Chennai families choose between CBSE, ICSE/ISC, state board and international curricula, and the right fit depends as much on the commute as on the board. This guide looks at eight Chennai schools that we could cross-check against an official board directory and the school’s own website. They are selected from a wider field and are not ranked; the order follows the board and area, not merit.
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026. School details change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm everything on the school’s official site.
Schools at a glance
| School | Area | Board | Established | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSBB Senior Secondary School, K.K. Nagar | K.K. Nagar | CBSE | 1976 (K.K. Nagar branch) | Official site |
| D.A.V. Boys Senior Secondary School, Gopalapuram | Gopalapuram | CBSE | 1970 | Official site |
| B.V. Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram | Kilpauk | CBSE | See official site | Official site |
| Chettinad Vidyashram | R.A. Puram | CBSE | See official site | Official site |
| Sishya | Adyar | ICSE / ISC | 1972 | Official site |
| Sishya OMR School | Thoraipakkam (OMR) | ICSE / ISC | 2010 | Official site |
| The School KFI | Thazhambur | ICSE / ISC | See official site | Official site |
| The Grove School | Alwarpet | ICSE / ISC | 1984 (nursery); 2004 (as The Grove School) | Official site |
School profiles
1. PSBB Senior Secondary School, K.K. Nagar
The PSBB group traces its roots to a small school started in Nungambakkam in 1958, and the K.K. Nagar branch was founded in 1976, according to the group’s own history page. Today the group describes branches at Nungambakkam, K.K. Nagar and Siruseri, with an annexe at T. Nagar. The K.K. Nagar campus sits on Alagirisamy Salai and teaches up to senior secondary level. It is a natural shortlist name for families in west Chennai who want a CBSE route through Class XII.
Checked against: CBSE SARAS directory (Aff. No. 1930040, senior secondary); school group website, history page.
2. D.A.V. Boys Senior Secondary School, Gopalapuram
An all-boys day school in the Gopalapuram area, which the school says was established in 1970. It belongs to the Vedritam Group, run under the Arya Samaj Seva Foundation, and follows the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic approach, which pairs academics with character building. At the time of our check the school homepage carried an announcement about direct admissions to Class X for 2026-27, so parents of older boys should read it directly.
Checked against: CBSE SARAS directory (Aff. No. 1930148, senior secondary); school website homepage.
3. B.V. Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram
Located on Kilpauk Garden Road, this Bhavan’s school lists CBSE as its board along with activities such as Bharat Scouts and Guides and the National Cadet Corps. Its website describes an effort to keep Indian culture alive alongside a balanced arts and sciences curriculum and mentions an average of around 40 students per class. Its announcements page shows book lists from LKG up to Class 12. We did not find a founding year we could rely on, so please check the school site.
Checked against: CBSE SARAS directory (Aff. No. 1930044, senior secondary); school website homepage.
4. Chettinad Vidyashram
Chettinad Vidyashram is on Greenways Road in R.A. Puram and appears in the CBSE directory as a senior secondary school. This entry is single-sourced: the board record was confirmed, but our browser could not open the school’s own website during the check, so we have not repeated any other claim about it. Use the school’s official website for its history, facilities and admission calendar.
Checked against: CBSE SARAS directory (Aff. No. 1930137, senior secondary). School website could not be opened on 14 Oct 2026, so it is flagged as single-sourced.
5. Sishya
Sishya was founded in January 1972 by K. I. Thomas at Edward Elliots Road, moved to Adyar in 1976 and has offered the +2 stage since 1986. It prepares students for ICSE in Class X and ISC in Class XII. The school’s admissions note says LKG places are limited, that other classes depend on vacancies, and that admissions run from January to March, with none from April to December. Parents of children born in 2024 are asked to email for an appointment for LKG 2028.
Checked against: CISCE school locator (TN021, ICSE and ISC); school website homepage and history timeline.
6. Sishya OMR School
Opened in 2010 as an initiative of Sishya Adyar together with Mr Srinivasan R, this campus serves the IT corridor along Rajiv Gandhi Salai. The school describes two buildings, a senior and a junior block, with a large playground between them. It lists CISCE affiliation number TN084. It may suit families living or working along OMR who prefer the ICSE and ISC pattern.
Checked against: CISCE school locator (TN084, ICSE and ISC); school website homepage.
7. The School KFI
Run by the Krishnamurti Foundation India, this school at Solai Street, Thazhambur describes its aim as creating an atmosphere of learning in which children can “flower in goodness”. Its website puts weight on themes such as fear, learning, relationship and nature. The admissions section, as seen on the check date, said admissions for 2026-27 were closed and that LKG and Class XI registration for 2027-28 would be online from 30 October to 6 November 2026. Other classes are filled against vacancies.
Checked against: CISCE school locator (TN023, ICSE and ISC); school website homepage and admissions notice.
8. The Grove School
Established by the C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation on Eldams Road, Alwarpet, this school began in 1984 as a nursery school and was inaugurated under its present name in 2004. Its site says it follows the syllabuses prepared for the ICSE curriculum and stresses small classes and creative thinking. The website looks dated, so confirm current admissions details by phone or email before relying on it.
Checked against: CISCE school locator (TN061, ICSE and ISC); school website homepage and contact page.
How to choose a school in Chennai
- Board and exit point: CBSE suits families that may move between cities, while ICSE/ISC schools often appeal to those who like a broader English and project-led pattern. Check whether the school runs up to Class XII.
- Distance and traffic: Chennai commutes are long. OMR, Adyar, Alwarpet and west Chennai are far apart at school hours, so test the real morning route.
- Class size and approach: Ask for the actual class strength rather than relying on brochures, and ask how the school handles children who need extra support.
- Language and activities: Look at the second and third language options, sports, arts and any scouts or NCC programme.
- Visit twice: Once during an open event and once on an ordinary school day.
Admission basics
Dates vary by school and year, so verify on each official site. Some schools publish registration windows months ahead, for example The School KFI for 2027-28, while others, such as Sishya, take applications within a fixed January to March window and admit older classes only against vacancies. Keep a child’s birth certificate, previous report cards and transfer certificate ready, and always ask for the age cut-off in writing. We do not list fees; ask each school for its current schedule.
FAQs
Is this a ranking of the best schools in Chennai?
No. It is a selection of schools whose board listing and official website we could check. The order is not a measure of merit. Many good schools, including Tamil Nadu state board and IB schools, are not covered here.
Which boards are covered?
The eight schools here follow CBSE or CISCE (ICSE and ISC). Always confirm the current affiliation on the board’s own directory before applying.
When do admissions start?
It varies. The School KFI announced an online window for 2027-28 LKG registration, while Sishya admits from January to March. Check each school’s website for its own dates.
Does the article list fees?
No. Fees change every year and we only quote numbers published on a school’s official site. Ask each school for its current written fee schedule.
How should we shortlist?
Start with commute time, board and the classes you need, then visit two or three campuses and compare answers to the same set of questions.
See also
Disclaimer
This page is for general information and is not an endorsement or a ranking. Affiliation, admission dates and facilities can change. Please confirm all details with the school and the relevant board before applying. Yuva Digest is not affiliated with any school listed here.
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026.
