School Admissions 2027–28 in Chennai: A Month-by-Month Guide for Parents

In Chennai, most CBSE schools and many others begin their academic year in April. That means the real admission season for 2027–28 runs from September to January, much earlier than many parents expect. Here is a calm, month-by-month guide so nothing catches you off guard.

September–October: shortlist and read

Start by deciding what matters most to your family. Board (CBSE, ICSE or State), distance and travel time, class size, and whether you want a Montessori start in the early years. A school that is forty minutes away looks fine on a map, but it is a long ride for a five-year-old twice a day.

Make a shortlist of four to six schools and read their websites carefully, especially the age criteria and the admission process. Note which schools have already released forms. Some open as early as September.

Age rules catch many parents out. Each school sets its own cut-off date, and a few weeks can decide whether your child joins this year or next. At Darwin, for example, a child joining Montessori 1 must have turned 3 by 31 July of the year they join. Check the cut-off at every school on your list before you go further.

Start months differ too. At Darwin, for 2027–28, Montessori to Grade 5 begin in April, and Grade 6 and above begin in June. From 2028–29, all classes will begin in April.

October–November: visit

A website shows you the brochure. A visit shows you the school. Try to see classrooms while children are actually working, meet teachers, and notice how the school feels: how adults speak to children, how children move around, how calm or rushed the corridors are.

Take your child if the school allows it. How they react tells you a lot. Go with a short list of questions: class size, teacher training, how the school supports a child who is struggling, and how parents are kept informed.

Visit at least two or three schools, even if you already have a favourite. Comparing is what makes the decision clear.

November–December: apply

This is when most forms are filled. Many schools accept applications on a first-come basis or close their forms once seats fill, sometimes well before the published last date. Apply to your top two or three choices rather than waiting for one decision at a time.

Keep a simple sheet for each school: the form deadline, the application fee, the date of the interaction and the next step. It sounds basic, but it saves a lot of confusion in December.

December–January: interactions and assessments

For young children, most schools hold a short, friendly interaction rather than a test. Nothing to prepare beyond a good night’s sleep and a relaxed morning. For older grades, expect a structured assessment in English, Mathematics and a language, often with the portions shared in advance.

Parents may also be invited to meet the Head of School. This is a conversation, not an exam. It is as much your chance to understand the school as theirs to understand your family.

January–February: offers and decisions

Offers usually arrive in January and February. When one comes, check how long it is valid and what is needed to confirm the seat. Some schools give a week or less. At Darwin, an offer stays open for five days, and the seat is confirmed with the one-time admission fee.

If you are waiting on more than one school, ask each one honestly about their timelines. Most schools understand that parents are comparing.

Keep these documents ready

• Your child’s birth certificate
• Aadhaar for the child and parents
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Address proof
• For older children: the latest report card and, later, the transfer certificate from the current school

Each school’s list differs slightly, so confirm before you apply. Keep scanned copies on your phone as well. Many forms are now online.

February–March: get ready for April

Once the seat is confirmed, use the weeks before April for small things: uniforms, books, transport, and a steady sleep and wake-up routine. If your child is moving from another school, request the transfer certificate in good time. Many schools issue it only after the final exams in March.

Talk positively about the new school, walk past it together if you can, and keep the last weeks at home unhurried. A calm start in April matters more than any preparation workbook.

A simple rule

Start early, visit in person, and apply to more than one school. For an April start, that means beginning in September, not January. Parents who follow these three steps rarely feel rushed, and they make a far better decision.

If Darwin is on your list, the first step is a Saturday afternoon on campus.