13 Best Schools in Kolkata 2025-26 – Fee, Admission, Reviews, Curriculum, Facilities& More

Kolkata, with its timeless charm, is a city where heritage meets heart. From the bustling College Street to the serene Hooghly River, the city’s soul is steeped in art, culture, and intellectualism. Legends like Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray shaped global thought here. As an intellectual hub since the British era, Kolkata is home to some of the finest schools in the country, blending tradition with forward-thinking education. Here is a list of some of the Best Schools in Kolkata that continue this legacy of excellence. 

1. Calcutta International School

• Calcutta International School is one of the best schools in Kolkata, founded in 1953 as the King’s House School, was transformed by Miss Mai Barth into Miss Barth’s School and restructured as the Calcutta International School Society in 1970.
• It was recognized among the top 20 international schools globally by a European magazine, highlighting its educational excellence.
• It also received received the prestigious International School Award (ISA) from the British Council for its outstanding educational practices and global outlook.

Admission Process:

• Download the application form and submit it with the required documents.
• Pre-Nursery to Upper Nursery involves observation and a parent interview.
• Grades 1-8 require a written test in Math and English, followed by interviews.
• Grades 9-12 include tests in English and two chosen subjects, followed by interviews.
• After selection, pay the non-refundable registration fee; ensure age criteria and vacancies are reviewed before applying.

Fee Structure:

2. Carmel High School

• Carmel Convent (Primary and High) School , founded in 1956, is affiliated with the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, offering classes from Kindergarten to Higher Secondary.
• Expanded in 1969, it provides streams in Science, Commerce, and Arts for Higher Secondary students.
• The school focuses on academic excellence, skill development, and character formation rooted in Christian values, serving both Catholic and other communities.
• Upon contacting the school, they provided that the student-teacher ratio is 50:3

Admission Process:

• Duly fill out the online registration form.
• Submit the form along with the required documents to the admission office.
• The school will contact parents within a few working days with further information.

Fee Structure:

• The average annual fees for Carmel High School is approximately Rs. 15,000.
• Additional details about fee rates can be obtained from the school’s office.

3. The Heritage School

• The Heritage School, established in 2001, follows the ancient Gurukul tradition of holistic education.
• Recognized as one of India’s leading international day-boarding schools and one of the best schools in Kolkata.
• We tried reaching out school for more detailed information, unfortunately the call was not answered.

The Heritage School Parent Review :

We recently gathered parent reviews from various platforms on different schools. Here’s a concise summary for you.

• 84.46% of parents expressed overall satisfaction with the school, highlighting a positive experience and suggesting this as one of the best schools in Kolkata.
• 8.11% of parents appreciated the school’s infrastructure and facilities, mentioning them as a key strength.
• 2.70% of reviews praised the school’s focus on extracurricular activities, noting it as a valuable offering.
• 1.35% of parents commented on the quality of teaching, recognizing it as a positive aspect.
• 3.38% of parents raised concerns about the school’s fee structure, mentioning it as a potential drawback.

Admission Process:

• Parents must submit the application form and register online.
• Registration doesn’t guarantee admission; seat availability and meeting criteria are required.
• The non-refundable registration fee is Rs.2000 for IBDP/IGCSE and Rs.1500 for other classes, payable online.
• Admission for other classes is based on previous academic records.
• Applications follow RTE guidelines.

Fee Structure:

Newtown School Parent Review :

• 30.4% of parents expressed dissatisfaction with the school’s management, citing inefficiencies and poor decision-making.
• 30.4% of parents were critical of the school’s infrastructure, mentioning outdated facilities and poor maintenance.
• 26% of parents had concerns about security, highlighting the need for better safety measures on campus.
• 17.4% of parents felt that the fees were too high, suggesting that the cost didn’t match the value provided.
• Only 4.3% of parents praised the teaching quality, indicating room for improvement in academic standards.
  
  

Admission Process:

• Begin online registration by paying Rs. 2000 and uploading scanned documents.
• Receive a registration number and admit card with assessment details via email within two days.
• Selection for classes V-IX includes an assignment and an interaction with the principal.
• Grade XI applicants must meet the website’s minimum eligibility criteria.

Fee Structure:

7. St James School

• St. James’ School, Kolkata, established in 1864, is one of India’s oldest and most prestigious private schools.
• One of the best schools in Kolkata that provides a well-rounded education, focusing on academics, cultural, and extracurricular activities.
• Founded by Bishop Cotton, it has over 150 years of educational excellence.

St James School Parent Review :

• 27.1% of parents are generally satisfied with the school.
• 14.7% of parents appreciate the quality of teaching.
• 4.7% of mentions highlight positive views on infrastructure as one of the best in Kolkata.
• 5.4% of parents raised concerns about management.
• 0.7% of reviews mentioned issues with high fees.
• 0.8% of parents expressed concerns about the curriculum.
  

Admission Process:

• Class 1 admission forms for the 2025-26 academic year will be available from 27th August to 2nd September 2024.
• Forms can be collected at the school between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM (except Sundays and holidays); on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
• Bring the original birth certificate to collect the form.
• Forms are also available online at www.stjamesschoolkolkata.com.
• Eligible birth dates: between 1st April 2018 and 31st March 2019.

Fee Structure:

The annual fees of St. James’ School is around Rs. 90000/-. A detailed fee structure can be collected from the school’s office.

8. St. Xavier’s Collegiate School

• Founded in 1860 by the Jesuits, Jesuits St. Xavier’s Collegiate School is a private day school for boys in Kolkata.
• Offers classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and is affiliated with West Bengal Board of Secondary Education till Class 10 and ICSE till Class 12.
• Recognized as one of Kolkata’s best schools, organizing educational events like industrial visits, MUN seminars, student exchange programs, and lectures.
• Hosts activities such as football tournaments, X-MUN, and various social service initiatives.

St Xavier’s Collegiate School Parent Review :

• The majority (56.25%) of reviews positively highlight the overall school experience, suggesting this as one of the best schools in Kolkata with high level of satisfaction among parents or reviewers.
• A significant proportion (21.88%) praises the teaching quality, indicating effective and competent educators.
• A smaller percentage (6.25%) of feedback positively mentions the school’s infrastructure, including facilities such as labs and sports areas.
• Another 6.25% of reviews commend the school’s support systems and communication channels.
• Some reviews (3.12%) negatively mention the school’s management, pointing to possible issues with administrative processes.
• Negative remarks about response times are mentioned in 3.12% of the feedback, suggesting potential delays in handling inquiries or issues.
• A minor segment (3.12%) of the feedback criticizes the fee structure as being high, raising concerns about affordability.

Admission Process:

• Parents must submit the online registration form along with all required documents to St. Xavier’s Collegiate School’s office.
• The school reviews the submitted documents and registration form.
• Admissions are primarily for Class KG, with Classes 1-8 considered if vacancies exist.
• Admission to Class XI and stream choice depend on academic performance, behavior, and Principal’s discretion.

Fee Structure:

The annual fees for KG to Class 12 range from ₹1,05,800 to ₹1,13,900, depending on the class. For a detailed breakdown, please refer to the fee structure on the school’s website.

9. National High School

• National High School, founded in 1913 as Anglo Tamil School, operates two campuses:
  Sarat Bose Road (WBBSE & WBCHSE) and Hazra Road (CBSE), managed by the N.R. Iyer Memorial Education Society.
• Medium of instruction is English, with Tamil, Hindi, and Bengali as language options.
• Celebrating over 107 years of educational service.
• We tried reaching out school for more detailed information, unfortunately the call was not answered.

National High School Parent Review :

• 5.6% of parents mentioned concerns about the fee structure, indicating it’s not a major issue for most.
• 25% of reviews praised the teaching quality as one of the best in Kolkata, making it a strong positive aspect.
• 12.5% of parents raised concerns about behavior, pointing to some dissatisfaction with staff or management.
• 6.3% of parents appreciated the school’s infrastructure, though it’s not a primary focus.
• 26.4% of parents had an overall positive experience and feels one of the best in kolkata.
• 5.6% of reviews highlighted negative experiences, but this is less prevalent.
• 2.1% of parents mentioned academic results, indicating it’s a minor talking point.
  
  

Admission Process:

• First fill up the admission form available on the school website
• Fill up and attached relevant documents
• On the basis of that, school call students for the test
• On merit basis the final call will be taken by school management

Fee Structure:

Senior Secondary Section (Class XI & XII) at the National High School CBSE Campus.

Corpus Fund (collected on all new admissions during June at the beginning of the academic year):

• For NHS Students: ₹40,000
• For non-NHS Students: ₹60,000

Middle and Secondary Section (Class V to X) at National High School, CBSE Campus.

Junior Section (Class I to IV) at National High School, CBSE Campus.

10. Birla High School

• Birla High School, Kolkata, was founded in 1941 by Lakshmi Niwas Birla.
• Originally named Hindi High School, it was renamed Birla High School in 1997.
• The school is an initiative of Vidya Mandir Society.

Admission Process:

• Application forms are available on the school’s website starting in August.
• Parents need to submit the completed form along with a registration fee of Rs. 1000/-.
• Required documents must be submitted to the school’s office on any working day.
• For Nursery and KG applicants, the school conducts an interactive session with both the parents and the student.
• Students applying for Class I and above are assessed on stipulated dates.
• Assessments for Class I and above cover English, Mathematics, and a second language.

Fee Structure:

11. Garden High School