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Ballyroan Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 · D16 V389 · Roll number 60341P
Sancta Maria College is one of 22 post-primary schools in or within 3 km of Ballyboden. Every school in and around Ballyboden →
What stands out about Sancta Maria College
- 577 pupils, near the middle for post-primary schools in Ireland (the median is 585).
- About as many pupils as in 2019/20 (+5%).
- Teaches through English, with Irish as a subject.
- A girls’ school.
- A voluntary secondary school: owned by its trustees, most often a religious order or its successor trust, and paid for by the State.
- Its patron is CEIST; its ethos is Catholic.
Pupils over time
2015/16 to 2025/26Sancta Maria College had 577 pupils in 2025/26, against 478 in 2015/16 (+21%). Its roll rose in 8 of the 10 years.
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year; girls and boys where the lists give them.
No letter for Sancta Maria College
Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing schools by them, so this school has no letter and nothing here ranks it. Its facts are the Department of Education’s; its inspection reports are linked below.
What the Department of Education does publish for Sancta Maria College is on this page: its pupils each September since 2015/16, girls and boys, its patron and ethos, whether it teaches through Irish, whether it is in DEIS, and its inspection reports.
Newspapers print lists of how many of a school’s leavers go on to college. Those count destinations, not exam results, and depend on who a school takes in; we don’t use them.
Inspection reports on Sancta Maria College
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate visits schools and publishes its reports. The reports describe what inspectors saw; they give no overall grade, and we don’t make one. Reports for this school on gov.ie ↗
Inspectors visit every kind of school. Whole-school evaluations look at teaching and learning, leadership and management; subject inspections look at one subject; follow-through inspections check whether earlier advice was taken. Each report is published on gov.ie with the school’s response.
Getting a place at Sancta Maria College
Every school admits under its own published admission policy; no admissions numbers are published.
Families apply to Sancta Maria College directly, usually in the year before their child finishes sixth class; the school’s yearly admission notice gives the dates for applying and for its decisions.
A school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its admission policy, often brothers and sisters, the area it serves and, for post-primary schools, its feeder primaries. A family refused a place can appeal.
It takes girls only.
No figures on applications are published, but the roll shows demand: Sancta Maria College has grown by 5% since 2019/20. All the schools around Ballyboden together changed by +2%.
Pupils since 2019/20
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; Department of Education enrolments 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary).
Side by side with the nearest post-primary schools
2025/26The nearest schools of the same kind, as the crow flies: their pupils, ethos and language. No results: none are published.
Of the 6 nearest post-primary schools, 5 have more pupils than Sancta Maria College. Since 2019/20 its roll has changed by +5%; 2 of the 6 grew faster.
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sancta Maria College | 577 | +5% | Catholic | English | ||
| Coláiste Éanna | 618 | +3% | Catholic | English | 0.4 km | |
| St. Colmcille's Community School | 727 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | 1 km | |
| Loreto High School | 625 | −5% | Catholic | English | 1.6 km | |
| Our Ladys School | 799 | +5% | Catholic | English | 1.8 km | |
| Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh | 296 | +13% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 1.8 km | |
| St Mac Dara's Community College | 915 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 2.1 km |
The other 177 post-primary schools in Co. Dublin
| School | Pupils | Since 2019/20 | Ethos | Language | DEIS | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terenure College | 800 | +16% | Catholic | English | 2.2 km | |
| Templeogue College | 637 | −6% | Catholic | English | 2.2 km | |
| Rockbrook Park School | 186 | +14% | Catholic | English | 2.5 km | |
| Tallaght Community School | 840 | +10% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 2.6 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School | 411 | +407% | Multi-denominational | English | 2.7 km | |
| Ballinteer Community School | 415 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 2.9 km |
| De La Salle College | 463 | +45% | Catholic | English | 3 km | |
| St Columba's College | 357 | +7% | Church of Ireland | English | 3.1 km | |
| The High School | 811 | +11% | Church of Ireland | English | 3.1 km | |
| Firhouse Community College | 825 | +2% | Inter-denominational | English | 3.1 km | |
| Presentation Community College | 443 | +26% | Catholic | English | 3.1 km | |
| St Pauls Secondary School | 466 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.2 km |
| Greenhills College | 186 | +36% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 3.2 km |
| Stratford College | 189 | +28% | Jewish | English | 3.4 km | |
| Coláiste de hÍde | 266 | −11% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | ✓ | 3.5 km |
| Rosary College | 250 | +35% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 3.8 km |
| Wesley College | 942 | +2% | Methodist | English | 4.1 km | |
| St. Tiernan's Community School | 368 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 4.3 km |
| Old Bawn Community School | 1,024 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | 4.4 km | |
| Assumption Secondary School | 270 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.6 km |
| Alexandra College | 664 | +13% | Church of Ireland | English | 4.6 km | |
| St Louis High School | 690 | +2% | Catholic | English | 4.6 km | |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 4.7 km | |
| Clogher Road Community College | 297 | +46% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 4.8 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid Rís | 521 | −10% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 4.8 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School | 366 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 4.9 km | |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary School | 295 | −3% | Catholic | English | 4.9 km | |
| Loreto College | 320 | −20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5 km |
| Gonzaga College | 576 | +4% | Catholic | English | 5.1 km | |
| Kingswood Community College | 1,006 | +93% | Multi-denominational | English | 5.1 km | |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School | 289 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.2 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | 500 | +17% | Catholic | English | 5.4 km | |
| St Kilian's Deutsche Schule | 475 | +18% | Inter-denominational | English | 5.4 km | |
| Sandford Park School Ltd | 437 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | 5.4 km | |
| St Benildus College | 949 | +18% | Catholic | English | 5.5 km | |
| Mount Anville Secondary School | 726 | +4% | Catholic | English | 5.5 km | |
| Rosemont School | 307 | +69% | Catholic | English | 5.7 km | |
| St Marks Community School | 931 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 5.7 km |
| Muckross Park College | 709 | +0% | Catholic | English | 5.8 km | |
| Mercy Secondary School | 349 | +124% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.9 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St. | 256 | −3% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 5.9 km |
| Presentation College | 262 | +55% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6 km |
| The Teresian School | 230 | +16% | Catholic | English | 6.1 km | |
| C.B.S. James Street | 251 | +65% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 6.3 km |
| Killinarden Community School | 471 | −3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 6.3 km |
| St Conleths College | 339 | +19% | Catholic | English | 6.4 km | |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | 302 | +39% | Church of Ireland | English | 6.4 km | |
| Catholic University School | 544 | +7% | Catholic | English | 6.5 km | |
| St Raphaela's Secondary School | 637 | +12% | Catholic | English | 6.6 km | |
| Loreto College | 588 | +5% | Catholic | English | 6.6 km | |
| Coláiste Bríde | 993 | +4% | Catholic | English | 6.8 km | |
| Oatlands College | 623 | +14% | Catholic | English | 6.8 km | |
| Coláiste Eoin | 517 | +4% | Catholic | All in Irish | 6.9 km | |
| St Michaels College | 731 | +10% | Catholic | English | 6.9 km | |
| Coláiste Íosagáin | 488 | +1% | Catholic | All in Irish | 6.9 km | |
| Mount Seskin Community College | 350 | +8% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.1 km |
| St Andrews College | 1,011 | +2% | Presbyterian | English | 7.2 km | |
| St Aidan's Community School | 561 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.2 km |
| Moyle Park College | 763 | +3% | Catholic | English | 7.4 km | |
| C.B.S. Westland Row | 205 | +52% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.4 km |
| Kylemore College | 479 | +22% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 7.4 km |
| Marian College | 319 | −8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.4 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary School | 741 | – | Other | English | ✓ | 7.5 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S. | 244 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.6 km |
| Willow Park School | 206 | −0% | Catholic | English | 7.6 km | |
| St Josephs Secondary School | 283 | +48% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.7 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School | 741 | +246% | Multi-denominational | English | 7.8 km | |
| Dominican College | 521 | +19% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Blackrock College | 1,041 | +2% | Catholic | English | 7.8 km | |
| Mount Carmel Secondary School | 386 | −4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 7.8 km |
| Coláiste Chilliain | 400 | −4% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 7.9 km | |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary School | 437 | +460% | Multi-denominational | English | 8.1 km | |
| Larkin Community College | 403 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.1 km |
| Belvedere College S.J | 1,011 | +1% | Catholic | English | 8.3 km | |
| Ringsend College | 191 | +1% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.4 km |
| Loreto College Foxrock | 660 | +27% | Catholic | English | 8.6 km | |
| Phobailscoil Iosolde | 764 | −0% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.6 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive School | 884 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 8.7 km | |
| Collinstown Park Community College | 630 | +11% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.8 km |
| Deansrath Community College | 425 | +43% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 8.9 km |
| O'Connell School | 222 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 8.9 km |
| Coláiste pobail Fóla | 758 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 8.9 km | |
| Coláiste Mhuire | 272 | −4% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 9 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary School | 636 | −3% | Catholic | English | 9.1 km | |
| St Declan's College | 651 | +0% | Catholic | English | 9.1 km | |
| Cabra Community College | 264 | +102% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 9.4 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary School | 273 | −1% | Catholic | English | 9.4 km | |
| St Vincents C.B.S. Glasnevin | 408 | +13% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 9.5 km |
| St Dominics College | 790 | −1% | Catholic | English | 9.6 km | |
| The Kings Hospital | 732 | +3% | Church of Ireland | English | 9.9 km | |
| Clonkeen College | 635 | +10% | Catholic | English | 9.9 km | |
| Kishoge Community College | 937 | +12% | Multi-denominational | English | 9.9 km | |
| Griffeen Community College | 576 | +317% | Multi-denominational | English | 9.9 km | |
| St Josephs C.B.S. | 310 | +20% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Marino College | 297 | +21% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| St. Kevin's Community College | 525 | +41% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Castleknock College | 771 | +10% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| Rosmini Community School | 139 | +16% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| St Mary's Secondary School | 830 | +2% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 10 km |
| Scoil Chaitriona | 523 | +11% | Catholic | All in Irish | ✓ | 10 km |
| Christian Brothers College | 549 | +7% | Catholic | English | 10 km | |
| Dominican College | 799 | +7% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Edmund Rice College | 912 | +576% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Árdscoil Rís | 563 | +4% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive School | 903 | +2% | Church of Ireland | English | 11 km | |
| Cabinteely Community School | 512 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School | 236 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| Holy Faith Secondary School | 647 | +0% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Maryfield College | 527 | −11% | Catholic | English | 11 km | |
| Clonturk College | 968 | +182% | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| Holy Child Community School | 275 | +12% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Castleknock Community College | 1,318 | +13% | Multi-denominational | English | 11 km | |
| St Kevins College | 503 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Coláiste Cois Life | 592 | −27% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 11 km | |
| St Michaels Secondary School | 646 | +4% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| Coláiste Eoin | 257 | +43% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 11 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S. | 725 | +1% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Rathdown School | 364 | +38% | Church of Ireland | English | 12 km | |
| St Laurence College | 302 | +17% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle College | 585 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBS | 745 | +38% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Holy Family Community School | 998 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Ellenfield Community College | 150 | +3% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Lucan Community College | 966 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| Adamstown Community College | 981 | +8% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| New Cross College | 417 | +110% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| St Joseph Of Cluny Secondary School | 270 | +7% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| St. David's College | 550 | +8% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| St Joseph's College | 934 | +6% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Luttrellstown Community College | 1,027 | +15% | Multi-denominational | English | 12 km | |
| St Pauls College | 650 | +10% | Catholic | English | 12 km | |
| Trinity Comprehensive School | 564 | +15% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy College | 407 | +6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| St Marys Secondary School | 320 | +0% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 12 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary School | 944 | +26% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Holy Child Killiney | 382 | +9% | Catholic | English | 13 km | |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin | 1,014 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Chanel College | 451 | −21% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| Mercy College Coolock | 402 | −6% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 13 km |
| John Scottus Secondary School | 211 | +77% | Inter-denominational | English | 13 km | |
| Manor House School | 652 | −5% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Loreto Abbey Secondary School | 757 | +16% | Catholic | English | 14 km | |
| Coolock Community College | 205 | +32% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Rath Dara Community College | 323 | +28% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Blakestown Community School | 563 | +31% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Woodbrook College | 623 | +51% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 14 km |
| Hartstown Community School | 1,120 | −1% | Inter-denominational | English | 14 km | |
| Árdscoil La Salle | 289 | +74% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 15 km |
| The Donahies Community School | 488 | +4% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 15 km |
| Eriu Community College | 193 | – | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Hansfield ETSS | 867 | +34% | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Coláiste Pobail Setanta | 1,079 | +2% | Multi-denominational | English | 15 km | |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary School | 595 | +1,883% | Multi-denominational | English | 16 km | |
| Gaelcholáiste Reachrann | 453 | +2% | Inter-denominational | All in Irish | 16 km | |
| Grange Community College | 553 | +98% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 16 km |
| Pobalscoil Neasáin | 831 | +7% | Inter-denominational | English | 17 km | |
| St. Fintan's High School | 714 | +1% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| St Marys Secondary School | 230 | −16% | Catholic | English | 17 km | |
| Sutton Park School | 503 | +36% | Church of Ireland | English | 17 km | |
| Santa Sabina Dominican College | 754 | +13% | Catholic | English | 18 km | |
| Loreto College | 655 | +4% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Coláiste Choilm | 421 | −23% | Catholic | English | 19 km | |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary School | 696 | +939% | Multi-denominational | English | 20 km | |
| Portmarnock Community School | 955 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 20 km | |
| Malahide Community School | 1,250 | +3% | Inter-denominational | English | 20 km | |
| Fingal Community College | 864 | +1% | Inter-denominational | English | 20 km | |
| Swords Community College | 952 | +473% | Multi-denominational | English | 21 km | |
| St Finians Community College | 671 | +4% | Multi-denominational | English | ✓ | 21 km |
| Donabate Community College | 799 | +5% | Multi-denominational | English | 25 km | |
| Lusk Community College | 1,104 | +61% | Multi-denominational | English | 29 km | |
| St Joseph's Secondary School | 945 | +19% | Catholic | English | ✓ | 30 km |
| Skerries Community College | 1,025 | +5% | Inter-denominational | English | 35 km | |
| Ardgillan Community College | 1,014 | +6% | Multi-denominational | English | 36 km | |
| Bremore Educate Together Secondary School | 824 | +124% | Multi-denominational | English | 36 km | |
| Coláiste Ghlór na Mara | 520 | +63% | Multi-denominational | All in Irish | 36 km | |
| Balbriggan Community College | 686 | +33% | Inter-denominational | English | ✓ | 37 km |
| Loreto Secondary School | 1,220 | −5% | Catholic | English | 37 km |
Living in Ballyboden
The town’s figures, not this street’s.
Homes in the D16 Eircode area
Housing in Ballyboden →The median sale price rose from €555,000 in 2023 to €643,000 in 2025 (+16%).
New against second-hand, 2023 to 2025
Property Price Register sales in the D16 Eircode routing area, 2023 to 2025.
Renting in Ballyboden
Cost of living in Ballyboden →New tenancies in Ballyboden averaged €2,269 a month in 2025, against €2,222 in 2024 (+2%).
Residential Tenancies Board rent index, new tenancies, 2024 and 2025.
Location
Directions ↗














Ballyboden, D16 V389
Post-primary schools near Sancta Maria College
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Sancta Maria College
Is Sancta Maria College a good school?
We don’t grade it: Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them. Its inspection reports on gov.ie, a visit and a talk with the principal will tell you more than any table could.
How many pupils does Sancta Maria College have?
577 pupils in 2025/26. That is +5% since 2019/20.
Does Sancta Maria College teach through Irish?
No: Sancta Maria College teaches in English, with Irish as a subject.
Who runs Sancta Maria College?
Sancta Maria College has a Catholic ethos. Its patron is CEIST.
How do pupils get a place at Sancta Maria College?
Apply to the school directly. It publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates; if more children apply than it has places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Which schools of the same kind are near Sancta Maria College?
The nearest are Coláiste Éanna (0.4 km), St. Colmcille's Community School (1 km) and Loreto High School (1.6 km).
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · inspection reports on gov.ie, linked by roll number. Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Facts from the Department of Education’s school lists. Listed with Ballyboden; nothing here rates the school.
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).