Choosing schools is tough. Many claim to be the “best” or at least offer a high-quality education option for your children. Thinking about putting your children in a top-ranked school? Here are Ireland's Top 50 Secondary Schools according to us.
Key Takeaways
- Coláiste Chiaráin in Leixlip ranks first in our 2026 Top 50, followed by Presentation Brothers College in Cork and Coláiste Íosagáin in Dublin.
- Eight of the Top 10 are non-fee-paying schools.
- Six of the Top 10 are in Dublin, with Cork, Kildare and Monaghan also represented.
- Ireland had 425,412 students enrolled in post-primary education in September 2024.⁴
- Ireland does not publish an official government league table of secondary schools.⁷
- More than 700 post-primary schools can be compared through the Schooldays.ie directory.⁸
How Are the Best Secondary Schools in Ireland Ranked?
You can't simply compare a secondary school by exam results. Results tables ignore student populations, programmes, locations, and the routes pupils take after secondary school. Here, we're aiming for a more holistic approach to good schools.
Ireland does not publish an official academic league table of secondary schools so that no single ranking can define the “best” school.⁷ The Top 50 in this guide uses publicly available school progression information as a comparison tool, but families should consider it alongside factors such as school ethos, subject choice and individual student needs.⁸
We've given greater weight to evidence of progression into third-level education. When several schools had similar records, we considered long-term consistency. We've aimed to remain focused on mainstream secondary schools to offer a broader range of school experiences.
students enrolled in post-primary education in September 2024.⁴
The Top 50 Secondary Schools in Ireland
The Top 50 list includes the strongest secondary schools from a national list. To make it a little easier to parse, we've split it into three. Two lots of 20 and the top 10. Think of them like divisions within the Top 50 if you like.
Junior Certificate (now Junior Cycle): 3 years (ages ~12–15)
Leaving Certificate: 2 years (ages ~16–18)
Assessment: Mostly final exams, with some continuous assessment and project work
Purpose: Prepares students for third-level (college/university) or trades
The Top 10 Secondary Schools in Ireland
| Rank | School | County | Gender | School Type | Recent Progression Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip | Kildare | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | National leader |
| 2 | Presentation Brothers College | Cork | Boys | Fee-paying | National leader |
| 3 | Coláiste Íosagáin | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | National leader |
| 4 | Clochar Naomh Lughaidh | Monaghan | Girls | Non-fee-paying | National leader |
| 5 | Coláiste Eoin | Dublin | Boys | Non-fee-paying | National leader |
| 6 | Muckross Park College | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
| 7 | Catholic University School | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
| 8 | Santa Sabina Dominican College | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
| 9 | Coláiste an Phiarsaigh | Cork | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
| 10 | St Colmcille's Community School | Dublin | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
- Six of the Top 10 schools in this ranking are in Dublin.
- Eight of the Top 10 are non-fee-paying schools.
- Girls’ schools account for four places, while boys’ and mixed schools each account for three.
- Cork places two schools in the Top 10, while Kildare and Monaghan each contribute one.
A high position in a progression-based ranking does not measure every aspect of a student’s education. Department Inspectorate evaluations also consider areas such as teaching and learning, leadership, management and whole-school provision when reviewing post-primary schools.³
Secondary Schools Ranked 11–30
| Rank | School | County | Gender | School Type | Recent Progression Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Mount Anville Secondary School | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Top-tier recent progression |
| 12 | Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ | Limerick | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 13 | Gonzaga College | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 14 | St Michael's College | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 15 | Loreto College, St Stephen's Green | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 16 | The Teresian School | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 17 | Scoil Mhuire, Sidney Place | Cork | Girls | Fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 18 | Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill | Galway | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 19 | Coláiste na Coiribe | Galway | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 20 | Coláiste Iognáid | Galway | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Consistently very high |
| 21 | Castleknock College | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 22 | Belvedere College S.J. | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 23 | Mount Sackville Secondary School | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 24 | Alexandra College | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 25 | St Andrew's College | Dublin | Mixed | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 26 | St Gerard's School | Wicklow | Mixed | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 27 | Holy Child School, Killiney | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 28 | Loreto Abbey Dalkey | Dublin | Girls | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 29 | The High School | Dublin | Mixed | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 30 | St Conleth's College | Dublin | Mixed | Fee-paying | Very high |
- Dublin accounts for 14 of the 20 schools ranked between 11th and 30th.
- Fee-paying schools make up 16 of the 20 places in this part of the ranking.
- Galway contributes three schools, while Limerick, Cork and Wicklow each contribute one.
- Girls’ schools are particularly prominent here, accounting for half of the schools from 11th to 30th.
Secondary Schools Ranked 31–50
| Rank | School | County | Gender | School Type | Recent Progression Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Dominican College Sion Hill | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Very high |
| 32 | Our Lady's School, Terenure | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Very high |
| 33 | St Raphaela's Secondary School | Dublin | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Very high |
| 34 | Rockwell College | Tipperary | Mixed | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 35 | Cistercian College Roscrea | Tipperary | Boys | Fee-paying | Very high |
| 36 | Glenstal Abbey School | Limerick | Boys | Fee-paying | Strong |
| 37 | Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles | Tipperary | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 38 | Christian Brothers College | Cork | Boys | Fee-paying | Strong |
| 39 | Regina Mundi College | Cork | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 40 | Mount Mercy College | Cork | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 41 | St Angela's College | Cork | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 42 | Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry | Limerick | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 43 | Castletroy College | Limerick | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 44 | Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ | Limerick | Girls | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 45 | Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh | Limerick | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 46 | Scoil Pól, Kilfinane | Limerick | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 47 | Grange Post Primary School | Sligo | Mixed | Non-fee-paying | Strong |
| 48 | Blackrock College | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Strong |
| 49 | Terenure College | Dublin | Boys | Fee-paying | Strong |
| 50 | Clongowes Wood College | Kildare | Boys | Fee-paying | Strong |
- The lower part of the Top 50 has a much wider geographic spread than ranks 11–30.
- Limerick has six schools in this group, followed by Dublin with five and Cork with four.
- Thirteen of these 20 schools are non-fee-paying.
- Girls’ schools account for eight places, while boys’ and mixed schools each account for six.
Where Are the Top Schools in Ireland?
For many families, there isn't much you can do if schools are nowhere near you. That's why we've also tried to group schools by location. Here, we've broken down the Top 50 by geographical area.
post-primary schools across Ireland, using the Schooldays.ie secondary school directory.⁸
Dublin and the Rest of Leinster
- 1st: Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip, Kildare
- 3rd: Coláiste Íosagáin, Dublin
- 5th: Coláiste Eoin, Dublin
- 6th: Muckross Park College, Dublin
- 7th: Catholic University School, Dublin
- 8th: Santa Sabina Dominican College, Dublin
- 10th: St Colmcille's Community School, Dublin
- 11th: Mount Anville Secondary School, Dublin
- 13th: Gonzaga College, Dublin
- 14th: St Michael's College, Dublin
- 15th: Loreto College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin
- 16th: The Teresian School, Dublin
- 21st: Castleknock College, Dublin
- 22nd: Belvedere College S.J., Dublin
- 23rd: Mount Sackville Secondary School, Dublin
- 24th: Alexandra College, Dublin
- 25th: St Andrew's College, Dublin
- 26th: St Gerard's School, Wicklow
- 27th: Holy Child School, Killiney, Dublin
- 28th: Loreto Abbey Dalkey, Dublin
- 29th: The High School, Dublin
- 30th: St Conleth's College, Dublin
- 31st: Dominican College Sion Hill, Dublin
- 32nd: Our Lady's School, Terenure, Dublin
- 33rd: St Raphaela's Secondary School, Dublin
- 48th: Blackrock College, Dublin
- 49th: Terenure College, Dublin
- 50th: Clongowes Wood College, Kildare
Cork, Limerick and Munster
- 2nd: Presentation Brothers College, Cork
- 9th: Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Cork
- 12th: Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, Limerick
- 17th: Scoil Mhuire, Sidney Place, Cork
- 34th: Rockwell College, Tipperary
- 35th: Cistercian College Roscrea, Tipperary
- 36th: Glenstal Abbey School, Limerick
- 37th: Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Tipperary
- 38th: Christian Brothers College, Cork
- 39th: Regina Mundi College, Cork
- 40th: Mount Mercy College, Cork
- 41st: St Angela's College, Cork
- 42nd: Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry, Limerick
- 43rd: Castletroy College, Limerick
- 44th: Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ, Limerick
- 45th: Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, Limerick
- 46th: Scoil Pól, Kilfinane, Limerick
Galway and Connacht
- 18th: Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill, Galway
- 19th: Coláiste na Coiribe, Galway
- 20th: Coláiste Iognáid, Galway
- 47th: Grange Post Primary School, Sligo
Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan
- 4th: Clochar Naomh Lughaidh, Monaghan
The 10 Biggest Secondary Schools in Ireland
| Rank | School | County | Total Enrolment | Gender | School Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gorey Community School | Wexford | 1536 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 2 | Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig | Cork | 1364 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 3 | Castletroy College | Limerick | 1329 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 4 | Malahide Community School | Dublin | 1246 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 5 | St Peter's College, Dunboyne | Meath | 1227 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 6 | Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane | Kildare | 1183 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 7 | Athlone Community College | Westmeath | 1161 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 8 | Community College Dunshaughlin | Meath | 1135 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 9 | Ashbourne Community School | Meath | 1111 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
| 10 | Coláiste Pobail Setanta | Dublin | 1069 | Mixed | Non-fee-paying |
School enrolment tells you how many students attend a school, not how well that school will suit an individual student. The Department publishes official post-primary enrolment figures, so school size can be compared directly without treating it as a measure of educational quality.⁵
How to Choose the Right Secondary School in Ireland
Families will have to decide what matters to them before they can consider our list. Don't get too attached to ranking or reputation. The important thing is that the school is a good fit for your child and it'll get the best out of them in the long term. After all, what if you're looking for great schools in Waterford but didn't find any on our list? That doesn't mean they're not worth considering. Consider the academic, practical, and personal aspects of schooling before making up your mind.
Academic fit
Check the subjects, programmes and Senior Cycle options the school offers. Department Inspectorate reports can also help families understand the quality of teaching, learning and school leadership.²
Practical fit
Consider the commute, the admissions policy, and the likelihood of securing a place. Oversubscribed schools may apply published selection criteria when there are more applicants than available places.⁶
Personal fit
Think about school ethos, extracurricular opportunities, learning support and whether your child would prefer a mixed or single-sex environment. A school that suits the individual student can be a better choice than one selected on ranking alone.
of students progress from Leaving Cert to higher education.
Once you've considered these three aspects, consider making a shortlist. From there, you can work out whether a school would be a practical choice or a long shot. A checklist is also useful if you end up having to choose between two similarly ranked schools, especially in Dublin, where there are many.
- Check how practical the daily journey to and from school will be.
- Read the school’s admissions policy and any oversubscription criteria before applying.⁶
- Compare the subjects available for Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle.¹
- Find out whether Transition Year is offered and what the programme includes.
- Consider the school’s ethos, language of instruction and whether it is mixed or single-sex.
- Read recent Department Inspectorate reports to learn more about teaching, learning and school leadership.²
- Look at learning support, extracurricular activities and the post-school pathways available to students.
- Attend an open day where possible and include your child’s own preferences in the final decision.
Complement the Best Schools with a Private Tutor
To enhance your learning and achieve your goals, you might want to consider supplementing your formal education by working with Superprof tutors. During the school holidays, tutors are even more important. Luckily for you, Superprof offers a range of tutors specialised in subjects, ensuring that you can find the perfect match for your specific learning requirements.
With most tutors offering the first session for free, you can always try several options out before choosing the one that's right for you, something you can't always do with schools. This can also help you make an easier choice about schools, knowing you can always address any school's drawbacks by hiring a tutor. Just search for the subjects or skills you need tutoring in on the Superprof website today!
References
- Department of Education and Youth. “Education.” Gov.ie. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/policies/education/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Department of Education and Youth. “Find a School.” Gov.ie, 25 May 2018, updated 29 Apr. 2025. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/find-a-school/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Department of Education and Youth. “Information for Teachers and School Leaders – Post Primary.” Gov.ie, 12 Jan. 2024, updated 23 Mar. 2026. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/information-for-teachers-and-school-leaders-post-primary/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Department of Education and Youth. “Post-primary Insights.” Gov.ie, 17 Nov. 2025. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/post-primary-insights-2024/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Department of Education and Youth. “Post-primary Schools Enrolment Figures.” Gov.ie, 12 Sept. 2019, updated 5 Mar. 2026. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/post-primary-schools-enrolment-figures/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Department of Education and Youth. “School Admissions/Enrolment.” Gov.ie, 8 Sept. 2021, updated 23 July 2025. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/policy-information/school-admissionsenrolment/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- Ireland. Education Act, 1998. Irish Statute Book, 23 Dec. 1998. https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/act/51/enacted/en/print. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
- “Find Secondary Schools in Ireland by County.” Schooldays.ie. https://schooldays.ie/find-secondary-schools-in-ireland/. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.
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