options in Lucknow given the state subsidy.
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School Parent Review
Based on our recent research on various platforms and conversation with parents here is our observation about the school,
88% of parents express positive sentiments about academics, highlighting the disciplined, NDA-oriented curriculum (88%) and consistent defence-services placement record (86%).
90% of parents are satisfied with infrastructure, citing the expansive 250-acre campus (90%) and well-maintained sports and parade facilities (88%).
84% of parents speak positively about teachers and staff, while 16% would like more frequent communication given the fully residential format.
93% of parents are happy with the extracurricular and physical training programme, particularly its role in NDA preparation.
95% of parents feel the fee is excellent value, given the heavily subsidised cost relative to other full-boarding schools in the city.
Admission Process of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School
Admission is offered once a year, to Class VI and Class IX only, through an online application process.
Candidates must clear a written entrance examination (OMR-based, covering English, General Knowledge, Mathematics, and Intelligence), typically held in January.
Candidates who qualify the written exam are called for a personal interview before a selection board.
A medical fitness examination follows the interview, and final admission is granted strictly on merit, medical fitness, and seat availability.
Only candidates domiciled in Uttar Pradesh (along with their fathers) are eligible to apply.
Fee Structure of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School
Seat Type
Approx. Annual Fee
Normal (Government-Subsidised) Seat
₹35,000 – ₹60,000
Payment Seat
Approx. ₹1,50,000 (roughly double the normal seat fee)
Got Questions About UP Sainik School ?
7. Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School
Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School was established in 1960 and holds the distinction of being the first Sainik School in India, set up to prepare selected students...
For families seeking heritage, discipline, and a proven boarding legacy, La Martiniere remains the benchmark choice in Lucknow — with a boys' branch in Martin Purva and a girls' branch in Hazratganj, both carrying over 155 years of combined history. Families drawn to a defence-oriented, disciplined environment will find Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey UP Sainik School and Army Public School, Nehru Road strong fits, particularly for the NDA-preparation track and subsidised fee structures. Parents wanting a dual-curriculum CBSE and Cambridge option with dedicated boarding houses will find GD Goenka Public School a strong fit, while those looking for value-conscious ICSE or CBSE boarding will find Emma Thompson School and Jagran Public School more affordable starting points. For a flexible day-boarding arrangement, The Lucknow Public Collegiate offers a well-rounded middle path. Feel free to comment if we've missed a school you'd recommend, and check out our guide to the best schools in Lucknow and best residential schools in India for more options.
Note: Blogs by Yellow Slate are written based on information, knowledge and perspective of the writer. While every caution has been taken to provide readers with accurate information, please use your discretion before taking any decisions based on the information in this blog. In case you find any information that is factually wrong or something that could be made better, please write to us at contact@yellowslate.com.
Curious about how we arrived at this list? We believe parents deserve full transparency on how schools are evaluated and selected. to understand our school selection methodology.