Photo: Mic from Reading - Berkshire, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0Ballyboden has 6 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
Around Ballyboden, 21% of schools are in DEIS, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 26,593 pupils go to the 45 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 6 special schools in or within 3 km of Ballyboden. With no school results published in Ireland, and the Education Act 1998 restricting comparisons of them, these schools are described, not graded or ranked.
Every school in the town or within 3 km of its outline, from the Department of Education’s lists for 2025/26; Ireland’s figures are every school in the lists.
What stands out about Ballyboden’s schools
Fee-paying secondary schools
Several of the secondary schools within reach charge fees; the others are free. Fee-paying schools are listed with the rest below, each with its own page. Fee-paying: The High School (811), Terenure College (800), Loreto High School (625) and St Columba's College (357), and 2 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 99 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: Sancta Maria College (0.3 km), Coláiste Éanna (0.6 km) and St. Colmcille's Community School (0.7 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Drawn from the Department of Education’s lists; none of it judges how well a school teaches.
The 73 schools in and around Ballyboden
Each school in or within 3 km of Ballyboden links to a page of its own. No letters, no results: Irish schools aren’t ranked one by one.
Show all 45 primary schools
Where the 73 schools in and around Ballyboden are
Each school where the official list places it, shaded by who runs it and sized by pupils; squares are secondary schools, triangles special schools. The dashed shape is Ballyboden’s outline; schools within 3 km of it count.
Places from the Department of Education’s school lists (its own coordinates for all but a handful); map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Teaching through Irish in and around Ballyboden
Schools by the language they teach in; the black tick is Ireland’s share.
7 of Ballyboden’s 73 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh and Gaelscoil na Giúise.
Who Ballyboden’s schools serve
The pupils at the area’s schools by share, beside Co. Dublin’s and Ireland’s, 2025/26
Each bar is the area’s share; the tick marks Ireland’s.
DEIS by stage: pupils at DEIS schools
| Share of pupils | Around Ballyboden | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 18% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 8% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 49% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 40% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 25% | 18% | 6% |
Fewer of the pupils around Ballyboden are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 18% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). The biggest difference from Ireland is in post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools: 25% here, 6% there. Of the DEIS schools here, Tallaght Community School is the biggest: 840 pupils.
Each of the 73 schools
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary): enrolments by sex and the DEIS list. Shares are of pupils, not of schools; a county’s are the schools listed with its towns.
Who runs Ballyboden’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
49 of Ballyboden’s 73 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (36), Educate Together (5) and An Foras Pátrúnachta (4). 15 of the 73 are in DEIS, the extra support for schools in disadvantaged areas (30% across Ireland).
Department of Education school lists: ethos 2025/26, patron 2024/25 (the 2025/26 lists don’t give it). DEIS list 2025/26.
The 22 patrons of Ballyboden’s schools
Patrons own the schools and set their ethos; boards of management run them day to day.
The schools around Ballyboden answer to 22 patrons, and Archbishop of Dublin leads with 36 of the 73 schools and 45% of their pupils. 8 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 5.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Colmcille Senior, Scoil Colmcille Naofa, St Pius X G, Holy Rosary Primary School, St Pius X N.S. Boys, St Patrick GNS, Bishop Galvin, Marley Grange, Clochar Loreto, Bishop Shanahan, St Dominic's, Scoil Maelruain Senior, Scoil Treasa Firhouse, Ballyroan B, St Attractas Senior, Scoil Mhuire Boys, Presentation Primary School, St Josephs Boys, St Marys School, St Attractas Junior, Scoil Carmel, Holy Spirit Junior Primary School, Holy Spirit Senior Primary School, Scoil Santain, Scoil Naithi, St Damiens, Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire, S.N. Aenghusa, Na Maighdine Muire Girl, Scoil Mhuire, Scoil an Maighdine Mhuire Boys, Scoil Aenghusa Jun, Scoil Iosa, St Josephs Special Sch, S.N. Bhaile Eamonn, St Roses Special School | Catholic | 36 | 12,068 |
| Educate TogetherFirhouse Educate Together, Firhouse Educate Together, Riverview Educate Together, Rathfarnham Educate Together, Goatstown Stillorgan Primary School | Multi-denominational | 5 | 1,366 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBSt Mac Dara's, Firhouse, Coláiste de hÍde, Greenhills College | Inter-denominational, Multi-denominational | 4 | 2,192 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil na Fuinseoige, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil na Giúise, Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 4 | 1,248 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustOur Ladys School, St Pauls, De La Salle College | Catholic | 3 | 1,728 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIRathfarnham Parish, Whitechurch Nat School, Zion Parish Primary School | Church of Ireland | 3 | 500 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Carmelite Order (Irish Province)St. Colmcille's, Ballinteer | Inter-denominational | 2 | 1,142 |
| Dublin Talmud TorahStratford College, Scoil Naisiunta Stratford | Jewish | 2 | 277 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Marist BrothersTallaght | Inter-denominational | 1 | 840 |
| Board of Governors of the High SchoolThe High School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 811 |
| Carmelite Order (Irish Province)Terenure College | Catholic | 1 | 800 |
| The Spiritan Education TrustTempleogue College | Catholic | 1 | 637 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto High School | Catholic | 1 | 625 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustColáiste Éanna | Catholic | 1 | 618 |
| CEISTSancta Maria College | Catholic | 1 | 577 |
| City of Dublin ETBPresentation | Catholic | 1 | 443 |
| Body of Fellows of St Columba's CollegeSt Columba's College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 357 |
| Famed Company Limited by GuaranteeRockbrook Park School | Catholic | 1 | 186 |
| Health Service ExecutiveSetanta Special School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 68 |
| Spiritan Education TrustLibermann Spiritan School | Catholic | 1 | 51 |
| Sapling School Company Limited by GuaranteeSaplings Special School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 30 |
| Cheeverstown School Company limited by guaranteeCheeverstown Sp Sch | Catholic | 1 | 29 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Ballyboden
Starting primary school
Children can start primary school once they are four, and must be in school by six. Families apply to each school directly. Every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice; a school with more applicants than places admits on the criteria in its policy. Since the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, a Catholic or other majority-faith primary school can’t put baptised children first; a school of a minority faith still can, to keep its ethos.
Moving to secondary school
Children move to post-primary school at about twelve, after sixth class. Again, families apply to each school, usually a year or more ahead, and an oversubscribed school admits on its published criteria, often brothers and sisters and its feeder primary schools. The 6 fee-paying schools here set their own fees and admissions.
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; each school’s admission policy and notice are on its own website.
Which schools are growing
Of these 66 schools, 19 have grown by at least 5% since 2019/20 and 32 have lost as much; Ireland’s pupils changed by +5%.
All 66 schools
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September, 2019/20 and 2025/26 (preliminary). No capacity is published, so how full a school is can’t be shown.
Inspection reports for Ballyboden’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
The Inspectorate inspects schools in several ways: a whole-school evaluation covers teaching, learning and how the school is led; a subject inspection looks at one subject; a follow-through checks on earlier advice. Reports go on gov.ie with the school’s reply.
Reports say what inspectors found and what should improve, without an overall grade, so none appears here; each of the 73 schools below links its own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Ballyboden
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
Within 10 km of Ballyboden there are 99 post-primary schools: 71 voluntary secondary schools, 18 ETB schools, 9 community schools and one comprehensive school. 42 teach girls and boys apart: 23 girls’ and 19 boys’ schools. Fees are charged at 26 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 6 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 0.3 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 0.6 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 0.7 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 1.8 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 2 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 2.1 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 2.1 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 2.3 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 2.4 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 2.4 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 2.4 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 2.5 km |
All 99 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 2.9 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 3.1 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 3.1 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 3.2 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 3.2 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 3.3 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 3.4 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 3.4 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 3.5 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 3.7 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 4 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 4.2 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 4.3 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 4.5 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 4.6 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 4.8 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 4.9 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 4.9 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 4.9 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 5 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 5.1 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 5.1 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 5.2 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 5.2 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 5.3 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 5.4 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 5.5 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 5.6 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 5.6 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 5.7 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 5.7 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 5.7 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 5.8 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 6 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 6 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 6.1 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 6.2 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 6.2 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 6.3 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 6.5 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 6.6 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 6.7 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 6.7 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 6.7 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 6.7 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 6.8 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 6.9 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 7 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 7 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 7.1 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 7.2 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 7.2 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 7.3 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 7.4 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 7.5 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 7.6 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 7.7 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.7 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 7.8 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 7.8 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 7.8 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 7.9 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 7.9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 8.1 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 8.1 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 8.1 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 8.3 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.4 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 8.6 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 8.6 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 8.7 km |
| Coláiste pobail FólaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 758 | 8.7 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 8.7 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 8.8 km |
| Deansrath Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 425 | 8.8 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 8.9 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 9.1 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 9.2 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 9.2 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 9.3 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 9.6 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 9.6 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 9.7 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 9.8 km |
| Kishoge Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 937 | 9.9 km |
| Griffeen Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 576 | 9.9 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 9.9 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Ballyboden
6 special schools serve the area: Saplings Special School, Cheeverstown Sp Sch, Libermann Spiritan School, St Roses Special School, St Josephs Special Sch and Setanta Special School, 327 pupils between them. 23 of the 45 primary schools have special classes for children who need more support. Their cards ↑
Special schools and primary schools with special classes as the Department lists them; the National Council for Special Education places pupils in special classes.
Ballyboden beside the 97 other Irish towns of 3,700 to 7,100 people
Schools in or within 3 km of each town, by population; none is ranked, as Ireland publishes no results
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncrana | 6,971 | 7 | 2,583 | 2 | 43% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Tipperary | 5,387 | 8 | 2,079 | 1 | 75% | 0.4 km |
| St Stephen's Green | 5,319 | 127 | 33,381 | 9 | 47% | 0 km |
| Monasterevin | 5,307 | 5 | 1,605 | 0 | 20% | 0.7 km |
| Inchicore | 5,285 | 76 | 21,071 | 3 | 59% | 0.7 km |
| Ballyboden | 5,246 | 73 | 26,593 | 7 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Knockrea | 5,228 | 84 | 24,668 | 9 | 49% | 0.3 km |
| Ballybeg | 5,226 | 32 | 12,349 | 1 | 41% | 1.1 km |
| Tullow | 5,138 | 4 | 1,339 | 0 | 75% | 0.5 km |
| Clonakilty | 5,112 | 6 | 2,124 | 1 | 0% | 0.5 km |
| … | ||||||
| Cork City Centre | 3,701 | 77 | 23,441 | 7 | 48% | 0.5 km |
Among the 97 other towns, 8 have more pupils at their schools than Ballyboden does. An all-Irish school is within 3 km of 78 of the 98.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Ballyboden
Every school in or within 3 km of the town each September, counted where it stands today.
The schools in and around Ballyboden had 25,502 pupils in 2015/16 and 26,593 in 2025/26. Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +407% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Ballyboden
Department of Education enrolments at 30 September each year, 2015/16 to 2025/26 (preliminary), for every school placed in the area today; schools that have since closed or merged count where they stood.
Schools in the towns around Ballyboden
For each nearby town, its schools in or within 3 km of its outline, with straight-line distances.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballyboden | 73 | 26,593 | 7 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Knocklyon 1 km | 75 | 27,868 | 6 | 23% | 0.3 km |
| Edmondstown 1.1 km | 57 | 23,063 | 6 | 12% | 1.1 km |
| Rathfarnham 1.5 km | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
| Firhouse 2.2 km | 70 | 25,224 | 5 | 34% | 0.7 km |
| Templeogue 2.4 km | 118 | 40,646 | 8 | 34% | 0.5 km |
| Churchtown 3.2 km | 106 | 41,500 | 9 | 13% | 0.2 km |
Rathfarnham has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 10. The roll around Ballyboden moved +2% since 2019/20; nearby, Churchtown grew most (+6%) and Knocklyon least (−1%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Ballyboden or within 3 km of its outline, as the Department places it: families here use them. Schools further out are on the map of each school’s own page.
- The kinds of school. Primary schools take children from junior infants to sixth class, about ages 4 to 12. Post-primary schools teach the Junior and Leaving Certificate, about ages 12 to 18: voluntary secondary schools (mostly with a religious patron), ETB schools and community colleges run by an Education and Training Board, and community and comprehensive schools. Special schools teach children with particular needs.
- Teaching through Irish. All-Irish: every subject taught through Irish, in the Gaeltacht or, outside it, a Gaelscoil or Gaelcholáiste. Partly in Irish: an Irish stream (some classes entirely through Irish) or some subjects through Irish. Every other school teaches Irish as a subject.
- DEIS. DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) gives schools serving disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and support; the Department decides which schools are in it.
- Ethos and patron. Most Irish schools are owned by a patron, mostly a church; the patron sets the school’s ethos. Multi-denominational schools (Educate Together, many ETB schools) teach children of every faith and none together.
- No grade. Section 53 of the Education Act 1998 lets the Minister refuse to release information that would allow schools’ exam results to be compared, and no results are published school by school. So Ireland’s schools have no letters and its towns no School Grade; nothing on this page ranks them.
- What isn’t here. What the UK and French pages show from results, these can’t: results charts, results against pupils’ backgrounds and towns ranked by their schools (no published results), and how full each school is (no capacity is published). Every post-primary school teaches to the Leaving Certificate, so there is no sixth-form split to show.
- Inspections. The Inspectorate’s reports are linked from each school’s page. They give no overall grade, so none is shown.
- The year. The 2025/26 lists are the Department’s preliminary release; numbers can change a little in the final lists.
Questions about schools in Ballyboden
How many schools are there in Ballyboden?
In Ballyboden or within 3 km of it: 45 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 6 special schools, with 26,593 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Ballyboden that teach through Irish?
Yes, 7: Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh and Gaelscoil na Giúise teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Ballyboden?
6 of the 22: Loreto High School, Terenure College, Rockbrook Park School and St Columba's College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Ballyboden?
We don’t say. Ireland publishes no exam results school by school, and section 53 of the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them; a ranking would rest on guesses. Each school’s page has its own facts and a link to its inspection reports, and visiting the schools you are weighing is still the best guide.
How do I get a place at a school in Ballyboden?
Apply to each school directly: every school publishes an admission policy and a yearly admission notice with its dates. If it has more applicants than places, it admits on the criteria in its policy.
Sources: Department of Education, school lists 2025/26 (preliminary) and enrolments since 2015/16, CC BY 4.0 · one school placed with OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
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).