Mission of the School :
To make Every Child a Gift of God to Mankind and a Pride of the Human Race.

CMS Philosophy :

The corner stone of CMS educational philosophy is a firm belief in the statement 'Every child is potentially the light of the World, as well as the cause of its darkness; wherefore must the question of education be accounted as of primary importance'.
At CMS every effort is made to make every child 'good and smart'. That is, good at heart with high moral values, etiquettes and manners, and smart in thought, action and deeds. Thereby, a child becomes 'A Gift of God to Mankind and a Pride of the Human Race. 

History
The City Montessori School (CMS) Lucknow, India, was founded in 1959 by a young visionary couple, Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, a socially motivated Gandhian, along with his wife Mrs. Bharti Gandhi, M.Ed., Child Psychologist. Rich in enthusiasm, the devoted pair launched their first campus on borrowed capital of three hundred rupees, housed it in rented premises and began with only five students on roll. The young couple had to face a myriad of initial difficulties in making their vision a reality. Over the years, however, they have successfully overcome these difficulties with unflinching devotion to their original mission.

The husband and wife team were greatly inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. They wanted the school to be an instrument for inculcating values of universal brotherhood and the cultivation of virtues. The stirring call of Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Vinoba Bhave 'Jai Jagat' (Glory be to the World), became the school motto. The school has since been true to its mission and even today, Jai Jagat, is not only the CMS greeting and slogan, it is also its guiding vision — to inspire children and youth to think in terms of welfare of all the peoples of the world.

In 1974, the Gandhis accepted the Baha'i Faith and Mr. Gandhi dropped politics to work full time on education. The Baha'i emphasis on recognition of the common elements of all religions and the importance of cultivating values of 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam' began to be reflected even more strongly in the school curriculum and activities. Soon the ideological commitment of the school attracted the more discerning parents of the city who chose to send their children to CMS.

The Gandhis were able to attract a dedicated team of principals and teachers, some of whom were students and trainees in the first teachers training college that the Gandhis had simultaneously begun. Many of these early associates are still involved with the institution in various capacities.

Today, CMS is the world's largest school in a city. It has 15 branch campuses spread over the city of Lucknow with over 22,000 students on roll. Its academic performance is the envy of all with annual results of almost 100 percent of the students passing with the first division or Grade 'A' marks. It is getting increasingly known for producing citizens of quality and character.

Because CMS draws its large student body from all parts of Lucknow and since many of its students enter the school at pre-school age, the excellence of its students can only be explained by a highly motivating, encouraging and nurturing environment. Such an atmosphere engenders a climate of success in which ordinary children begin to accomplish extraordinarily.

In the co-curricular activities too, the institution has begun to make an impact in the recent years. This is reflected in the extraordinary achievements of its students in all sports and co-curricular activities, singing and other competitions at national and international levels.

Guinness Book Certified
World's Largest School

Mr. Jagdish Gandhi

Man and His Mission
In the city of Lucknow, the name of Jagdish Gandhi has become synonymous with his magnificent creation — the City Montessori School popularly known as CMS, which he co-founded in 1959 with his equally dedicated wife Mrs Bharti Gandhi. Begun with only 5 students on roll, CMS is today the world's largest school in a single city with over 24,000 students enrolled at 15 CMS Branches. Over the last 40 years, hundreds of thousands of students have passed out from of the portals of CMS, reinforced with virtues and values of World Unity and World Peace, and equipped with a global perspective and international vision to successfully face the challenges of tomorrow. 
 
Jagdish Gandhi firmly believes in Oneness  of God, unity of religions and unity of mankind. These values are reflected in the activities, philosophy and achievements of CMS, which emphasises character building through spiritual and moral education and which also exemplifies the following four building blocks in a child’s development: Universal Values, Global Understanding, Service to the World and Excellence in All things. The School strives to mould its students to be ideal world citizens committed to the credo — "The Earth is but One Country and Mankind its Citizens." 
 
The success of the CMS model is reflected every year in the annual board results of ICSE and ISC examinations in which almost cent percent CMS students secure high percentage of marks. Nearly 20 to 30 CMS students are selected for the National Talent Search (NTS) Merit Scholarship every year while during 2000, a record number of 221 CMS students were selected for admission into IIT, Engineering, Medical, NDA and various other professional colleges and institutes in India and abroad. Also, CMS is probably the only school in the world to have an Innovation Wing where about 25 experienced educationists constantly research, innovate, develop and adopt new teaching methods. They also study alternative methods and innovations in education in India and abroad

Background
Born in a poor rural family, Jagdish Gandhi was influenced at a young age by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Saint Vinoba Bhave and he later chose Vinoba's clarion call of Jai Jagat (Glory be to the World) as the School motto. As a young man, he sold newspapers and gave private tuitions so that he could continue his studies and attend Lucknow University, from where he graduated. There he was elected President of Lucknow University Students' Union in the year 1957-58. In 1969, he was elected Member of the State Legislative Assembly from Sikandra Rao Assembly Constituency of District Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. As an Assembly Member, he was sent to England for parliamentary studies. 
 
In 1974 Mr. Gandhi successfully organized the 2nd International Youth Conference on “World Peace Through Education” in London. It was during this conference, Mr. Gandhi had an opportunity to meet and hear the views of the youth of Baha'i community. He was greatly impressed and influenced by the Baha'i Philosophy of the unity of God, unity of Religions and unity of mankind such as creation of climate of encouragement in the classroom, closer relationship between teacher and taught, Parents & teachers and school and the home. So great was the impact on his mind that he accepted the Baha'i Faith, gave up politics and rededicated his whole life to the cause of meaningful education of children. His life is dedicated to making every child good and smart, a gift of God to mankind, a pride of the human race and a potential light of the world.