Key Takeaways
- • JP Schools, the Blackstone-backed K-12 operator founded by Jayshree Periwal, has completed the purchase of two land parcels from the DLF Foundation to build schools in the National Capital Region.
- • The two schools will be built in Gurgaon at an estimated total project cost of about ₹500 crore.
- • JP Schools agreed to quality norms set by the DLF Foundation, the CSR arm of real estate developer DLF, as a condition of the land purchase.
- • Private equity firms are competing to acquire K-12 schools and build branded platforms, with KKR reportedly paying ₹1,500 crore for Pathways School in Gurgaon.
Summary
JP Schools, the education operator backed by Blackstone, has acquired land parcels from the DLF Foundation to build two schools in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to The Economic Times. Ayush Periwal, chief executive of the Jayshree Periwal (JP) Group of Schools, confirmed that the sale deeds have been completed and the two parcels purchased. Periwal said the purchase came with agreed conditions, adding that the family name appears on the gate of every school it builds and that no contract can set a higher standard than that.
The schools will be built in Gurgaon at an estimated project cost of about ₹500 crore. The DLF Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of real estate developer DLF, and the terms lay out quality norms the schools must follow in operation. Blackstone and the DLF Foundation did not respond to ET's queries.
The deal reflects broader private equity interest in Indian K-12 education, driven by limited seats in high-quality private schools in major cities and rising enrolment demand. Rival KKR, which backs K-12 platform Lighthouse Education, recently acquired Pathways School in Gurgaon for a reported ₹1,500 crore. KKR has invested about $700-800 million in Lighthouse, which operates schools under brands including Billabong High, Heritage Xperiential, Euro School, Centre Point and Pathways. Blackstone invested in JP Schools in November 2025, and ET reported last year that the fund aims to deploy $700 million in education-related investments.
JP Schools operates three large campuses and five kindergartens in Jaipur, including one campus with residential facilities and an international curriculum that has attracted students from China, Singapore, the UK, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Global operators are also expanding in India to meet demand for international curricula; Nord Anglia, backed by EQT, runs schools under the Oakridge brand in Hyderabad.
The schools will be built in Gurgaon at an estimated project cost of about ₹500 crore. The DLF Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of real estate developer DLF, and the terms lay out quality norms the schools must follow in operation. Blackstone and the DLF Foundation did not respond to ET's queries.
The deal reflects broader private equity interest in Indian K-12 education, driven by limited seats in high-quality private schools in major cities and rising enrolment demand. Rival KKR, which backs K-12 platform Lighthouse Education, recently acquired Pathways School in Gurgaon for a reported ₹1,500 crore. KKR has invested about $700-800 million in Lighthouse, which operates schools under brands including Billabong High, Heritage Xperiential, Euro School, Centre Point and Pathways. Blackstone invested in JP Schools in November 2025, and ET reported last year that the fund aims to deploy $700 million in education-related investments.
JP Schools operates three large campuses and five kindergartens in Jaipur, including one campus with residential facilities and an international curriculum that has attracted students from China, Singapore, the UK, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Global operators are also expanding in India to meet demand for international curricula; Nord Anglia, backed by EQT, runs schools under the Oakridge brand in Hyderabad.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.