Best Boarding Schools in Shimla 2023-24

1. DAV Sr. Sec Public School New, Shimla

Established year: 1979

Address: Sector 4 Rd, Sector 4, Phase II, New Shimla, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171009

Affiliation Board/Number: CBSE

School Level: Pre-Nursery to Class 12

School Type: Co-educational, Day-cum-residential

Managing Society: DAV College Managing Committee

Medium of Instruction: English

Approx. Fee Range: Rs. 40,800 to Rs. 60,000

Approx. Hostel Fee: Rs. 1,90,000 to Rs. 2,15,000

Phone number: 0177-2670976

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://davns.org/

Academics

Being one of the best boarding schools in Shimla, students at DAV, Shimla are offered many subjects that they can study. Students who pass the 10^th grade CBSE exams and enter the 12^th grade can choose to pursue either Humanities, Science or Commerce. Students who opt to pursue Science, further get an option to pursue medical or non-medical subjects.

Infrastructure

Established in 1979, DAV Sr. Sec Public School Shimla is affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. It is managed by the DAV College Managing Committee which is one of the largest educational trusts of India with almost 770 of its institutions rooted across the country. The management at DAV focuses highly on nurturing and teaching responsibilities and duties of a good citizen within the school.

The school infrastructure is built to establish a safe and friendly environment to approach the learning-teaching interaction between students and teachers quickly. It is considered as one of the best boarding schools in Shimla. Some of the essential facilities at DAV Sr. Sec Public School consists of:

• Two auditoriums
• Two Multipurpose Halls
• Two separate dance and music rooms
• Art & Crafts room
• Well-equipped laboratories for chemistry, physics, biology, social science
• Mathematics lab
• Language labs for Hindi and English
• Conference room
• Activity room
• Open-air stage
• Visitor room
• Gymnasium for junior students along with equipment for senior students
• Three staff rooms

The school campus is spread 4 acres with five playgrounds around the three main building blocks of the school. The library is well-stocked with over 12000 books along with n infirmary. The safety of the students and staff is the top priority of the school management, and therefore, they have over 88 CCTV surveillance cameras around the campus.

Extracurricular Activities

Being one of the best boarding schools in Shimla, it offers students various activities. DAV Sr. Sec Public School encourages its students to participate in diverse extracurricular as well as co-scholastic activities that range from sports activities to visual arts to performing arts. There are also various festivities and competitions conducted almost annually on different competitive levels such as interschool, district and national. Few of the competitions held in the past few years are as follows:

• Swaranjali – Tribute to the late music teacher, Late Gurbachan Singh
• Police As Friend – Initiative took up by the school towards spreading awareness against drug abuse, police and public relation, cleanliness and saving the environment through wall paintings
• Dayanand Saraswati Interschool Quiz
• Handwriting competition in Hindi
• Yoga Day
• Safai Abhiyan – spreading awareness as well as taking part in cleaning the landscape near the school

Another unique feature of DAV Sr. Sec Public School is the parent-teacher association (PTA) that allows interactive and engaging communication between both to regulate the progress of the students by clarifying doubts and issues. All these facilities have made this school one of the best boarding schools in Shimla.

2. Bishop Cotton School, Shimla

Address: Shimla Bypass, Near, Khalini, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171002

School-level: Class 3 to 12

School Type: Boarding

Affiliation Board/Number: ICSE, ISC

Medium of Instruction: English

Fee range: Rs. 4,92,000 to Rs. 5,24,000 (Indian + Nepali Students); Rs. 8,72,000 (Other Students)

Phone number: 0177-2620880

Website: http://bishopcottonshimla.com/

Academics

Being one of the best boarding schools in Shimla, students at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla are offered many subjects that they can study. Students in the 10^th grade study English, Hindi, Mathematics, History and Civics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Education, Environmental Science, Commercial Studies, Commercial Applications, Art and Physical Education. Among these subjects, English, Environmental Education, History, Civics and Geography are compulsory subjects. In the 12^th grade students can choose either Science, Commerce or Humanities as streams. Students here study English, Hindi, Mathematics, Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounts, Commerce, Political Science, Geography, Computer Science, Environmental Education, and History.

Infrastructure

The school’s campus covers 56 acres and has the main school building along with other essential infrastructure of the school. The school divides its students into four houses which are Curzon, Ibbetson, Lefroy and Rivaz. They are controlled and supervised by the House Masters. Bishop Cotton School, Shimla is the first school to start the prefectorial system. The school also hosts a Learning Centre which is an educational centre for the non-residential children from Shimla which makes it one of the best boarding schools in Shimla. Bishop Cotton also boards students and staff according to the house system and also comprises of a War Memorial and Museum near the dormitory houses.

The campus also includes a Headmaster’s Lodge and a Swimming bath near a fountain. Near the lodge are the school’s main hall, laboratories and sports facilities such as the squash courts and another hall for indoor badminton sessions. The main hall, Irwin Hall, holds lectures, debates, theatricals and movies. Bishop Cotton also comprises of a well-stocked library namely the Anderson library alongside a gymnasium, an infirmary as well as a dining hall.

Extracurricular Activities

The extracurriculars that are encouraged at the school are cricket, football, tennis, hockey, boxing, squash, table tennis, rifle shooting, athletics. These activities take place at different competitive levels – interhouse, interschool and national. Bishop Cotton also motivates its students to participate in performing art activities such as dance, drama, singing and music. There are also hobby clubs conducted regularly at the school which comprise of photography, shooting, gardening, stamp collection, aeromodelling along with SUPW, which is an integral part of the school’s curriculum. Additionally, community outreach programs are also continuously organised through village adoption, teaching children, etc.

3. Auckland House School, Shimla

Established year: 1836

Address: Circular Road, Longwood, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001

School Level: Nursery to Class 12

School Type: Convent, All-girls, Day-cum-residential

Affiliation Board/Number: ICSE (HP008)

Medium of Instruction: English

Fee Range: Rs. 46,120 to Rs. 62,200 (excluding boarding charges)

Phone number: 0177-2807060

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.aucklandhouseschool.com/

Academics

Students at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla are offered many subjects that they can study. Students in the 10^th grade study English, Hindi, Punjabi, Mathematics, Science, History, Physical Education, Computer Applications and Economic Applications. In the 12^th grade students can choose either Science, Commerce or Humanities as streams.

Infrastructure

Auckland School is spread across two spacious campuses which comprise of a playground and a small garden. The playground has two fields for hockey and basketball, a large hall for badminton and gymnastics and another hall for table tennis. There is also a stage present for concerts and drama performances. A separate school building hosts the science laboratories. The campus layout provides a student-friendly environment. One campus houses well-lit and airy classrooms, a computer lab and three science laboratories. However, the second campus comprises of over twenty classrooms, a well-stocked library, a computer centre and a state-of-the-art auditorium-cum-chapel.

Auckland House School also provides a well- equipped gymnasium to encourage students to lead an active lifestyle. The dormitories in the boarding house are spacious such that they can accommodate a large number of boarders both in the junior as well as the senior sections. The dormitories are centrally heated and comprise of a new solar water heating system. There is also a large and sophisticated dining room where the boarders have their meals.

In the senior section, there are over eight huge dormitories alongside a large dormitory for the junior girls. Additionally, there is an infirmary that caters to both boarders and day scholars. Learning current events are mandatory and is taught by the help of news-boards, pamphlets, documentary films, quiz contests and tests. The school consists of its own VCD, LCD, Plasma TV, stereos, tape recorders and projectors which are used for entertainment and instructions.

Extracurricular Activities

The co-curricular activities held at Auckland House School comprise of annual sports days, physical education, first aid & home nursing, debates & declamation held in English, Punjabi and Hindi, piano, sitar, vocal music, dancing, karate and roller-skating. Auckland House also conducts hiking and trekking activities for the students, prompting it to be among the best boarding schools in Shimla.

4. St. Edwards School, Shimla

Established year: 1925

Address: Cart Rd, Milsington Estate, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171001

School Level: Nursery to Class 12

School Type: Convent, All-boys

Affiliation Board/Number: CBSE (630134)

Managing Society: Shimla Chandigarh Educational Society

Medium of Instruction: English

Fee Range: Rs. 11,850 to Rs. 56,880

Phone number: 0177-262452

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.stedwardsshimla.org/

Academics

Being one of the best boarding schools in Shimla, students at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla are offered many subjects that they can study. Students in the 10^th grade study English, Hindi, Mathematics, Science with practical. Social Studies, Physical and Health Education and Art and Craft. Students in the 12^th grade can choose to pursue either Science or Commerce.

Infrastructure

Established in 1925, St. Edward’s School at Shimla is the best CBSE school in the city. It follows the CBSE curriculum while offering its educational provisions to students from Nursery to class 12. The classrooms at St. Edward’s School, Shimla are spacious and airy to provide a comfortable environment for its students. It also hosts display boards for exhibiting the various activities done by the students. The school encourages its students to participate in various co-curricular activities such as music, dance, arts and sports. The vast campus is well-equipped with the modern infrastructural facilities with the latest teaching aids such as digital classes, a well-stocked library, state-of-the-art computer labs, science labs as well as spacious playgrounds.

The laboratories at St. Edwards facilitates reasoning as well as theoretical-practical understanding in a student. They are well-equipped to hold the diverse concepts across Geometry, Chemistry, Geography and General science, etc.

Extracurricular Activities

The house system divides the students into four different houses, namely St. Mark, St. Luke, St. Matthew and St. John. The school, to teach compassion and responsibility within its students, also promotes club activities depending on the individual interests of the students. The clubs are

• Sports Club: organises gymnastics, wushu, karate and shooting classes through which students compete at different levels – district, state and national.
• Cultural Club: hosts Indian and western dances besides instrumental music.
• Science and Maths Club: explores the fundamentals of the two major subjects – science and mathematics.
• Literary Club: encourages its members to participate in plays, debates, extempore, creative writing, etc.
• Computer Club: solely focuses on the basics of computers and the latest innovations in technology.
• Eco Club: organises excursions and nature trails.
• Yoga Club: mainly focuses on empowering the mind and body of the students through exercise and meditation.

Besides the Sports Club, there are also external sports activities, both outdoors and indoors, that is an integral part of the curriculum. St. Edwards hosts sports rooms for the gear and indoor games such as carrom, table-tennis and badminton. Additionally, the vast and spacious playground at the school holds basketball courts for basketball tournaments as well as football matches. Furthermore, Bharat Scouts & Guides Program is a unique inclusion at the school which emphasises on the physical, mental and spiritual development of a student through outdoor and extensive physical activities.

There are also educational tours and excursions conducted by the school with specific significance on historical interest alongside quiz competitions, annual concerts and seminars. Lastly, visual arts make up a massive part of the educational curriculum, and thus includes fingerprinting, potato printing, clay modelling, colouring, painting, paper crafts, 3D crafting, puppet making, mask making, etc. All these facilities make it one of the best boarding schools in Shimla.

5. Roots Country Public School

Established year: 2003

Address: Trimmount View, Baghi, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171225

Board/Number: CBSE (630183)

School Level: Pre-Nursery to Class 12

School Type: Co-educational, Day-cum-residential

Managing Society: Society for Education & Environmental Development

Medium of Instruction: English

Approx. Fee Range: Rs. 35,700 to Rs. 66,400 (Day scholar); Rs. 2,52,920 (Boarder)

Phone number: 9816080233, 98059 66014

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: https://rootscountryschool.com/

Infrastructure

Roots Country Public School, located in Shimla, is surrounded by forests, apple and cherry orchards that is a sprawling business centre for the local population of Shimla. It is one of the very first eco-friendly schools in the country. The school campus boards rooftop solar production units that fulfils almost 80% of the school’s electricity needs. Alongside this, it has also installed a sewerage treatment plant and initiated a garbage treatment, bio-digester and wastewater management plant and a water harvesting project. It is considered as one of the best boarding schools in Shimla.

As the school is affiliated with CBSE, it follows strict publications such as NCERT, and English and Hindi as the compulsory subjects for all the classes. Also, there is a scholarship available for underprivileged students belonging to the weaker sections.

Few of the essential facilities that Roots Country Public provides are student support services, human resources ED centre, early childhood centre, Auditorium with a stage, three athletic fields, and a play area. Boarding facilities are also available for almost 800 students with well-furnished dormitories comprising of 24-hour running hot and cold water facility. The dormitories have modern and sanitary facilities along with a well-balanced dietary menu and a common room for leisure time.

There is also a movie theatre present within the school’s campus to entertain and accessible by students as well as the staff members that house modern equipment. Besides, the campus also has a swimming pool alongside all other sports facilities like a gymnasium for indoor sports activities. Roots Country School at Shimla is the first school in Shimla to host an indoor heated swimming pool.

Other facilities at Roots Country Public School include a medical room, guest house, cafeteria, tuck shop, dining hall, bakery and a computer lab. The school also offers transport services in the form of two buses fitted with GPS systems. The best boarding schools in Shimla provide all these facilities.

Extracurricular Activities

The students, following a house system, are divided into four houses – Victor (Red), Pioneer (Green), Crusaders (Yellow) and Warrior (Blue). There is a provision for coaching and counselling held by appointed lecturers who interact with seniors students, i.e. class 10 to 12, on the basics of the competitive exams. Furthermore, there are hobby classes conducted regularly, which are compulsory for the students to participate in, such as dance, music (vocal and instrumental), sports. The school encourages its students to participate in sports and other physical activities to help them lead a healthy and active lifestyle.

The sports activities offered by the school are as follows – badminton, cricket, table-tennis, basketball, volleyball, boxing, kho-kho, chess, carrom. Daily walks, PT, Treks and karate are a mandatory part of the curriculum.

Every year, Roots Country Public participates in Cluster games organised by CBSE, various Interschool tournaments, International exchange programmes and foreign tours, for example, representing India in the International Karate Championship held at Japan. 

Awards

• Award for Excellent School Leadership
• Certification for Quality Management System
• Awards for Best Entrepreneurs
• Award for Best Managed School of the year by ISA
• Award for Excellence in Sports by The Tribune