Delhi Public School (DPS) RK Puram, Delhi (DPS)

Positives / What Parents Like / What’s Good

These are the strengths of DPS, R.K. Puram as reported by parents, media articles, and the school itself.

1. Strong Academics and Curriculum Options

   • DPS R.K. Puram follows the CBSE curriculum for classes IX-XII, and NCERT guidelines for lower classes, offering a wide choice of subjects including foreign languages such as French, Japanese, German, Sanskrit, etc. (As per Schools Website)

   • For senior secondary, students can choose between Science, Commerce (with/without Math), and Humanities. Additional elective options, work experience, arts, sports, etc., are compulsory components in many years. (As per Schools Website)

2. Infrastructure & Facilities

   • The school campus covers ~12 acres, with separate sports campus of ~6 acres. Large grounds, good labs, sports facilities are often cited by parents as a plus.

   • Facilities for extracurriculars are visible - e.g., well-organized clubs (Robo Knights, robotics / coding competitions, etc.), arts, performing events. The school publicises recent achievements in such areas. (As per Schools Website)

3. Holistic Education & Extracurriculars

   • Apart from academics, parents often like the variety of extracurricular activities: sports, clubs, inter-school events, cultural programs. This helps students develop beyond the textbook. (As per Schools Website)

   • The school has assemblies, social awareness campaigns, celebration of events, etc., which help with values, discipline, exposure. (As per Schools Website)

4. Reputation, Legacy, Teacher Quality

   • DPS R.K. Puram has a long‐standing reputation in Delhi; many parents consider it among the “top” or “premier” private schools. That brings prestige, good peer environment, expectations. (As per Reddit User)

   • Faculty qualifications are generally perceived as good, and parents feel that teachers are capable, particularly in more senior classes. (Though “good” can be subjective.)

5. Environment & Values

   • The school’s vision and mission statements talk about instilling values like discipline, honesty, service, humility. Parents who want strong value systems in addition to academics often like this. (As per Schools Website)

   • Student safety, at least in terms of physical infrastructure and hygiene, is often mentioned favorably. While not perfect, these are commonly better than many alternatives in the city.

Areas of Concern / What Might Be Improved / What’s Not Okay

While many parents are pleased, there are recurring criticisms or issues that prospective parents should be aware of.

1. High Fees / Steep Fee Hikes

   • Fees are very high: tuition for grades VI-VIII is ~ ₹2,21,500; for XI-XII, even more. Boarding adds significantly more. (As per Times of India)

   • Parents have alleged “steep” or “unjustified” fee hikes over time, especially during the COVID era and thereafter, sometimes without clear justification or transparency. (As per Times of India)

2. Transparency & Communication Issues

   • Some parents say that breakdowns of certain charges (maintenance, operational, development, etc.) are not explained well. (As per Times of India)

   • Concerns about admissions points system: for nursery admissions, some parents allege that DPS RK Puram (and some other branches) allocate extra points to parents from certain professions or educational backgrounds (or with medals/participation in big events). This may contravene RTE guidelines.

3. Administrative / Regulatory Issues

   • CBSE has served notices to DPS R.K. Puram over violations, including issues around the circular misinforming parents about a new language policy, and questions about the reemployment of a superannuated principal without conforming to rules. (As per Hindustan Times)

   • The school has been involved in fee‐hike disputes, though many of those have been with other DPS branches; still, given its status, these controversies affect perception. (As per NDTV)

4. Safety / Disruption Concerns

   • In Feb 2024, the school had to be evacuated after a bomb threat via email; though false, it caused panic and disruption. (As per Hindu)

   • Such incidents, even if hoaxes, affect parental peace of mind; regular evacuation drills, clarity of emergency protocols are important.

5. Large Class Sizes / Competitiveness / Pressure

   • Some parent/student comments (in forums / social media) point out high competition, peer pressure. For new entrants, adjusting may be difficult. Some teachers are perceived as strict, demanding. (This is typical of many high-prestige schools, but not every child thrives under high pressure.) (As per Reddit Users)

   • Also, with reputation comes expectations; students are expected to perform well, which may lead to stress.

6. Admission Criteria / Possible Discrimination

   • The admission points system (points based on parents’ profession / education / prior achievements) is seen by some as favouring certain socio-economic backgrounds and not fully in line with RTE (Right to Education) ideals.

7. Potential for Inconsistency in Teacher Behaviour / Discipline / Environment

   • While many parents praise faculty, some current/former students report that some teachers are less approachable or are strict to the point of being unsympathetic. Also, social issues like groupism / clique formation are mentioned in student feedback. (As per Reddit Users)

   • Some concerns in forums about how new students are treated, the adjustment period, etc.

Parental Considerations

If I were considering this school for my child, I would Look for

If I were you, these are the things I’d check / ask / observe before deciding.

Things to look for / observe during visit or inquiry

• Take a tour of the infrastructure: labs (science, computer, etc.), library, sports facilities, art/music rooms. Are they well-maintained, usable, not just flashy?

• Observe classrooms: teacher-student ratio, how teachers interact with students, whether students seem stressed or engaged, not merely rote.

• Talk to current parents and students: get insights into adjustment periods, peer culture, pressure, how mistakes are handled, etc.

• Check alumni outcomes (board results, university entry, non-academic success stories) but also beyond the top students-how the average student fares.

• Check emergency protocols: fire safety, evacuation drills, response to threats (past such incidents), overall safety measures.

• Inspect fee structure in detail: tuition, admission, development/maintenance/operational/transport/boarding (if relevant), hidden charges. See year-on-year increases; ask for justification of increases.

• Ask about admission policy: how are admission points given, whether there is any bias or non-transparent criteria (profession of parents, academics etc.). Also check RTE compliance for younger classes.

• Clarify teacher qualifications and turnover: how many experienced teachers, how many are new; what support is there.

• Ask about extra-curricular options (what clubs, options for arts, sports etc.), how students are encouraged, how many take up these.

• Also travel / commute considerations: transport / bus fees, distance, drop-off / pick-up safety, times.

Specific questions to ask

1. What is the exact fee for my child’s class, including all heads (tuition, development, maintenance, lab, computer, bus etc.)? Are there any variable charges?

2. What has been the fee increase pattern over the last 2-3 years? How much of that is justified by inflation / enhanced facilities?

3. What is the teacher-student ratio? How often are teachers changed?

4. What support exists for students who are not “top performers”? Remedial classes? Counseling?

5. How are discipline issues handled? What is the policy on bullying, groupism, student mental health?

6. What safety / emergency protocols are in place? When was the last evacuation drill? What about fire, bomb threat, natural disasters?

7. How is admission decided? What are “points” based on? Are parents’ profession, past sports/achievements, etc. counted, and how?

8. What is the process for grievance redressal? If a parent feels dissatisfied about teacher behaviour, fee communication, etc., how do you escalate?