If you're looking at schools in Dehradun, you already know the city's reputation. It's often called the school capital of India, and for good reason: some of the country's best-known boarding schools sit alongside a large number of solid, affordable day schools. The hard part isn't finding a good school. It's narrowing a long list down to the two or three that genuinely suit your child.

This guide covers the 61 schools in Dehradun on our list. It explains how to compare them on the things parents tell us matter most: the board, the fees, day or boarding, the location, and how admissions work.

Schools in Dehradun at a glance

61 schools listed, from heritage boarding schools to neighbourhood day schools
Boards: 40 CBSE, 20 ICSE/ISC and 6 offering IB or Cambridge, usually alongside an Indian board
Format: 22 day schools, 21 day-cum-boarding schools and 18 fully residential schools
Gender: 51 co-ed, 7 girls-only and 3 boys-only
Indicative fees: about ₹45,000 to ₹16,54,000 a year

Why so many families choose Dehradun

Dehradun's school tradition goes back more than a century. St. Thomas' College opened in 1916, Colonel Brown Cambridge School in 1926, St. Joseph's Academy in 1934 and The Doon School in 1935. Families came for the mild climate, the green valley and the distance from big-city distractions, and those reasons still hold today.

What has changed is the sheer range of choice. Alongside the older names you'll now find large modern campuses on the edges of the city, several schools offering international programmes, and plenty of good day schools at modest fees. That range is exactly why a clear shortlist of schools in Dehradun matters.

How to choose the right school in Dehradun

1. Decide between day and boarding first

This single decision cuts your list roughly in half. If your child will live at home, focus on the 22 day schools and the 21 day-cum-boarding schools. If you're open to boarding, the 39 schools with residential places are where to look.

2. Pick a board that fits your plans

CBSE suits families who may move cities or plan for JEE and NEET, since the board uses NCERT textbooks.
ICSE/ISC puts more weight on English and project work, and includes many of the city's oldest schools.
IB or Cambridge is offered by only a handful of schools, including The Doon School, SelaQui International and Kasiga School.

3. Set a realistic budget

Under ₹1.5 lakh a year: 30 schools, almost all of them day schools
₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh: 22 schools, including most day-cum-boarding options
₹5 lakh and above: 9 schools, mainly premium boarding schools

Keep in mind that transport, uniforms, books and activity charges are usually billed on top of tuition, so ask for a full fee sheet.

4. Check the location

Schools in Dehradun are spread right across the valley. Rajpur Road and Dalanwala hold many of the older schools, Sahastradhara Road and Raipur have newer mid-range options, and the big residential campuses sit mostly along Chakrata Road towards Selaqui. For a day scholar, a school across town can mean more than an hour on the road every day.

Well-known schools in Dehradun worth a look

The Doon School (1935): boys' boarding, ICSE/ISC with the IB Diploma
Welham Boys’ School (1937) and Welham Girls’ School (1957): single-sex boarding on CBSE and ICSE/ISC respectively
St. Joseph’s Academy (1934): one of the largest ICSE day schools in the city
The Asian School (2000): CBSE day-cum-boarding on a 16-acre campus in Vasant Vihar
SelaQui International School (2000): co-ed boarding with CBSE and Cambridge on 52 acres

Admission to schools in Dehradun: what to expect

Most schools open registrations for the April session several months in advance, and the best-known boarding schools can fill their entry classes early. Many hold an entrance test or an interaction with the child and parents, especially from Class 2 upwards.

Documents usually asked for:

Birth certificate
Recent passport-size photographs
Aadhaar card
Latest report card
Transfer certificate, from Class 2 onwards

Requirements vary, so check the admissions page of every school on your shortlist and note each deadline in one place.

Questions to ask when visiting schools in Dehradun

What is the average class size, and how much individual attention does each child get?
How does the school support children who fall behind or need extra challenge?
Which sports, arts and clubs are included in the fee, and which cost extra?
How does the school communicate with parents during the year?

How we put this list together

We include schools based on their board affiliation, standing in the city, campus facilities and the options parents ask us about most. Fees are indicative annual figures drawn from school websites and published listings. They change every year and usually leave out one-time admission charges, so please confirm the latest figure directly with the school. Last updated: September 2026.

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