Delhi nursery admissions: Distance rule sparks confusion as schools use different methods

As Delhi’s private school nursery admission process enters its final stage, the criterion carrying the highest weight — distance between a child’s residence and the school — has emerged as a major source of confusion and concern for parents, TOI reports. Different schools are using different methods to calculate distance, leading to varied outcomes for applicants living at the same address.

Distance criterion creates uneven outcomes

Schools are relying on multiple approaches to measure distance, including Google Maps, straight-line (aerial) distance, designated transport routes and, in some cases, entire neighbourhoods rather than individual addresses. Parents argue that these varying yardsticks create an uneven playing field, where a child may score high in one school but significantly lower in another purely based on how distance is calculated.

In most private schools, proximity carries the highest weight under the points-based admission system, far exceeding other criteria such as sibling preference or alumni status.


Educators maintain that distance and neighbourhood are distinct concepts. Distance refers to the measurable gap between a child’s home and the school, while neighbourhoods represent broader localities or zones, and the two should not be treated interchangeably.

“Distance is given greater weight because children should ideally have short commute to their schools. Within the broad guidelines issued by directorate of education, each school is allowed to frame its own admission matrix, and we try to keep ours as simple as possible. We have allotted a maximum of 60 points for the neighbourhood or distance criterion, which is calculated using an aerial (straight-line) distance,” principal of a south Delhi school told TOI.

Parents seek uniform guidelines

The flexibility given to schools has become a key point of contention. “The govt must clearly announce which method should be followed,” said Aprajita Gautam, president of Delhi Parents’ Association, as reported by TOI.

Schools across the city follow widely differing systems. One school links proximity to transport distance, awarding 70 points to children living within 0–5 km and progressively fewer marks to those living farther away. Another uses straight-line distance, granting 30 points to homes within 10 km. A third relies on Google Maps, offering up to 40 points for residences within a 20-km radius.

Parents say this inconsistency often leads to contradictory outcomes. “There are many schools close to my house, but we are not getting any points in one of them because our colony isn’t listed,” said Deepali Raina, a parent from Dwarka told TOI. “In the case of another nearby school, which uses Google Maps, we scored well. Same address, completely different result.”

Several parents also point out that colony-based lists are frequently outdated or arbitrarily drawn, excluding nearby residential pockets. The problem is further compounded in areas where physical distance is short but transport connectivity is poor, resulting in children being classified as living farther away.

“Allotting marks based on colonies instead of actual distance can lead to discrimination. There may be cases where schools prefer children from certain areas and exclude others. That possibility cannot be ignored,” Gautam said.

She added, “Ideally, Google Maps is a good option. It is practical and transparent. Even today, when EWS admission forms are filled, distance is calculated digitally. The same system should be extended here as well.”

For now, parents continue to navigate multiple admission matrices, hoping their address aligns with a school’s chosen method, while questioning why a single criterion is measured so differently across institutions.

(With inputs from TOI)