Delhi's private schools don't test or interview three-year-olds. They choose nursery children by points — a score out of 100 (sometimes another total) built from criteria each school publishes in advance. Understanding how those points work is the single most useful thing you can do before forms open, because it tells you where your child actually has a chance.
This guide explains the Delhi nursery admission points system for 2027-28 in plain words, then walks through three example families to show why the same child can score very differently at two schools. For the full admission picture — age, dates, documents and seats — see our Delhi nursery admission 2027-28 guide.
What the points system is
Every private unaided school in Delhi publishes its own admission criteria with a number of points for each one. Most use a 100-point scale, though not all — in 2026-27 Sanskriti School scored its non-government applicants out of 80. Children are ranked by their total, the school fills its seats from the top, and if several children tie at the cut-off, the school holds a draw of lots.
Schools are expected to publish their 2027-28 criteria in late November 2026. Until then, last year's (2026-27) criteria — used in the examples below — are the best guide to how a school thinks.
The criteria, one by one
| Criterion | Typical points | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Distance / neighbourhood | 30 – 80 | The heaviest criterion. Schools use km slabs or a list of localities. |
| Sibling in the same school | 15 – 40 | A real brother or sister only — cousins never count. |
| Alumni parent | Varies | Proof of the parent's time at the school is needed. |
| First child | 10 – 20 | Usually claimed with a first child affidavit. |
| Girl child | 5 – 25 | Offered by some schools only. |
| Single parent | About 5 | Offered by some schools only. |
Distance: km slabs vs listed localities
Distance decides most admissions. Some schools give points by km slabs — for example full points within 0–3 km, fewer for 3–6 km, fewer again beyond. The slabs differ a lot: in 2026-27, Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura gave 50 points for 0–8 km, while GD Goenka Public School, Model Town gave 70 points for 0–6 km. Other schools use a list of localities instead: in 2026-27, Springdales (Pusa Road and Dhaula Kuan) gave 39 points to homes in their listed areas and 29 to everyone else. That is why your exact address — and keeping it the same on every document — matters so much.
Sibling and alumni points
Sibling points go to a real brother or sister studying in the same school — and usually the same branch; in 2026-27, Springdales Pusa Road counted only its own campus. Alumni points go to a parent who studied at the school, with the school's own rules on how many years and which classes count. Both need proof, listed in our documents required for nursery admission page.
First child, girl child, single parent
Many schools add points for a first child, and some for a girl child or a single parent. These are smaller, but in a crowded list a few points decide who is above the cut-off. An ongoing divorce case is not counted as "single parent".
Worked examples: why the same child scores differently
The two schools and three families below are made up to show how the arithmetic works. They are not any real school's criteria — always use each school's published points.
| Criterion | School A (example) | School B (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 0–3 km: 70 · 3–6 km: 55 · 6–8 km: 40 | 0–5 km: 50 · 5–8 km: 40 |
| Sibling | 15 | 25 |
| Alumni parent | 10 | 15 |
| First child | 5 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Family 1: lives close to School A, first child
Home is 2 km from School A and 6.5 km from School B; no sibling or alumni link.
- School A: 70 (0–3 km) + 5 (first child) = 75
- School B: 40 (5–8 km) + 10 (first child) = 50
School A is a strong option; School B is a long shot.
Family 2: elder sister already at School B
Home is 4 km from both schools; second child.
- School A: 55 (3–6 km) = 55
- School B: 50 (0–5 km) + 25 (sibling) = 75
Same distance, but the sibling points make School B the clear choice.
Family 3: mother is a School A alumna
Home is 7 km from School A and 3 km from School B; first child.
- School A: 40 (6–8 km) + 10 (alumni) + 5 (first child) = 55
- School B: 50 (0–5 km) + 10 (first child) = 60
The alumni link helps, but distance still puts School B ahead.
The lesson: don't judge a school by its reputation alone — judge your score there. A school where you are near the top of the range is worth far more than a famous one where you start 20 points behind.
How to use points to build your shortlist
- Start with distance. List the schools within your best slabs — the 0–3 km or 0–5 km circle, or schools that list your locality. Our Explore page sorts schools by distance from your home.
- Work out your score at each one as soon as the 2027-28 criteria are published in late November.
- Apply broadly where you score well, rather than to one or two schools where you don't.
- Collect the proof for every point you claim — a claim without paper can cost the seat at verification.
- Watch the points list in January: schools publish every applicant's points, and there is a window to raise a query if yours looks wrong.
Quick answers
Is the points system the same at every school?
No. Each private school publishes its own criteria and points, so the same child can score very differently at two schools.
What happens if two children have the same points?
If several children tie at the cut-off, the school holds a draw of lots.
Do cousins count for sibling points?
No — only a real brother or sister studying in the same school.
Next: see how to shortlist nursery schools in Delhi, the top 10 schools in Delhi with fees, and the best schools in your area, such as South Delhi or Dwarka.
Want help? JEC's team works out your points at every school on your shortlist and fills the forms for you — talk to us.