Top 7 CBSE Schools Near Pune, Rankings, Fees & Admissions

“Top-notch education,” “360-degree development,” “handpicked faculty” — every school website says this about itself. None of it tells you what a school actually costs, how it’s rated by parents and independent surveys, or what the admission process involves.

This guide names 7 of the best CBSE schools near Pune with real fee figures, Times School Survey recognitions, parent ratings, and admission steps, so you can shortlist based on facts rather than marketing copy.

Why “Nurtures All-Round Development” Doesn’t Help You Choose

Every school claims academic excellence and holistic development — it’s the baseline expectation, not a differentiator. What actually separates the best CBSE schools in Pune is fee structure relative to your budget, independent-survey standing plus recent parent ratings, proximity to your home or workplace, and how demanding their admission process is.

Treating “CBSE school near Pune” as one category is the mistake. A ~₹33,000-a-year Army Public School and a ~₹2.95 lakh-a-year DPS campus both call themselves top CBSE schools, but they solve very different problems for very different budgets.

7 Best CBSE Schools Near Pune: Comparison Table

School	Location	Recognition / Rating	Approx. Annual Fee*
The Lexicon International School	Wagholi	#1 CBSE school in Pune, Times School Survey (10th consecutive year); 20:1 student-teacher ratio	~₹11,500-₹85,000 (₹956-₹7,060/month)
Delhi Public School (DPS)	Mohammadwadi, Hinjawadi & Nande campuses	National DPS brand; 82%+ parent satisfaction	~₹1.8L-₹2.95L for new admissions (varies by campus)
Army Public School	Ghorpadi	82%+ parent satisfaction	~₹33,000-43,000
EuroSchool	Kharadi & Wakad (CBSE) campuses	4.3/5 at Kharadi (57 reviews); Top 5 Emerging National Curriculum School, Times Survey 2023	~₹1.39L-1.64L (Kharadi); ~₹50,000+ (Wakad CBSE, up to Class 9 only)
Suryadatta National School	Bavdhan	4.1/5 rating; 18:1 student-teacher ratio	~₹90,000-1,11,000 total admission cost (~₹99,000 tuition/year)
Sanskriti School	Bhukum (also Undri & Wagholi)	Times Education Icon Award (2018-20); Best School for Holistic Learning, Times School Survey 2022	~₹1,00,000 + ₹37,500 one-time admission fee
Kothari International School	Kharadi	Established 2016 under Kothari Charitable Trust	~₹1.16L (LKG-UKG) to ~₹1.94L (Class 1-12)

*Figures are gathered from third-party school-fee aggregators and vary by campus, grade, and admission cycle. Always confirm current-year fees directly with the school before applying.

A Closer Look at Each School

The Lexicon International School, Wagholi has been ranked the #1 CBSE school in Pune by the Times School Survey for 10 consecutive years, and was featured by Forbes India as a “Great Place to Study.” Monthly fees range from roughly ₹956 to ₹7,060 depending on grade, with a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. Admission runs through an online application followed by a lucky-draw process for oversubscribed grades.

Delhi Public School (DPS) operates several independently-run CBSE campuses near Pune, and fees vary significantly by campus: the Mohammadwadi campus quotes roughly ₹2.93-2.95 lakh for new admissions at the Nursery-UKG level for 2026-27, while the Hinjawadi campus quotes around ₹1.81 lakh for the same levels. A separate DPS campus (per its own published fee structure) charges a one-time institutional fee of ₹1,10,000 plus a ₹30,000 induction fee, on top of monthly tuition of ₹9,200-₹10,750 depending on grade. Always check which specific DPS campus you’re comparing, since the fee structures differ.

Army Public School, Ghorpadi is one of the most affordable established CBSE schools near Pune, with fees in the ₹2,740-₹3,575 per month range — a fraction of what premium campuses charge, while still offering a structured, disciplined CBSE education with above 82% parent satisfaction.

EuroSchool runs two distinct CBSE-relevant campuses near Pune. EuroSchool Kharadi holds a 4.3/5 rating across 57 reviews and was named among the Top 5 Emerging National Curriculum Schools in the Times School Survey 2023; total admission cost there typically runs ₹1.39-1.64 lakh. EuroSchool Wakad’s CBSE campus is smaller in scope, currently offering pre-primary through Class 9 only, with new-admission costs starting around ₹50,000 in the first year. (Note: EuroSchool also runs a separate ICSE campus in Wakad — confirm the board before applying.)

Suryadatta National School, Bavdhan charges roughly ₹99,000 per year in tuition, with total admission costs (including one-time fees) between ₹90,096 and ₹1,11,000. It holds a 4.1/5 parent rating and an 18:1 student-teacher ratio, and is positioned by its own marketing as an “upcoming” rather than long-established CBSE school in Pune — worth weighing against its shorter track record compared to Lexicon or DPS.

Sanskriti School, Bhukum sits on a 22-acre campus established in 2008 and has picked up the Times Education Icon Award three years running (2018-2020), the British Council International School Award twice, and Best School for Holistic Learning in the Times School Survey 2022. Annual fees run around ₹1,00,000 plus a ₹37,500 one-time admission fee at entry levels, with mandatory campus-visit admissions.

Kothari International School, Kharadi, established in 2016 under the Sharda Mansukhlal Kothari Charitable Trust, publishes a transparent fee ladder: around ₹1,15,788 for LKG/UKG rising to roughly ₹1,94,029 per year by Class 1 onward, inclusive of security, term, tuition, and admission fees.

Still deciding between school boards rather than just schools? See our Difference Between CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, IB, and State Boards in 2026 guide before shortlisting specific campuses.

CBSE School Fees Near Pune: What You’ll Actually Pay

Fees among the best CBSE schools in Pune span an enormous range — from roughly ₹33,000 a year at Army Public School to nearly ₹3 lakh a year at some DPS campuses, and up to ₹9.73 lakh at the most premium CBSE-affiliated schools across the wider city, according to aggregated fee data. Watch for one-time costs beyond the quoted tuition figure: DPS-style institutional and induction fees alone can add ₹1.4 lakh in year one, while Sanskriti’s one-time admission fee adds ₹37,500.

This means the label “CBSE school near Pune” tells you almost nothing about what you’ll actually pay in year one versus ongoing years. Always request a full first-year cost breakdown — tuition, one-time fees, transport, and uniforms — in writing before applying.

What Actually Matters When Choosing a School

Rankings and star ratings are a starting point, not a decision. A survey-topping school that’s a 40-minute commute away may be a worse real-world choice than a solidly-reviewed school five minutes from home, especially for younger children. Weigh these factors together:

• Independent survey standing (like the Times School Survey) reflects academic and infrastructure quality, but weigh it alongside recent parent ratings — Lexicon’s 10-year survey streak and EuroSchool Kharadi’s 4.3/5 rating are both meaningful, but for different reasons (institutional consistency versus current parent sentiment).
• Commute distance matters more for CBSE choice than curriculum philosophy for most families, since a long daily commute affects a child’s energy for both school and homework.
• Total first-year cost, not just quoted tuition — one-time institutional, induction, admission, and security fees can add ₹30,000 to ₹1.4 lakh or more on top of the recurring tuition figure, as seen across DPS and Sanskriti.
• Track record versus newer campuses — schools like Lexicon and Sanskriti have a decade or more of survey history, while schools like Suryadatta market themselves explicitly as “upcoming,” which isn’t necessarily a downside but is worth factoring into your risk tolerance.

Typical Admission Process for CBSE Schools Near Pune

While every school’s process differs slightly, most CBSE schools near Pune follow a similar sequence:

1. Submit an online enquiry or application form on the school’s website with the child’s and parents’ basic details.
2. Attend a campus visit or counselling session — several schools near Pune, including Sanskriti School, make this a mandatory step rather than optional.
3. Submit required documents, typically a birth certificate, transfer certificate (for students switching schools), latest report card, and Aadhaar card for the child and both parents.
4. Meet the age criterion for the grade applied to, which is standardised under CBSE guidelines but confirmed independently by each school.
5. Confirm admission and pay fees within the school’s specified window — Lexicon, for instance, uses a lucky-draw system for oversubscribed grades with a short confirmation deadline after selection.

A Practical Checklist Before You Apply

1. Get the full first-year cost breakdown in writing, including one-time admission, institutional, and security fees, not just the advertised annual tuition figure.
2. Check the school’s most recent survey ranking and parent reviews together, not survey ranking alone, since reviews reflect more current day-to-day experience.
3. Map the actual commute time from your home at school-hour traffic, not off-peak distance shown on a map.
4. Confirm which specific campus and board you’re applying to when a brand (like DPS or EuroSchool) runs multiple Pune campuses with different boards or fee structures.
5. Shortlist at least 2-3 schools across different fee tiers before applying, so a rejection or fee-hike surprise doesn’t leave you without options.

Browse more school and board guides on our schools directory to compare options beyond Pune as well.

Conclusion

The best CBSE school near Pune depends on your budget and priorities far more than any single ranking suggests: Army Public School and a DPS campus can differ in cost by nearly ₹2.5 lakh a year despite both being well-regarded, while Lexicon’s decade-long survey streak, EuroSchool Kharadi’s parent ratings, and Sanskriti’s holistic-learning award each signal a different kind of strength. Confirm current fees, board, and admission steps directly with the school before applying, since all three change or vary by campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best CBSE school in Pune?

The Lexicon International School, Wagholi has held the #1 CBSE school ranking in Pune for 10 consecutive years per the Times School Survey, with Delhi Public School and Army Public School also consistently rated highly by parents.

What is the fee range for CBSE schools near Pune?

Fees vary enormously: Army Public School charges roughly ₹33,000-43,000 a year, mid-range schools like Suryadatta and Sanskriti charge roughly ₹1-1.1 lakh, and premium DPS campuses can run close to ₹3 lakh for new admissions.

Which is the most affordable well-known CBSE school near Pune?

Army Public School, Ghorpadi is among the most affordable established options, with fees in the ₹2,740-₹3,575 per month range.

Do CBSE schools near Pune require a campus visit before admission?

Many do. Sanskriti School, for example, makes an in-person campus visit and counselling session a mandatory step in its admission process, not an optional one.

Are all DPS or EuroSchool campuses in Pune the same fee and board?

No. DPS’s Mohammadwadi, Hinjawadi, and Nande campuses each publish different fee structures, and EuroSchool runs both CBSE and ICSE campuses in Wakad alone. Always confirm the specific campus and board before comparing fees.

Are international-curriculum schools in Pune the same as CBSE schools?

No. Schools like Indus International School and Symbiosis International School near Pune follow IB or IGCSE curricula, not CBSE, and typically charge significantly higher fees than CBSE-affiliated schools.