AnnaOgg388928 at 06:05, 25 April 2026

2026-04-25T06:05:20Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox school
| name = City Montessori School
| native_name = 
| image = [[File:City Montessori School Logo.png|none]]
| alt =
| caption =
| motto = Jai Jagat
| motto_translation = Victory to the World
| location = [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|26.7896|80.8942|type:edu_region:IN-UP|display=it|format=dms}}
| other_name = 
| former_name = 
| type = [[Private school|Private]]
| religious_affiliation =
| established = {{start date and age|1959}}
| founders = {{ubl|[[Jagdish Gandhi]]|Bharti Gandhi}}
| closed = 
| school_board =
| district =
| authority = 
| oversight = 
| principal = 
| head = 
| staff =
| faculty =
| grades = [[Nursery school|Pre-primary]]; [[K-12|I—XII]]
| gender = [[Co-education]]
| age_range = 
| enrolment = 61,345
| enrolment_as_of = August 2023<ref name=GWR/>
| language = [[English language|English]]
| campus_size =
| campus_type = Multi urban
| colors = 
| accreditation = 
| publication =
| newspaper =
| yearbook =
| affiliations = {{ubl|[[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (CISCE)|[[Cambridge Assessment International Education]] (CAIE)<ref name=CAIE>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/find-a-cambridge-school/ |title=Find a Cambridge school |work=cambridgeinternational.org |date= |access-date= }}</ref>}}
| website = {{url|cmseducation.org}}
| footnotes =
}}
The '''City Montessori School''' (CMS) is a [[Private school|private]] [[co-education]]al, [[English language|English]]-medium [[K-12|pre-primary to secondary]] multi-campus school located in [[Lucknow]], in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[India]]. With an enrolment of 61,345 students {{as of|2023|08|10|lc=on|df=y}}, the school was recognised by [[Guinness World Records]] as the world's largest school.<ref name=GWR>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title=Largest school by pupils |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-school-by-pupils |access-date=2024-03-16 |publisher=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref>

In 2014, the CMS Society was accredited by the [[United Nations Department of Global Communications|United Nations Department of Public Information]] (UNDPI) as an affiliated [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental organisation]] (NGO), reflecting its engagement in global educational initiatives.<ref>{{cite press release |title=United Nations Department of Public Information Increases Global Network of Associated Non-Governmental Organizations, Approving 15 More Groups |publisher=[[United Nations]] Department of Public Information |date=10 June 2014 |url=http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/ngo796.doc.htm |id=NGO/796-PI/2100PRESS RELEASE |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>

== Background ==
City Montessori School (CMS) was established in 1959 by educationist [[Jagdish Gandhi]] and his wife, Dr. Bharti Gandhi, in a single room at their residence in Lucknow. The school began with an initial enrolment of five students and a modest capital of ₹300.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Montessori School, Lucknow, India |url=https://www.cmseducation.org/aboutus/information/index.html |website=www.cmseducation.org |access-date=25 December 2021}}{{self-published-inline|date=January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmseducation.org/founders/jagdishgandhi.html |title=ISC and ICSE Schools in Lucknow |website=www.cmseducation.org |date= |access-date= }}{{self-published-inline|date=January 2026}}</ref> This inaugural campus, now designated as the Station Road Branch, remains a historic landmark in the institution's growth.

In 2002, CMS was awarded the [[UNESCO Prize for Peace Education]] for its emphasis on global unity and value-based education.<ref>{{cite press release |title=The City Montessori School (India) awarded the 2002 UNESCO prize for Peace Education |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |date=6 June 2002 |url=http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2002/02-41e.shtml
|access-date=20 November 2015 }}</ref> Additionally, the school received the 'Hope of Humanity' Award from [[Dalai Lama]], the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism's [[Gelug]] ("Yellow Hat") school, in recognition of its contributions to fostering peace and harmony.<ref>{{cite news |title=The biggest school in the world |url=http://www.ieducation.co.za/the-biggest-school-in-the-world/ |access-date=11 September 2017 |publisher=Independent Education |date=13 November 2015}}</ref>

==In the news==
The City Montessori School garnered media attention for its academic collaborations, controversies, and social initiatives. In 2013, CMS was designated as Uttar Pradesh's centre for the [[Scholastic Aptitude Test]] (SAT), a key requirement for admissions to U.S. universities.<ref>[https://www.pressreader.com/@nickname12035752/csb_2Ebl28JBk00GA8U-LpF9pKyCwa2Fcrxvl65JsuHt1Wml4g8KOhVQ8h3bdGNjLBBU Press Reader] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

A significant controversy arose in 2015 when CMS denied admission to 31 students from economically weaker sections (EWS) under the [[Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009|Right to Education Act]] (RTE). The school cited state RTE eligibility criteria, arguing that applicants were either below six years of age (the RTE defines children as aged 6–14), resided beyond a 1 km radius of the campus, or had private schools closer to their homes.<ref>{{cite news |title=RTE dispute: HC orders inspection of school |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/RTE-dispute-HC-orders-inspection-of-school/articleshow/48091069.cms |access-date=15 March 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Times News Network |date=16 July 2015}}</ref> [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] recipient [[Sandeep Pandey]] protested this decision with a hunger strike, but mediation efforts between the school, administration, and activists failed. CMS subsequently challenged the state's directive in the [[Allahabad High Court]].<ref name="Tribune">{{cite news |last1=Shahira |first1=Naim |title=UP stumbles on the Right to Education front|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/up-stumbles-on-the-right-to-education-front/107638.html |access-date=29 April 2017 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=16 July 2015}}</ref> Following an interim order by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]], the school admitted 13 eligible students in compliance with the ruling.<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/dec/16/52000-students-and-1050-classrooms-inside-the-worlds-largest-school?CPM=share_btn_tw |title=52,000 students and 1,050 classrooms: inside the world's largest school |last=Overdorf |first=Jason |date=16 December 2015 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |issn=0261-3077 |access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Times News Network |title=CMS admits 13 poor kids on SC directive |url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31813&articlexml=CMS-admits-13-poor-kids-on-SC-directive-30092015002028 |access-date=17 November 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106092617/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/ |archive-date=6 November 2014 }}</ref>

CMS has undertaken peace-building efforts during crises, such as promoting communal harmony after the 1992 Ayodhya riots.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Mathews, Dylan |title=War Prevention Works |url=https://www.peacedirect.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/War-Prevention-Works.pdf |publisher=Oxford Research Group |access-date=15 March 2017 |pages=24–25}}</ref> The school launched the Indo-Pak Children's Pen Friend Project to foster cross-border friendships between Indian and Pakistani students.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Pisharoty, Sangeeta Barooah |title=Pals we are! |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/pals-we-are/article3785072.ece|access-date=15 March 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Dubey, Mohit |title=Kids blame media for portraying India and Pakistan as enemies |url=http://www.theweekendleader.com/Culture/1402/let-s-be-friends.html |access-date=15 March 2017 |newspaper=The Weekend Leader |issue=45 |date=9 November 2012}}</ref> In 2017, CMS students performed yoga at the [[Headquarters of the United Nations|United Nations Headquarters]] in New York to mark [[International Day of Yoga]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=On Yoga Day, Lucknow Students to Perform at UN Headquarters |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-yoga-day-lucknow-students-to-perform-at-un-headquarters-1710704 |work=NDTV.com |date= |access-date= }}</ref>

Fee hikes have drawn scrutiny over the years. For the 2017–18 academic session, CMS increased fees by 12%,<ref>{{cite news |script-title=hi:बी.टेक, एमबीए से महंगी नर्सरी की पढ़ाई |trans-title=Pre-school education costlier than B.Tech, MBA Courses |work=Hindustan (newspaper) |issue=Lucknow Live |publisher=HT Media |date=27 March 2017 |location=Lucknow |language=hi}}</ref> following a 10% hike for most classes and up to 16% for nursery and kindergarten in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Isha |title=New academic session, new fee structure |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/New-academic-session-new-fee-structure/articleshow/19333407.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=18 September 2015 |date=2 April 2013}}</ref>

The school faced criticism in 2011 after a Class 10 student at its Mahanagar branch died by suicide, allegedly due to threats of public shaming by then-principal Nalini Sharad. A court ordered legal action against Sharad in 2013, rejecting the initial police inquiry. The case remains ''[[sub judice]]'', and Sharad retired the same year.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Times News Network |date=25 August 2014 |title=CMS student receives 'deafening' slap from teacher |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/CMS-student-receives-deafening-slap-from-teacher/articleshow/40861858.cms |access-date=18 September 2015 |work=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-principal to face trial for student's suicide, says court |agency=Times News Network |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Ex-principal-to-face-trial-for-students-suicide-says-court/articleshow/21318402.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=18 September 2015 |date=25 July 2013}}</ref>

In August 2018, the parents of a female Class 3 student accused boys at the Aliganj campus molested her over a "[[Truth or dare?|Truth and Dare]]" game. Protests followed and the case was solved without any external legal interference.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Saurabh|date=2018-08-13|title=Parents protest outside Lucknow school after Class 3 girl gets molested over a 'truth or dare' game|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/parents-protest-outside-lucknow-school-after-class-3-girl-gets-molested-over-a-truth-or-dare-game-4954871.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912023928/https://www.firstpost.com/india/parents-protest-outside-lucknow-school-after-class-3-girl-gets-molested-over-a-truth-or-dare-game-4954871.html |archive-date=12 September 2018 |access-date=2020-07-23|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

In 2023, CMS revised its uniform (including socks and belts) for the first time in 33 years. After complaints of overpricing, the school introduced a helpline for parents to verify prices.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=hi:अभिभवकों ने यूनिफाॅर्म खरीद ली तब भेजा नोटिस |url=http://epaper.amarujala.com/lc/my/20170416/05.html?format=img |access-date=27 May 2017 |work=Amar Ujala (Newspaper) |publisher=Amar Ujala Publications |date=16 April 2017 |lang=hi }}</ref>

CMS's cultural and academic achievements include hosting the International Children’s Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/lucknow-will-host-the-biggest-children-s-film-festival-1476293-2019-03-12 |title=Lucknow will host the biggest children's film festival |work=India Today |date=12 March 2019 |access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.patrika.com/lucknow-news/11th-world-s-biggest-international-children-s-film-festival-in-lucknow-4264496/ |script-title=hi:राजधानी लखनऊ में होगा सबसे बड़ा अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय बाल फिल्म महोत्सव जाने इसके बारें में |trans-title=11th world's biggest international children's film festival in Lucknow |work=patrika.com |date=11 March 2019 |access-date= |lang=hi }}</ref> organizing an international music concert with artists from 17 countries and 11 Indian states (in collaboration with [[ABRSM]]),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2019/04/23/562549/musicos-dominicanos-participan-en-historico-concierto-en-india |title=Músicos dominicanos participan en histórico concierto en India |date=23 April 2019 |access-date= |lang=es |via=Press Reader}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Indo-Austrian composer's heart beats for his city |url=https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-lucknow-live/20190422/textview |access-date=16 October 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |date=22 April 2019 }}</ref> and students securing distinction in CISCE ([[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]]) board exams.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/cisce-icse-isc-merit-list-2019-lucknow-students-steal-the-limelight/story-vSOtipVrsKFy799emDAlSJ.html |title=CISCE ICSE, ISC merit list 2019: Lucknow students steal the limelight |date=7 May 2019 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=1170dffe018&imageview=0 |title=ICSE pass percentage up in UP, but no merit list due to Covid |work=Hindustan Times |date= |access-date= }}</ref>

On November 10, 2025 while playing basketball at CMS's LDA Colony branch, a heavy basketball pole suddenly fell on a student, causing him a serious head injury. The approximate weight of the pole was 2 tons. The student had a broken skull and serious brain damage as a result. <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-19 |title='His friend disliked him, deliberately toppled basketball pole': Brother of CMS student in Lucknow says, ‘He wanted to kill him, school is hiding CCTV' - Uttar Pradesh News |url=https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/local/uttar-pradesh/news/friend-disliked-toppled-basketball-pole-brother-cms-student-lucknow-school-hiding-cctv-136457300.html |access-date=2026-03-16 |website=Bhaskar English |language=en}}</ref>

== Campuses ==
CMS has twenty campuses across Lucknow. {{As of|2023}}, the major campuses were:<ref>{{cite web |title=Campuses |url=https://www.cmseducation.org/index.html#campuses |date=2015 |website=City Montessori School|access-date=15 May 2020}}{{self-published-inline|date=January 2026}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Campus name !! Date established !! Coordinates !! Website
|-
| Aliganj I & II{{efn|name=CAIE|Affiliated with the [[Cambridge International Education|Cambridge Assessment International Education]] (CAIE) and follow the [[International General Certificate of Secondary Education|IGCSE curriculum]].<ref name=CAIE/>}} || || || {{URL|cmseducation.org/campuses/aliganj1}}
|-
| Anand Nagar || || ||
|-
| Asharfabad || || ||
|-
| Ayodhya Road || || ||
|-
| Chowk ||align=center|1961 || {{coord|26.8118|80.9604|type:edu_region:IN-UP|display=inline|format=dms}} || {{url|cmseducation.org/campuses/chowk}}
|-
| Gomti Nagar I & II{{efn|name=CAIE}} ||align=center|1991 || || {{URL|cmseducation.org/branches/gomti}}
|-
| Golf City{{efn|name=CAIE}} || || ||
|-
| Indira Nagar I & II ||align=center|1982 || {{coord|26.8872|80.9956|type:edu_region:IN-UP|display=inline|format=dms}} || {{URL|cmseducation.org/campuses/indiranagar}}
|-
| Jopling Road || || ||
|-
| Kanpur Road ||align=center|1993 || {{coord|26.7900|80.8928|type:edu_region:IN-UP|display=inline|format=dms}} || {{URL|cmseducation.org/branches/kanpur.html}}
|-
| Mahanagar || || ||
|-
| Rajajipuram I & II{{efn|name=CAIE}} || || ||
|-
| Rajendra Nagar I & II || || ||
|-
| Research Designs &<br/>Standards Organisation (RDSO) ||align=center|1964 || || {{URL|cmseducation.org/branches/rdso.html}}
|-
| Shalimar OneWorld || || ||
|-
| Station Road ||align=center|1959 || {{coord|26.7896|80.8942|type:edu_region:IN-UP|display=inline|format=dms}} || {{URL|cmseducation.org/campuses/stationrd}}
|}

{{notelist}}

==Notable alumni==


{{alumni|date=March 2026}}
* [[Gopal Bagalay|Gopal Bagley]] – diplomat; served as [[List of ambassadors and high commissioners of India|High Commissioner of India]] to Sri Lanka
* [[Celina Jaitly]] – actress and former [[Miss India International|Miss India]]
* [[Urfi Javed]] – internet personality, television actress
* [[Acharya Prashant]] – [[Vedanta]] scholar, author, and founder of the PrashantAdvait Foundation
* [[Shubhanshu Shukla]] – astronaut; mission pilot for [[Axiom Mission 4]] to [[International Space Station|ISS]], [[List of Indian astronauts#ISRO astronaut candidates for Indian Human Spaceflight Programme|shortlisted]] for [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]]
* [[Sudhanshu Trivedi]] – politician and national spokesperson, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP)

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Academic block.jpg|The academic block at the Kanpur Road campus

CMS GN AUDI.jpg|The auditorium at the Gomti Nagar campus
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cmseducation.org}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180809112654/http://jagdishgandhi.org/ Website of City Montessori School (CMS) founder Dr. Jagdish Gandhi]

{{Education in Lucknow}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Montessori schools in India]]
[[Category:Primary schools in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:High schools and secondary schools in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Private schools in Lucknow]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1959]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]

City Montessori School - Revision history

AnnaOgg388928 at 06:05, 25 April 2026