Photo: JPMcCann80 · CC0Pupil numbers around Decies have fallen behind Co. Dublin’s towns and Irish towns: −5% since 2019/20
In the comparison, Decies comes below both Co. Dublin’s towns (+4%) and Irish towns (+4%). Mount Sackville Secondary School, one of its 9 secondary schools, charges fees; the others are free. 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 Decies’s schools
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), Meanscoil Iognáid Rís (521) and Kylemore College (479), and 24 more. Who runs them ↓
One fee-paying secondary school
One secondary school within reach charges fees; the others are free. The fee-paying one: Mount Sackville Secondary School (636). Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 123 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: Kylemore College (0.8 km), St. Seton's Secondary School (0.9 km) and Mercy Secondary School (1.5 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Drawn from the Department of Education’s lists; none of it judges how well a school teaches.
Who runs Decies’s schools
Ethos as listed for 2025/26: each bar splits the schools by who runs them.
38 of Decies’s 44 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (31), City of Dublin ETB (2) and CEIST (2). 28 of the 44 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 44 schools in and around Decies
Every school in Decies or within 3 km of its outline, each linked to its own page. Ireland publishes no results school by school, so these cards carry no letters or results.
Show all 28 primary schools
Where the 44 schools in and around Decies 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 Decies’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 Decies
The schools by teaching language, with Ireland’s share as the black tick.
1 of Decies’s 44 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Inse Chor.
Who Decies’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 Decies | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 74% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 2% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 53% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 40% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 15% | 18% | 6% |
More of the pupils around Decies are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 74% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). Furthest from Ireland’s mix is the share of post-primary pupils at single-sex schools: 40% here against 29%. The biggest school in DEIS is Phobailscoil Iosolde (764 pupils).
Each of the 44 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 11 patrons of Decies’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
The schools around Decies answer to 11 patrons, and Archbishop of Dublin leads with 31 of the 44 schools and 60% of their pupils. Education and Training Boards run 3 of them.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinAssumption Junior School, St Raphaels, St Ultans, Scoil Úna Naofa, Drimnagh Castle CBS, S.N. Muire Gan Smal B, Scoil Bride C, Scoil Lorcain B, St Michaels, St Louise de Marillac Primary School, St Damiens, S N Muire na Freastogala Girls Senior School, Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1, St Gabriels, Gaelscoil Inse Chor, St Patricks, Inchicore, Muire Og 2 Loreto Con, Goldenbridge Convent, S N Banrion na nAingeal 1, Scoil Mhuire, St Michaels Spec School, Scoil Eoin, 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, Our Lady of Hope School, S.N. Naomh Cillin | Catholic | 31 | 6,729 |
| CEISTMercy, Our Lady Of Mercy | Catholic | 2 | 638 |
| City of Dublin ETBKylemore College, Solas Hospital School | Multi-denominational | 2 | 577 |
| Health Service ExecutiveLinn Dara Schools, Phoenix Park Specialist School | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 2 | 68 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Archbishop of DublinPhobailscoil Iosolde | Inter-denominational | 1 | 764 |
| Trusteeship of the Le Chéile Schools Trust & CEISTSt. Seton's | Other | 1 | 741 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustMount Sackville | Catholic | 1 | 636 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustMeanscoil Iognáid Rís | Catholic | 1 | 521 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto College | Catholic | 1 | 320 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityAssumption | Catholic | 1 | 270 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIChapelizod | Church of Ireland | 1 | 30 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Decies
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 fee-paying school here sets its 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 36 schools, 6 have grown by at least 5% since 2019/20 and 20 have lost as much; Ireland’s pupils changed by +5%.
All 36 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 Decies’s schools
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate: every school’s reports linked, none rated
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.
The reports describe what inspectors saw and what each school should do next. They give no overall grade, so none is shown here; the 44 schools below each link their own.
Department of Education Inspectorate reports on gov.ie, found by each school’s roll number.
Post-primary schools within reach of Decies
Every post-primary school within 10 km of the town; families choose and apply to each, at about twelve
Families in Decies have 123 post-primary schools within 10 km: 77 voluntary secondary schools, 31 ETB schools, 13 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. 43 of them are single-sex, 23 for girls and 20 for boys. Fees are charged at 22 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 6 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 0.8 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 0.9 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 1.5 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 1.8 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 1.9 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 2.1 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 2.4 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 2.5 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 3.3 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 3.3 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 3.4 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 3.5 km |
All 123 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 3.6 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 3.6 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 3.6 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 3.6 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 3.7 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 3.8 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 4 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 4.1 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 4.1 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 4.1 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 4.1 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 4.2 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 4.2 km |
| St. Kevin's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 525 | 4.3 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 4.4 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 4.4 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 4.4 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 4.4 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 4.7 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 4.7 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 4.8 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 4.8 km |
| Castleknock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,318 | 4.8 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 4.8 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 4.9 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 4.9 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 5 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 5.1 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 5.3 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 5.3 km |
| Deansrath Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 425 | 5.3 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 5.3 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 5.4 km |
| Kishoge Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 937 | 5.4 km |
| Griffeen Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 576 | 5.4 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 5.6 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 5.7 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 5.8 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 5.9 km |
| Luttrellstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,027 | 5.9 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 5.9 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 5.9 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 5.9 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 5.9 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 6 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 6.1 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 6.1 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 6.1 km |
| Coláiste Cois LifeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 592 | 6.2 km |
| Coláiste Phádraig CBSVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 745 | 6.2 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 6.3 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 6.4 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 6.4 km |
| Scoil Phobail Chuil MhinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,014 | 6.5 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 6.5 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 6.6 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 6.6 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 6.6 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 6.6 km |
| St Joseph's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 934 | 6.7 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 6.7 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 6.7 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 6.8 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 6.8 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 6.8 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 7 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 7 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 7 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 7 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 7 km |
| Lucan Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 966 | 7 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 7.1 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 7.4 km |
| Rath Dara Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 323 | 7.4 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 7.4 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 7.4 km |
| Blakestown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 563 | 7.4 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 7.8 km |
| Adamstown Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 981 | 7.8 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 7.8 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 7.8 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 7.9 km |
| Hartstown Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,120 | 7.9 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 7.9 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 8 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 8 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 8 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 8 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 8.1 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 8.2 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 8.3 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 8.4 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 8.4 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 8.5 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 8.5 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 8.6 km |
| Coláiste pobail FólaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 758 | 8.7 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 8.7 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 8.7 km |
| Eriu Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 193 | 8.7 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.8 km |
| Hansfield ETSSVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 867 | 8.8 km |
| Coláiste Pobail SetantaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,079 | 8.9 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 8.9 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 9.2 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 9.5 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 9.5 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 9.6 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 9.6 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 9.6 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Decies
7 special schools serve the area: St Michaels Spec School, St John of God Sp Sch, Solas Hospital School, Linn Dara Schools, Our Lady of Hope School, Scoil Eoin and Phoenix Park Specialist School, 602 pupils between them. 20 of the 28 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.
Decies beside the 84 other Irish towns of 1,900 to 3,700 people
Towns of a similar size, with the schools in or within 3 km of each; ordered by population, never ranked
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cahir | 3,679 | 2 | 1,300 | 0 | 50% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Carndonagh | 2,768 | 7 | 1,729 | 0 | 100% | 0.1 km |
| Kilbarry | 2,758 | 30 | 12,024 | 1 | 43% | 1.9 km |
| Claddagh | 2,755 | 31 | 11,252 | 4 | 32% | 0.5 km |
| Donegal | 2,749 | 6 | 1,791 | 1 | 0% | 0.7 km |
| Decies | 2,713 | 44 | 11,294 | 1 | 64% | 0.8 km |
| Callan | 2,678 | 2 | 1,112 | 0 | 0% | 0.5 km |
| Kilrush | 2,649 | 3 | 733 | 1 | 100% | 0.4 km |
| Baltinglass | 2,611 | 3 | 912 | 0 | 0% | 0.2 km |
| Bundoran | 2,599 | 3 | 898 | 0 | 33% | 0.2 km |
| … | ||||||
| Banagher | 1,907 | 3 | 877 | 0 | 0% | 0.5 km |
Among the 84 other towns, 15 have more pupils at their schools than Decies does. An all-Irish school is within 3 km of 38 of the 85.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Decies
Every school in or within 3 km of the town each September, counted where it stands today.
The schools in and around Decies had 14,102 pupils in 2015/16 and 11,294 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Mercy Secondary School grew most: +124% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Decies
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 Decies
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km of its outline; distances as the crow flies.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decies | 44 | 11,294 | 1 | 64% | 0.8 km |
| Kylemore 0.5 km | 57 | 16,207 | 2 | 60% | 0.5 km |
| Chapelizod 0.9 km | 154 | 44,846 | 5 | 58% | 0.7 km |
| Inchicore 1.1 km | 76 | 21,071 | 3 | 59% | 0.7 km |
| Ballyfermot 1.3 km | 58 | 19,071 | 2 | 57% | 0.4 km |
| Carna 1.4 km | 60 | 18,688 | 4 | 58% | 0.9 km |
| Kilmainham 1.7 km | 106 | 27,472 | 4 | 62% | 0.5 km |
Chapelizod has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 5. Pupils around Decies: −5% since 2019/20. Among the neighbours, Chapelizod led (+6%) and Carna trailed (−5%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Decies 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 Decies
How many schools are there in Decies?
In Decies or within 3 km of it: 28 primary schools, 9 secondary schools and 7 special schools, with 11,294 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Decies that teach through Irish?
Yes, 1: Gaelscoil Inse Chor teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Decies?
1 of the 9: Mount Sackville Secondary School. The others are free.
What is the best school in Decies?
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 Decies?
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).