Dehradun has been a school town for a long time. Families from across India send their children here to board, and families who live here have a long list of day schools to choose from. The hard part isn't finding a good school. It's narrowing the list down to the two or three that fit your child, your budget and the board you want.
This guide groups the best-known schools by type. It doesn't rank them, because "best" depends on the child. For each school you'll find the board, whether it's for boys, girls or both, and where it is. Fees and admission dates change every year, so check those on each school's own website.
The old boarding schools
The Doon School, on Chakrata Road, is a boys' boarding school founded in 1935 on the old Chandbagh estate. It teaches the IB and ISC.
Welham Girls' School in Dalanwala is a girls' boarding school following ICSE and ISC. Welham Boys' School, also in Dalanwala, is a boys' boarding school on the CBSE board.
Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Garhi Cantt was founded in 1922 and is run by the Ministry of Defence. It's a boys' boarding school that prepares cadets for the armed forces, with admission through its own entrance exam.
Up the hill, Woodstock School at Landour (founded 1854) is a co-educational IB boarding school, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverley (1845) is a girls' day and residential school in Mussoorie, and Oak Grove School at Jharipani (1888) is a co-ed CBSE school with day and boarding places.
Newer boarding and day-cum-boarding schools
Selaqui International School is a co-educational CBSE boarding school with a large campus at Selaqui, west of the city.
The Asian School in Vasant Vihar (2000) is co-ed, CBSE, with day and boarding places.
The Indian Public School at Rajawala, reached via Prem Nagar (2001), is a co-ed CBSE boarding school.
Him Jyoti School on Sahastradhara Road (2005) is a CBSE boarding school for girls.
Ecole Globale International Girls' School at Horawala near Sahaspur (2012) is a girls' school with day and boarding places that offers both CBSE and Cambridge.
Vantage Hall Girls' Residential School at Doonga (2014) is a girls' residential school on the western edge of the city.
Doon International School's Riverside campus at Pondha (2015) is co-ed, day and boarding, with CBSE and Cambridge.
The Doon Global School at Jhajra on Chakrata Road is co-ed and CBSE, with day and boarding places.
Day schools in the city
St. Joseph's Academy on Rajpur Road is a long-established boys' day school on the ICSE and ISC boards.
Delhi Public School, Dehradun, at Kalagaon off Sahastradhara Road (2008), is a co-educational day school.
Army Public School, Clement Town (1980), is a co-ed CBSE school in the cantonment, run mainly for the families of army personnel.
How to choose a school in Dehradun
Start with the board. The IB and Cambridge schools suit families who may move abroad, while CBSE is the common choice for Indian entrance exams.
Then decide between boarding and day. Several schools above take both, which gives you room to change later.
Look at where the school is. Selaqui, Horawala and Pondha are a long way from Rajpur Road at school-run hours. For a day scholar, a long bus ride each way adds up over a school year.
Visit before you apply. Many schools hold open days or campus tours in the months before admissions open. Ask about class size, the hostel and what a normal day looks like.
Our separate guide to choosing a school in Dehradun goes through these questions in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best boarding school in Dehradun?
The Doon School, Welham Boys' and Welham Girls' are the best known, but the right choice depends on your child, the board and your budget.
Which schools in Dehradun are co-educational?
Selaqui International, The Asian School, The Indian Public School, Doon International School (Riverside), The Doon Global School, Delhi Public School and Army Public School are all co-ed.
Are there IB schools in Dehradun?
Yes. The Doon School teaches the IB, and Woodstock School in Landour is an IB school.
Which schools in Dehradun offer Cambridge?
Ecole Globale International Girls' School and Doon International School (Riverside campus) offer Cambridge alongside CBSE.
Find more on Doon Dekho
Every school here has its own page on Doon Dekho with its board, area and directions. Browse Explore → Education → Schools.
Places in this story
- Sahastradhara
- Chakrata
- The Doon School
- Welham Girls’ School
- Welham Boys’ School
- Selaqui International School
- St. Joseph’s Academy
- Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC)
- The Asian School
- Ecole Globale International Girls’ School
- The Indian Public School
- Him Jyoti School
- Vantage Hall Girls’ Residential School
- Delhi Public School, Dehradun
- Army Public School, Clement Town
- Oak Grove School
- Woodstock School
- The Doon Global School
- Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverley