Moving to Chennai

manju70 · Jan 9th, 2009, 12:13

Hello,

My and I are planning to move to Chennai in March / April. I have twins who will be going to 6th grade. I want to know which schools are good for kids from US. We want them to feel as comfortable as possible atleast for the first year. Any suggestions?
Thanks

ISN · Jan 9th, 2009, 22:32

First you have to decide where you want to stay, once you decide that then you can search for schools in that area, it will be a pain for the kids to travel long distance daily for school. Once you decide on the location I can provide you with some suggestions.

manju70 · Jan 10th, 2009, 01:38

Hi,

We will most probably be staying in Adyar/Tiruvanmiyur area. Our utmost priority is the kids' school, so we can stay in any other area as long as it is close to the school and a decent locality. We are not sure if they should go to a CBSE or ICSE school. I've heard that CBSE is not as tough as ICSE but the student teacher ratio is about 1: 50 or 60. Is that true?

Thanks

ISN · Jan 10th, 2009, 02:29

I am not sure about CBSE and ICSE, personally this is how I will rate the education system (less tough to toughest) in Chennai

State Board
Anglo-Indian Board
Matriculation Board
CBSE or ICSE

Checkout the list of schools in Chennai http://www.chennaibizz.com/Chennai/V...Na me=Schools

Checkout those schools and if you want feedback on any specific schools post them here, here are the ICSE schools in Adyar area

Abacus, Chennai (Madras)
Perungudi
Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu
India

Sishya
No. 2, PADMANABHA NAGAR,
ADYAR,
CHENNAI - 600 020.

breeze · Jan 10th, 2009, 17:52

To add to what ISN said,

1) SBOA Higher Secondary School
2) Don Bosco Matriculation School
3) DAV Public School
4) Good Shepherd Convent Matriculation School
5) Padma Sheshadree Bala Bhavan School
6) Gill Adarsh Matriculation Higher Secondary School
7) Chettinad Vidhyashram
8) Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School
9) Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School
10) Vanavani

Ambler · Jan 10th, 2009, 21:12

Have you looked into the American International School Chennai? It's an IB school, so the curriculum is standarized and the school is held to a high standard. In addition to the IB progam they offer AP classes (American curriculum). I don't work at this school but have worked at other IB schools in other countries, and they generally are very very good. I don't know much about its location, but you did indicate that you'd choose your location based on the school. Anyway, here's their website:

http://www.aisch.org/index.html

manju70 · Jan 11th, 2009, 08:13

Thank you all for the suggestions. I did consider the American school but the fees is way too much. Does anybody know about Billabong school? I think it is kind of International school but with ICSE board. I have not seen or heard many people talk about it so I don't know how good or bad it is.

indiaprof · Jan 11th, 2009, 08:19

Manju,

I would imagine that any private school affiliated with the Church of South India (basically Episcopalian) would be so Westernized, computerized, and all the rest of it that your kids wouldn't have much trouble adjusting. The definition of middle class, in India, means having relatives who live in the States. Most Protestant Christians in Chennai are very solidly middle class. If anything, your kids might come back to the States well ahead of their peers, especially in English language skills.

ISN · Jan 12th, 2009, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by manju70

Thank you all for the suggestions. I did consider the American school but the fees is way too much. Does anybody know about Billabong school? I think it is kind of International school but with ICSE board. I have not seen or heard many people talk about it so I don't know how good or bad it is.

Checkout this link http://www.r2iclubforums.com/forums/...51/#post134881 you can get more info about schools from that site.

ISN · Jan 12th, 2009, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambler

Have you looked into the American International School Chennai? It's an IB school, so the curriculum is standarized and the school is held to a high standard. In addition to the IB progam they offer AP classes (American curriculum). I don't work at this school but have worked at other IB schools in other countries, and they generally are very very good. I don't know much about its location, but you did indicate that you'd choose your location based on the school. Anyway, here's their website:

http://www.aisch.org/index.html

America School is affordable only if you get paid more than $200,000. Most of the people moving back don’t get a expat package. Most of the people who move to India get paid less than $50,000 per year, this is a good salary in Indian standard but you cannot live a luxury life in India.

indiaprof · Jan 12th, 2009, 22:57

I think for $50 k a year, I could live, by my standards, a quite extravagant life in India.

What about the Woodstock School up in the Hills? I know it's a boarding school, but it has a very good reputation. Or has it become another expensive bastion of privilege?

Nick-H · Jan 12th, 2009, 23:21

My wife knows quite a lot about Chennai schools, with experience working for a headmaster, being a mother, and generally having a lot of contacts in 'the trade'. She tells me that what kind of school, depends on what kind of school --- rather than on who runs it, and that there are posh and poor schools on both sides of the fence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by indiaprof

I think for $50 k a year, I could live, by my standards, a quite extravagant life in India.

You'd soon get through it if you had a family in International Schools.

That seems to me to be their speciality: parting ex-pat management from their large salaries!

manju70 · Jan 13th, 2009, 23:28

Thank you ISN, that link was very useful. I could even get to another forum which had very specific information about that school

indiaprof · Jan 13th, 2009, 23:46

Nick remarked,

You'd soon get through (50 k $ US) it if you had a family in International Schools.

That seems to me to be their speciality: parting ex-pat management from their large salaries![/quote]

My response: Good Lord. I guess if you're an ex-pat with kids you have to support that upper middle-class Indian lifestyle, don't you? Geez.

May be stay kid-less.

In America, home-schooling is popular (although as a professional educator I find it very problematic on many levels), but it might offer a solution. Indian bookstores have all sorts of general ed texts you could use, and India is a fantastic learning experience in and of itself. Plus there are private tutors you could hire - unemployed Indian college students, that sort of thing.

Moderator Note:

When answering another post, unless it immediately precedes,
please click on the quote button on that post. Then
you'll get the quote in a nice box (you can edit down if you
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readable and the style constant

webtraveller · Jan 14th, 2009, 00:13

A very good point by Indiaprof.
But unfortunately, the socio-cultural background of india is not anything like US. So it is safe for the kids to goto school and learn. It is country of people in the open. Your kids need to have a lot of interaction otherwise it may be difficult in the later years. If this arrangement is only temporary (not lasting more than 2 years) and you are planning to come back to US again, then what indiaprof says is the right thing. Home schooling for a couple of years and then back here. Otherwise it is not a good idea.

Jan 9th, 2009, 12:13	#1
manju70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Posts: 7	Moving to Chennai Hello, My and I are planning to move to Chennai in March / April. I have twins who will be going to 6th grade. I want to know which schools are good for kids from US. We want them to feel as comfortable as possible atleast for the first year. Any suggestions? Thanks

Jan 9th, 2009, 22:32	#2
ISN Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA / Chennai, India Posts: 627	First you have to decide where you want to stay, once you decide that then you can search for schools in that area, it will be a pain for the kids to travel long distance daily for school. Once you decide on the location I can provide you with some suggestions. __________________ Indian Students Network http://www.IndianStudentsNetwork.com

Jan 10th, 2009, 17:52	#5
breeze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: - Posts: 93	To add to what ISN said, 1) SBOA Higher Secondary School 2) Don Bosco Matriculation School 3) DAV Public School 4) Good Shepherd Convent Matriculation School 5) Padma Sheshadree Bala Bhavan School 6) Gill Adarsh Matriculation Higher Secondary School 7) Chettinad Vidhyashram 8) Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School 9) Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School 10) Vanavani __________________ Looking for a roommate? IndiaFlatmate.com

Jan 10th, 2009, 21:12	#6
Ambler Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 142	Aisc Have you looked into the American International School Chennai? It's an IB school, so the curriculum is standarized and the school is held to a high standard. In addition to the IB progam they offer AP classes (American curriculum). I don't work at this school but have worked at other IB schools in other countries, and they generally are very very good. I don't know much about its location, but you did indicate that you'd choose your location based on the school. Anyway, here's their website: http://www.aisch.org/index.html

Jan 13th, 2009, 23:28	#13
manju70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Posts: 7	Thanks Thank you ISN, that link was very useful. I could even get to another forum which had very specific information about that school

Jan 10th, 2009, 01:38	#3
manju70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Posts: 7	Hi, We will most probably be staying in Adyar/Tiruvanmiyur area. Our utmost priority is the kids' school, so we can stay in any other area as long as it is close to the school and a decent locality. We are not sure if they should go to a CBSE or ICSE school. I've heard that CBSE is not as tough as ICSE but the student teacher ratio is about 1: 50 or 60. Is that true? Thanks

Jan 10th, 2009, 02:29	#4
ISN Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA / Chennai, India Posts: 627	I am not sure about CBSE and ICSE, personally this is how I will rate the education system (less tough to toughest) in Chennai State Board Anglo-Indian Board Matriculation Board CBSE or ICSE Checkout the list of schools in Chennai http://www.chennaibizz.com/Chennai/V...Na me=Schools Checkout those schools and if you want feedback on any specific schools post them here, here are the ICSE schools in Adyar area Abacus, Chennai (Madras) Perungudi Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu India Sishya No. 2, PADMANABHA NAGAR, ADYAR, CHENNAI - 600 020.

Jan 11th, 2009, 08:13	#7
manju70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Posts: 7	Thank you all for the suggestions. I did consider the American school but the fees is way too much. Does anybody know about Billabong school? I think it is kind of International school but with ICSE board. I have not seen or heard many people talk about it so I don't know how good or bad it is.

Jan 11th, 2009, 08:19	#8
indiaprof Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the past, most of the time Posts: 820	Manju, I would imagine that any private school affiliated with the Church of South India (basically Episcopalian) would be so Westernized, computerized, and all the rest of it that your kids wouldn't have much trouble adjusting. The definition of middle class, in India, means having relatives who live in the States. Most Protestant Christians in Chennai are very solidly middle class. If anything, your kids might come back to the States well ahead of their peers, especially in English language skills.

Jan 12th, 2009, 22:57	#11
indiaprof Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the past, most of the time Posts: 820	I think for $50 k a year, I could live, by my standards, a quite extravagant life in India. What about the Woodstock School up in the Hills? I know it's a boarding school, but it has a very good reputation. Or has it become another expensive bastion of privilege?

Jan 13th, 2009, 23:46	#14
indiaprof Account Closed Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the past, most of the time Posts: 820	Nick remarked, You'd soon get through (50 k $ US) it if you had a family in International Schools. That seems to me to be their speciality: parting ex-pat management from their large salaries![/quote] My response: Good Lord. I guess if you're an ex-pat with kids you have to support that upper middle-class Indian lifestyle, don't you? Geez. May be stay kid-less. In America, home-schooling is popular (although as a professional educator I find it very problematic on many levels), but it might offer a solution. Indian bookstores have all sorts of general ed texts you could use, and India is a fantastic learning experience in and of itself. Plus there are private tutors you could hire - unemployed Indian college students, that sort of thing. Moderator Note: When answering another post, unless it immediately precedes, please click on the quote button on that post. Then you'll get the quote in a nice box (you can edit down if you are replying to a specific point) and it keeps the thread readable and the style constant Last edited by Nick-H : Jan 14th, 2009 at 00:41. Reason: Moderator's formatting advice

Jan 14th, 2009, 00:13	#15
webtraveller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 243	Home schooling may not be a good option in India A very good point by Indiaprof. But unfortunately, the socio-cultural background of india is not anything like US. So it is safe for the kids to goto school and learn. It is country of people in the open. Your kids need to have a lot of interaction otherwise it may be difficult in the later years. If this arrangement is only temporary (not lasting more than 2 years) and you are planning to come back to US again, then what indiaprof says is the right thing. Home schooling for a couple of years and then back here. Otherwise it is not a good idea.

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