Alumni
One of the choices for a school is the one the parents studied in. The admission process under such circumstances may turn out to be a lot easier, but make sure your child and her abilities receive due credit in the choice of school.

Duration - Timings
As with all things in life, just when you find that a school meets all your requirements, you discover that school timings are terribly inconvenient. Don't lose heart. In certain cities, schools have two shifts for all classes, to cope with rising student numbers. Figure out what suits you and your child best.

Sports Weightage
If you are a parent that believes athletic development is as significant as academics, then shortlist a school that lays emphasis on such.

Playground
Find out if the school has a playground, to conduct its extra-curricular activities. If not, has it made alternative arrangements? Some schools lease or hire playgrounds to compensate for the lack of similar facilities within school premises.

Co-curricular Activities
Try and determine the various activities the school offers by way of drama, art, yoga, etc., which play an important role in the all round development of a child.

Cultural Activities
Some schools profess a secular outlook, whereby all festivals are celebrated, giving your child a larger view unrestricted to class, community and religion and one that is free from bias.

Lunch Facility
This criterion applies to schools with long school hours, in which case, it makes sense to find out if the school has a canteen facility, or provides food or beverages to the children to tide over the long hours.


Once you've short-listed a school, you will need to find out when admission forms are issued. This will ensure that you are prepared for admissions at the right time.

• Knowing what the school expects you to submit will help you keep all papers in order, with less running around to do at the last hour. Most commonly asked-for documents are birth certificates for proof of birth and a ration card for proof of address.
  
  
• Are there special admission criteria that you don't know about? Find out about schools from educational counsellors, parents of students and others. Does the school have special perquisites - some schools are known albeit discreetly, to prefer children of professionals, while others will only accept NRIs.
  
  
• What is the minimum age of eligibility? Is there an entrance test or interview for parents and children separately? Accordingly, you can prepare your child to face the interview panel confidently.