Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Zero government schools from Indore. 2 from Bhopal in the 19th consecutive annual EducationWorld India School Rankings (EWISR) 2025-26 released by EducationWorld, in association with AZ Research Partners Pvt. Ltd. That’s the stark reality emerging from India’s most respected national school rankings for 2025–26. While Indore continues to ride high in private education with some of the country’s top-ranked institutions, its government schools have completely failed to secure a spot in the national list — a damning indicator of systemic neglect and widening educational disparity.
In a year where Madhya Pradesh made strong private-sector gains, only two government-run schools — both from Bhopal — managed to enter the national rankings:
Army Public School, Bhopal – India Rank 41 (Central Government Schools)
Model Higher Secondary School, TT Nagar, Bhopal – India Rank 24 (State Government Schools)
These institutions may not lead the national charts, but their presence highlights Bhopal’s quiet but steady efforts to keep public education relevant and competitive — something Indore, despite its economic clout, has failed to do.
Indore: A Powerhouse Failing Its Public Schools
Indore is no stranger to academic excellence. Its private institutions are among the most celebrated in India. The Emerald Heights International School topped the state and was ranked No. 1 nationally among co-ed day-cum-boarding schools. Several other schools like The Shishukunj International School, Delhi Public School, and New Digamber Public School also made impressive showings.
But this success story is one-sided.
None of Indore’s central or state government schools found a place in the top national rankings — not even in the top 100, raising uncomfortable questions:
Why is a city leading in private education unable to deliver even basic visibility for its public institutions?
Has educational development in Indore become a privilege only for those who can afford private schooling?
Making its mark in Top in India
In a new category launched as ‘Ivy League’ category to celebrate the “best of the best” schools that have consistently dominated, Daly College, Indore was noted as Ivy League Day-cum-Boarding School.
What This Reveals About MP’s Education Divide
The absence of Indore in the public education rankings is not just a statistical void — it reflects a deeper, more dangerous trend: the collapse of faith in government schooling in urban centres that have the resources to do better.
In contrast, Bhopal’s consistent investment in strengthening its state and central schools — including infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and curriculum development — has allowed some institutions to remain nationally competitive.
It’s not just Bhopal. Even Mhow, Gwalior, and Jabalpur had Army Public Schools in the national list — yet Indore, the most awarded city in the private space, recorded total silence on the government front.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This imbalance between private and public education is not sustainable. A city that prides itself on being a Smart City, a Clean City, and an Education Hub cannot afford to have a two-tier education system where quality is only available for those who can pay.
The education department, local government bodies, and civic society need to urgently review the policies, resources, and attention given to public schools in Indore. Without timely intervention, the gap will only widen — and thousands of students will be left behind.
