For Dehradun families seeking a strong girls' education without boarding, Convent of Jesus and Mary (CJM) on Convent Road has been the trusted answer for generations. A well-established ICSE convent school in the Race Course area, it combines academic rigour with the discipline and values that define the Catholic educational tradition. It is a respected entry among the top 10 schools in Dehradun, and this guide covers fees, address, website, curriculum, admissions and achievements.
Introduction to the School
Convent of Jesus and Mary is located on Convent Road, Race Course, Dehradun, and is affiliated to the CISCE, preparing students for the ICSE examination and continuing through the senior secondary years.
Run by the Religious of Jesus and Mary — a congregation with respected schools across North India — CJM follows the familiar and well-proven convent model: firm discipline, strong English-language instruction, structured moral education and a genuine emphasis on character alongside academics. Its alumnae are found across the professions throughout Uttarakhand and beyond.
Average Fees
CJM is among Dehradun's more affordable quality schools:
- Annual fees: modest by private-school standards, well below the city's residential institutions
- Fee revisions: the school notes a minimal annual increase of approximately 10–15%
- Additional charges: admission components at entry, plus books, uniforms, transport and activity fees
The school publishes its fee structure on its official website. Compared with Dehradun's boarding schools charging ₹9–16 lakh a year, CJM offers exceptional value — confirm the current schedule before applying.
Address & Website
Address: Convent of Jesus and Mary, Convent Road, Race Course, Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001
Website: cjmdehradun.in
The Race Course location is central and highly accessible, serving families across Dehradun city and making it a practical choice for local households.
Why It Is Considered the Best
CJM's ICSE results are consistently strong, with students regularly among Uttarakhand's high scorers and graduates progressing to leading medical, engineering, law and liberal-arts programmes across India. The school's English-language teaching in particular has a long-standing regional reputation.
Parents also consistently cite the school's discipline and values. The convent emphasis on character, service and humility produces students who are academically capable but grounded — and the school achieves this at fees within reach of ordinary families, which in a city known for expensive boarding schools is a significant part of its appeal.
Unique Features of the School
- Established convent tradition run by the Religious of Jesus and Mary.
- ICSE pathway with a strong reputation in English and the humanities.
- Central Race Course location, accessible from across Dehradun.
- Exceptional affordability relative to the city's boarding schools.
- Values-led education with structured moral instruction and service programmes.
- Strong elocution and performing-arts tradition.
Awards & Achievements
- Consistently ranked among the top schools in Dehradun in parent and industry assessments
- Strong ICSE results, with students among Uttarakhand's high scorers
- Graduates progressing to leading medical, engineering and liberal-arts programmes
- A long record in inter-school elocution, debate, music and dramatics
- Generations of alumnae across medicine, education, law and public service
Academic Culture in Detail
CJM follows a structured, traditional ICSE programme. The primary years build firm foundations in English, mathematics and general awareness with close class-teacher supervision. The middle school introduces laboratory sciences, history, geography, computer studies and second languages with regular assessment. The senior school drives systematic ICSE preparation through prelims and revision cycles, continuing into the senior secondary years. Moral science and value education remain part of the timetable — a convent signature — and the school's emphasis on discipline and consistent study habits is what parents most often praise.
Admissions Snapshot
Admission is concentrated at the entry level, with registration announced by the school ahead of each academic session. The process typically involves registration, document verification and age-appropriate interaction. As a Christian minority institution, the school follows its stated admission policy while admitting students of all faiths and communities. Demand from Dehradun families comfortably exceeds seats, and higher-class admissions depend on vacancies. Keep birth certificate, address proof, photographs and, where applicable, baptism certificates ready.
Campus Life Beyond Academics
The house system structures inter-house competitions in athletics, basketball, throwball, badminton, elocution, debate, music and dramatics. Annual day, sports day and prize-giving are significant events for the school community. Social-service initiatives — central to the convent ethos — give students structured exposure to community engagement, and the school participates actively in Dehradun's inter-school circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CJM a girls' school? The school follows the Convent of Jesus and Mary tradition of girls' education — confirm the current arrangement for your child's year with the school office.
Which board does it follow? CISCE — ICSE at Class X, continuing through the senior secondary years.
How does it compare with Welham Girls' School? Welham is a residential school charging around ₹11 lakh a year with a national alumnae network; CJM is a day school at a small fraction of that cost with strong local standing. Boarding versus day is the real decision.
Final Thoughts
Convent of Jesus and Mary offers Dehradun families a disciplined, values-based ICSE education in the heart of the city at genuinely accessible fees. In a city dominated by expensive residential schools, it remains the sensible and respected day-school choice among the top 10 schools in Dehradun. Confirm the current fee structure and admission dates on the official website before applying.
Compare more schools: see how this school stacks up against other leading options in our Best Schools in India by City guide — covering the top 10 schools in Dehradun, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai and Chandigarh.