Last checked: 13 Oct 2026.
Choosing a school in Kolkata means sorting through a long list of respected names, each with a different board, campus style and admission routine. This guide brings together nine well-known English-medium schools in the city, with their boards, areas and founding details, taken from the schools’ own websites. It is meant as a starting point for your own research, not a verdict on quality.
Also see: Hindi medium schools in Kolkata.
Quick comparison table
| School | Board | Area | Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Martiniere for Boys | ICSE / ISC | Dr. U.N. Brahmachari Street area | 1836 |
| La Martiniere for Girls | ICSE / ISC | Dr. U.N. Brahmachari Street area | 1836 |
| St. Xavier’s Collegiate School | ICSE / ISC | Park Street / Mother Teresa Sarani | c. 1860 |
| Loreto House | ICSE / ISC | Middleton Row / Park Street area | 1842 (single source) |
| Calcutta Boys’ School | ICSE / ISC | Multiple campuses (Main, Beliaghata, Sonarpur, Asansol) | 1873 (origin, per school site) |
| St. Thomas’ Boys’ School | ICSE / ISC | Kidderpore | 1789 |
| Julien Day School, Kolkata | ICSE / ISC | Central Kolkata | 1969 |
| South Point High School | CBSE (Classes VI-X, per school history page) | Mandeville Gardens, Ballygunge | 1954 |
| Delhi Public School Ruby Park | CBSE (as per the school’s mandatory disclosure) | Ruby Park, south-east Kolkata | 2003 |
The schools are listed in no particular order. Details come from each school’s website on the date above, and a few areas are given in general terms.
School-by-school overview
The short notes below are written in our own words and summarise what each school says about itself. They do not describe teaching quality, which you can only judge by visiting, speaking to parents and reading the school’s public documents.
La Martiniere for Boys
La Martiniere for Boys is one of the oldest schools on this list, founded under the will of Major General Claude Martin. The school site describes it as affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, with classes running from Lower Nursery to Class XII, a wide co-curricular programme and a tradition of foundationer scholars. Admission to Lower Nursery is handled through an online form shared with the girls’ school, while entry to other classes is requested by email to the school secretary. Official website: La Martiniere for Boys official site.
La Martiniere for Girls
The girls’ school belongs to the same La Martiniere foundation and shares its website, motto and admission notices with the boys’ school. It prepares students for the ICSE and ISC examinations. Parents should read the eligibility rules for date of birth and the documents list on the official admission notice before applying. Official website: La Martiniere for Girls official site.
St. Xavier’s Collegiate School
A Jesuit boys’ school whose present name dates from the takeover of an earlier school by Belgian Jesuits around 1859-60, according to the school’s own history. It has a primary section on Wood Street and a secondary section on Mother Teresa Sarani, and it posts admission notices and an online registration link on its homepage. Official website: St. Xavier’s Collegiate School official site.
Loreto House
A girls’ school run in the tradition of Mary Ward and the Loreto sisters, who reached Kolkata in December 1841. The school website lists separate notices for Lower Nursery and for Class XI admission, so families should check which notice applies to their child’s entry point. Official website: Loreto House official site.
Calcutta Boys’ School
Founded by the Methodist church community, this school has grown into a multi-campus group, and its website currently highlights a sesquicentenary celebration. Each campus has its own admission page, so check the campus nearest to home before filling any form. Official website: Calcutta Boys’ School official site.
St. Thomas’ Boys’ School
The school website states that it was founded in 1789, which makes it among the oldest institutions here. It is run by the Church of North India and publishes ICSE and ISC results on its homepage. Its recent announcements mention robotics and sports programmes. Official website: St. Thomas’ Boys’ School official site.
Julien Day School, Kolkata
Julien Day School was started in 1969 and teaches from KG to Class XII. It follows the ICSE curriculum to Class X and offers Science, Commerce and Humanities at the ISC stage. Its site has separate enquiry forms for Nursery-Class 1 and for Classes 2-12. Official website: Julien Day School, Kolkata official site.
South Point High School
South Point began as a co-educational English-medium school on 1 April 1954. The history page explains that pupils of South Point School move to the High School for Class VI and study under CBSE through Class X. Because the group runs more than one school, confirm which unit and which board applies at the stage your child will enter. Official website: South Point High School official site.
Delhi Public School Ruby Park
This is the first Kolkata school of the OmDayal Group under the Delhi Public School Society, founded in 2003. The website describes it as CBSE-affiliated and shows admissions open for 2027-28 from Nursery to Class XI. Affiliation status and validity are listed in the school’s mandatory public disclosure, which is the correct place to confirm them. Official website: Delhi Public School Ruby Park official site.
How to choose an English-medium school in Kolkata
Understand the board
Most English-medium schools in Kolkata follow one of three routes. ICSE and ISC are run by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and tend to give more weight to English language and literature and to broad subject coverage. CBSE is the national board, widely used by families who may relocate across India and who are thinking of national entrance tests. West Bengal state boards are less common in English-medium private schools but exist, and some school groups run units under different boards. None of these is automatically better. The right choice depends on your child’s learning style and your family’s plans.
Think about distance and daily routine
Kolkata traffic can turn a short distance into a long commute. A school that looks close on a map may take an hour in the morning. Consider school bus routes, pick-up arrangements and how a long journey will affect a young child’s sleep and homework time.
Visit the campus and ask questions
Facilities differ widely. Look at classrooms, play areas, laboratories, library, safety measures and how the school handles student wellbeing. Ask about class sizes, the language policy, co-curricular options and how parents are kept informed.
Check the paperwork
Indian schools are expected to publish a mandatory public disclosure covering affiliation, staff and infrastructure. Read it, and confirm the affiliation number and validity period with the board if anything is unclear. We have not quoted fees on this page because they change often and vary by class. Use the official fee page of each school.
Admission process: what to expect
Admission calendars differ for every school, and dates change every year, so always rely on the school’s official notice. As a general pattern, many schools open online applications for Nursery or Lower Nursery in the middle of the year for the session starting the following April. Some require an interaction with parents and child instead of a written test, and some announce selected candidates in lists before collecting an admission fee. Entry to higher classes is usually based on seat availability and may involve a test or interview. Class XI admission, especially into streams such as Science or Commerce, often has its own notice and eligibility rules. Typical documents include a birth certificate, passport-size photographs, address proof and the previous report card. Some schools also ask for a medical certificate or a signed affidavit.
For example, at the time of checking, the La Martiniere site invited Lower Nursery applications for the 2027-28 session, while DPS Ruby Park showed admissions open for 2027-28, and the St. Xavier’s Collegiate homepage carried a notice for selected LKG and UKG candidates. These are examples only. Dates, eligibility and procedures can change, so verify each on the official site before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Which board is best for a child in Kolkata: ICSE, CBSE or a state board?
There is no single best board. ICSE and ISC emphasise broad coverage and English, CBSE aligns closely with national entrance exams, and state boards suit families planning to stay within West Bengal. Match the board to your child and your plans.
When should I apply for Nursery admission?
Many schools start their process well before the new session, sometimes in the middle of the previous year. Check each school’s admission page early, because forms and age cut-offs vary.
Is the order of schools on this page a ranking?
No. The order carries no meaning and the page does not rank schools by merit or results.
Do these schools charge the same fees?
No. Fees differ by school and class and are revised from time to time. We do not quote them here. Use each school’s official fee notice.
Are there other good English-medium schools in Kolkata?
Yes. Kolkata has many more, including girls’ schools, convent schools and newer campuses. We included only schools whose details we could confirm on official websites on the date of checking.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not a ranking, and the order of schools does not reflect merit. We do not quote fees. Boards, dates and admission rules can change, so please confirm everything on each school’s official website or by contacting the school directly. Last checked: 13 Oct 2026.
