Photo: Sarah777 · CC BY-SA 2.0Cherry Orchard has 3 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
Around Cherry Orchard, 54% of schools are in DEIS, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 42 of its 78 schools are in DEIS, the extra support for schools in disadvantaged areas, against 30% across Ireland. Nothing here grades or ranks these schools: Ireland publishes no results school by school, and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them.
Counted from the Department of Education’s 2025/26 lists: every school in the town or within 3 km of it, against every school in Ireland.
What stands out about Cherry Orchard’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: Castleknock College (771), The Kings Hospital (732) and Mount Sackville Secondary School (636). Every school ↓
Extra support for many schools
Many schools here are in DEIS, which gives schools in disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and help; across Ireland, 30% of schools are. In DEIS: Phobailscoil Iosolde (764), St. Seton's Secondary School (741), Collinstown Park Community College (630) and St. Kevin's Community College (525), and 38 more. Who runs them ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 113 post-primary schools within 10 km of the town, of more than one kind; each admits on its own published policy, so applying to more than one is common. The nearest: Phobailscoil Iosolde (1.2 km), St. Seton's Secondary School (1.3 km) and Kylemore College (1.5 km). Post-primary choices ↓
From the Department of Education’s school lists: facts, not judgements of how well a school teaches.
The 78 schools in and around Cherry Orchard
Each school in or within 3 km of Cherry Orchard links to a page of its own. Results by school aren’t published in Ireland, so the cards carry none.
Show all 51 primary schools
Who runs Cherry Orchard’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
58 of Cherry Orchard’s 78 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (49), Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB (10) and CEIST (3). 42 of the 78 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.
Where the 78 schools in and around Cherry Orchard 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 Cherry Orchard’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 Cherry Orchard
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
4 of Cherry Orchard’s 78 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil na Camoige, Coláiste Chilliain and Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain.
Who Cherry Orchard’s schools serve
Shares of the pupils at the area’s schools, 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 Cherry Orchard | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 48% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 50% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 35% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 17% | 18% | 6% |
Around Cherry Orchard, 48% of pupils attend a school in DEIS; across Ireland it is 27%, and 28% in Co. Dublin. The biggest difference from Ireland is in post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools: 17% here, 6% there. Of the DEIS schools here, Phobailscoil Iosolde is the biggest: 764 pupils.
Each of the 78 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.
The 16 patrons of Cherry Orchard’s schools
Patrons own the schools and set their ethos; boards of management run them day to day.
The schools around Cherry Orchard answer to 16 patrons, and Archbishop of Dublin leads with 49 of the 78 schools and 48% of their pupils. Education and Training Boards run 13 of them. Educate Together runs one.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Patricks, Our Lady Queen of Apostles, Sacred Heart, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain, Assumption Junior School, St Raphaels, Scoil Naomh Seosamh, St Ultans, Drimnagh Castle CBS, S.N. Muire Gan Smal B, Scoil Bride C, Scoil Lorcain B, St Michaels, St Kilians Senior, Scoil Mhuire, Talbot Senior, St Kilians Junior School, St Peter Apostle Sen, Divine Mercy Senior, Holy Spirit Junior Primary School, Holy Spirit Senior Primary School, Scoil Nano Nagle, St Louise de Marillac Primary School, Scoil Naomh Ide, Neillstown, St Damiens, S N Muire na Freastogala Girls Senior School, Scoil Naomh Aine, Gaelscoil na Camoige, St Gabriels, Gaelscoil Inse Chor, St Marys Sen, Divine Mercy Junior, St Patricks, Inchicore, St Bernadettes Senior, Goldenbridge Convent, St Marys Junior, St Bernadettes Junior, S N Banrion na nAingeal 1, Scoil Mhuire, St Michaels Spec School, Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls Senior School, Bainrion na nAingal 2, Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Lady of Good Counsel Boys Senior, Our Lady of Wayside, St John of God Sp Sch, S.N. Naomh Cillin | Catholic | 49 | 12,772 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBKingswood, Kishoge, Collinstown Park, Griffeen, St. Kevin's, Deansrath, Coláiste Chilliain, Lucan Community, Greenhills College, Ballydowd High Support Special School | Multi-denominational, Inter-denominational | 10 | 5,067 |
| CEISTColáiste Bríde, Mercy, Our Lady Of Mercy | Catholic | 3 | 1,631 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustMount Sackville, St Pauls | Catholic | 2 | 1,102 |
| City of Dublin ETBKylemore College, Solas Hospital School | Multi-denominational | 2 | 577 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIS.N. Naomh Eoin, Chapelizod | Church of Ireland | 2 | 121 |
| Congregation of the Missions (Vincentians)Castleknock College | Catholic | 1 | 771 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Archbishop of DublinPhobailscoil Iosolde | Inter-denominational | 1 | 764 |
| Marist Brothers (Province of West Central Europe)Moyle Park College | Catholic | 1 | 763 |
| Trusteeship of the Le Chéile Schools Trust & CEISTSt. Seton's | Other | 1 | 741 |
| Board of Governors of King's HospitalThe Kings Hospital | Church of Ireland | 1 | 732 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustMeanscoil Iognáid Rís | Catholic | 1 | 521 |
| Lucan Educate Together SchoolLucan Educate Together NS | Multi-denominational | 1 | 384 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityAssumption | Catholic | 1 | 270 |
| Stewarts Care LtdStewarts School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 145 |
| Health Service ExecutiveLinn Dara Schools | Multi-denominational | 1 | 51 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Cherry Orchard
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 3 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
Since 2019/20, 18 of these 71 schools have grown by 5% or more and 32 have shrunk as much; across Ireland the number of pupils changed by +5%.
All 71 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 Cherry Orchard’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
Reports come from whole-school evaluations (teaching, learning, leadership and management), subject inspections and follow-through visits that check earlier advice; gov.ie publishes each one with the school’s response.
Reports say what inspectors found and what should improve, without an overall grade, so none appears here; each of the 78 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 Cherry Orchard
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
Families in Cherry Orchard have 113 post-primary schools within 10 km: 67 voluntary secondary schools, 31 ETB schools, 14 community schools and one comprehensive school. Of these, 39 are single-sex: 21 for girls and 18 for boys. Fees are charged at 17 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 6 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 1.2 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 1.3 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 1.5 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 1.7 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 2.5 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 2.6 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 2.6 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 2.6 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 2.6 km |
| St. Kevin's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 525 | 2.8 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 2.9 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 3.2 km |
All 113 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 3.3 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 3.4 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 3.5 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 3.5 km |
| Deansrath Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 425 | 3.6 km |
| Kishoge Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 937 | 3.6 km |
| Griffeen Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 576 | 3.6 km |
| Castleknock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,318 | 4 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 4.2 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 4.3 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 4.4 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 4.5 km |
| Coláiste Cois LifeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 592 | 4.5 km |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBSVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 745 | 4.6 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 4.7 km |
| Luttrellstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,027 | 4.8 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 5 km |
| St Joseph's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 934 | 5.1 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 5.2 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 5.3 km |
| Lucan Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 966 | 5.3 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 5.3 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 5.4 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 5.4 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 5.4 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 5.5 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 5.5 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 5.6 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 5.7 km |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil MhinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,014 | 5.9 km |
| Adamstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 981 | 6.1 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 6.1 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 6.1 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 6.1 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 6.2 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 6.2 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 6.4 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 6.4 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 6.4 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 6.5 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 6.5 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 6.6 km |
| Blakestown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 563 | 6.8 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 6.8 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 6.8 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 6.9 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 6.9 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 7 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 7 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 7 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 7.1 km |
| Hartstown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,120 | 7.1 km |
| Rath Dara Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 323 | 7.1 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 7.1 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 7.1 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 7.2 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 7.2 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 7.4 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 7.4 km |
| Coláiste pobail FólaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 758 | 7.5 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 7.5 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 7.5 km |
| Eriu Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 193 | 7.6 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 7.6 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 7.6 km |
| Hansfield ETSSVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 867 | 7.7 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 7.7 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 7.7 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 7.7 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 7.8 km |
| Coláiste Pobail SetantaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,079 | 7.9 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 7.9 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 8 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 8.1 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 8.1 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 8.2 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 8.2 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 8.3 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 8.3 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 8.4 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 8.4 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 8.6 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 8.7 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.8 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 9 km |
| Coláiste ChiaráinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 676 | 9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 9 km |
| Confey Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 934 | 9.3 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 9.4 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 9.4 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 9.4 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 9.6 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 9.6 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 9.6 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 9.7 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 9.7 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 9.8 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 9.8 km |
| Holy Family Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 998 | 9.9 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 9.9 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 10 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Cherry Orchard
6 special schools serve the area: Linn Dara Schools, St Michaels Spec School, Ballydowd High Support Special School, Stewarts School, Solas Hospital School and St John of God Sp Sch, 550 pupils between them. 36 of the 51 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.
Cherry Orchard beside the 90 other Irish towns of 5,800 to 11,200 people
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km, listed by population: Ireland publishes no results, so none is ranked
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drumcondra | 11,149 | 151 | 41,836 | 12 | 58% | 0.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Hollyhill and Ballincolly | 8,606 | 84 | 27,337 | 7 | 43% | 1.1 km |
| Youghal | 8,564 | 5 | 2,077 | 1 | 20% | 1.3 km |
| Booterstown | 8,505 | 73 | 27,367 | 8 | 7% | 0.2 km |
| Grand Canal Dock | 8,320 | 121 | 32,703 | 6 | 43% | 0.7 km |
| Cherry Orchard | 8,280 | 78 | 26,412 | 4 | 54% | 1.2 km |
| Dalkey | 8,275 | 43 | 12,331 | 1 | 28% | 0.9 km |
| Bandon | 8,196 | 10 | 3,617 | 1 | 10% | 0.4 km |
| Howth | 8,192 | 27 | 8,571 | 3 | 11% | 0.8 km |
| Ballybough | 8,188 | 126 | 34,469 | 8 | 52% | 0.2 km |
| … | ||||||
| Oranmore | 5,819 | 8 | 3,669 | 1 | 13% | 0.4 km |
Among the 90 other towns, 22 have more pupils at their schools than Cherry Orchard does. 86 of the 91 towns have an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Cherry Orchard
Each September’s pupils at every school in or within 3 km of the town, counted where the school stands today.
The schools in and around Cherry Orchard had 27,596 pupils in 2015/16 and 26,412 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Griffeen Community College grew most: +317% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Cherry Orchard
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 Cherry Orchard
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Orchard | 78 | 26,412 | 4 | 54% | 1.2 km |
| Carna 0.5 km | 60 | 18,688 | 4 | 58% | 0.9 km |
| Ballyfermot 1.1 km | 58 | 19,071 | 2 | 57% | 0.4 km |
| Kylemore 1.3 km | 57 | 16,207 | 2 | 60% | 0.5 km |
| Palmerston 1.6 km | 80 | 33,167 | 7 | 40% | 0.4 km |
| Ronanstown 1.8 km | 76 | 32,256 | 6 | 40% | 0.2 km |
| Decies 1.8 km | 44 | 11,294 | 1 | 64% | 0.8 km |
Palmerston has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 7. Since 2019/20 the pupils around Cherry Orchard changed by +2%; among its neighbours, Ballyfermot’s grew most (+2%) and Decies’s least (−5%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Cherry Orchard 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 Cherry Orchard
How many schools are there in Cherry Orchard?
In Cherry Orchard or within 3 km of it: 51 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and 6 special schools, with 26,412 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Cherry Orchard that teach through Irish?
Yes, 4: Gaelscoil na Camoige, Coláiste Chilliain and Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Cherry Orchard?
3 of the 21: The Kings Hospital, Mount Sackville Secondary School and Castleknock College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Cherry Orchard?
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 Cherry Orchard?
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).