:City Montessori School

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.{{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}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cmseducation.org/founders/jagdishgandhi.html | title=ISC and ICSE Schools in Lucknow }} This inaugural campus, now designated as the Station Road Branch, remains a historic landmark in the institution's growth.

In 2002, CMS was honoured with the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education for its emphasis on global unity and value-based education.{{cite press release

| title =The City Montessori School (India) awarded the 2002 UNESCO prize for Peace Education

| publisher =UNCESCO

| date =6 June 2002

| url =http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2002/02-41e.shtml

| access-date = 20 Nov 2015 }} 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.{{cite news|last1=Education|first1=Independent|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}}

City Montessori School (CMS) operates 20 branches across Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, catering to its vast student population. These campuses are strategically located in prominent residential and commercial areas of the city. As of 2023, the major branches include:{{cite web|title=Campuses|url=https://www.cmseducation.org/index.html#campuses|date=2015|website=City Montessori School|access-date=15 May 2020}}

{{div col|colwidth=80em}}

• Aliganj Campus I
• Aliganj Campus II
• Anand Nagar Campus
• Asharfabad Campus
• Ayodhya Road Campus
• Chowk Campus
• Gomti Nagar Campus I
• Gomti Nagar Campus II
• Golf City Campus
• Indira Nagar Campus I
• Indira Nagar Campus II
• Jopling Road Campus
• Kanpur Road Campus
• Mahanagar Campus
• Rajajipuram Campus I
• Rajajipuram Campus II
• Rajajipuram Campus III
• Rajendra Nagar Campus I
• Rajendra Nagar Campus II
• RDSO (Research Designs & Standards Organisation) Campus
• Shalimar OneWorld Campus
• Station Road Campus{{Div col end}}

The CMS Cambridge campuses, while sharing geographical proximity with other City Montessori School (CMS) branches, operate independently under separate management. These campuses are affiliated with the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and follow the IGCSE curriculum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/find-a-cambridge-school/|title = Find a Cambridge school}} Key CMS Cambridge branches include:

• CMS Cambridge (Gomti Nagar Extension Campus)
• CMS Cambridge (Rajajipuram Campus I)
• CMS Cambridge (Aliganj Campus I)
• CMS Cambridge (Gomti Nagar Campus I)
• CMS Cambridge (Golf City Campus)

City Montessori School (CMS) has 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.[https://www.pressreader.com/@nickname12035752/csb_2Ebl28JBk00GA8U-LpF9pKyCwa2Fcrxvl65JsuHt1Wml4g8KOhVQ8h3bdGNjLBBU Press Reader] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}

A significant controversy arose in 2015 when CMS denied admission to 31 students from economically weaker sections (EWS) under the 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.{{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|publisher=The Times Group|date=16 July 2015}} 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.{{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|date=16 July 2015}} Following an interim order by the Supreme Court, the school admitted 13 eligible students in compliance with the ruling.{{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}}{{cite news|author1=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 |publisher=The Times Group |location=Lucknow |date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106092617/http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/ |archive-date=6 November 2014 }}

CMS has also undertaken peace-building efforts during crises, such as promoting communal harmony after the 1992 Ayodhya riots.{{cite web|author1=Dylan Mathews|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}} The school launched the Indo-Pak Children's Pen Friend Project to foster cross-border friendships between Indian and Pakistani students.{{cite news|author1=Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty|title=Pals we are!|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/pals-we-are/article3785072.ece|access-date=15 March 2017|agency=The Hindu|work=The Hindu}}{{cite news|author1=Mohit Dubey|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|agency=The Weekend Leader|issue=45|date=9 November 2012}} In 2017, CMS students performed yoga at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to mark International Day of Yoga.{{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}}

Fee hikes have drawn scrutiny over the years. For the 2017–18 academic session, CMS increased fees by 12%,{{cite news|title=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}} following a 10% hike for most classes and up to 16% for nursery and kindergarten in 2013.{{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|publisher=The Times Group|location=Lucknow|access-date=18 September 2015|date=2 April 2013}} 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.{{cite news |author1=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 |publisher=The Times Group |location=Lucknow}}{{cite news|title=Ex-principal to face trial for student's suicide, says court|author1=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|publisher=The Times Group|location=Lucknow|access-date=18 September 2015|date=25 July 2013}}

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.{{cite news|title=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}}

CMS's cultural and academic achievements include hosting the International Children’s Film Festival,{{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|date=12 March 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.patrika.com/lucknow-news/11th-world-s-biggest-international-children-s-film-festival-in-lucknow-4264496/|title = राजधानी लखनऊ में होगा सबसे बड़ा अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय बाल फिल्म महोत्सव जाने इसके बारें में|date = 11 March 2019}} organizing an international music concert with artists from 17 countries and 11 Indian states (in collaboration with ABRSM),{{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|via=Press Reader}}{{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}} and students securing distinction in CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) board exams.{{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}}{{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}}

• Gopal Bagley – Indian diplomat; served as High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka
• Celina Jaitly – Actress and former Miss India
• Acharya Prashant – Vedanta scholar, author, and founder of the Prashant Advait Foundation
• Shubhanshu Shukla – One of the four astronaut designates who will fly to space as part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme
• Sudhanshu Trivedi – Politician and National Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

{{Reflist}}

• {{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}}

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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