Photo: Sarah777 · Public domain5 of the secondary schools in and around Knocklyon charge fees
DEIS, the extra support for schools serving disadvantaged areas, reaches 23% of the schools around Knocklyon, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). In or within 3 km of Knocklyon: 45 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 8 special schools, 27,868 pupils in all. 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 Knocklyon’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), St Columba's College (357) and Rockbrook Park School (186). Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 95 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: St. Colmcille's Community School (0.3 km), Sancta Maria College (1.2 km) and Firhouse Educate Together 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.
The 75 schools in and around Knocklyon
Each school in or within 3 km of Knocklyon links to a page of its own. No letters and no results: Ireland publishes none school by school.
Show all 45 primary schools
Where the 75 schools in and around Knocklyon 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 Knocklyon’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 Knocklyon
Schools by the language they teach in; the black tick is Ireland’s share.
6 of Knocklyon’s 75 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Gaelscoil na Giúise and Scoil Santain.
Who Knocklyon’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 Knocklyon | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 19% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 49% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 38% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 22% | 18% | 6% |
Fewer of the pupils around Knocklyon are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 19% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). Set beside Ireland, post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools stand out most: 22% against 6%. The largest DEIS school here is Tallaght Community School, with 840 pupils.
Each of the 75 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 Knocklyon’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
54 of Knocklyon’s 75 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (41), Educate Together (4) and Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB (4). 17 of the 75 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 24 patrons of Knocklyon’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
Archbishop of Dublin is patron of 41 of the 75 schools around Knocklyon, which teach 48% of their pupils; 24 patrons run them in all. 9 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 4.
| 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, St Martin de Porres, Scoil Treasa Firhouse, Ballyroan B, Scoil Maelruain Junior, Scoil Mhuire Boys, Presentation Primary School, St Josephs Boys, Scoil Úna Naofa, St Marys School, St Attractas Junior, Scoil Carmel, St Kevins Boys, Holy Spirit Junior Primary School, Holy Spirit Senior Primary School, Scoil Santain, St Kevins Girls, St Damiens, Scoil Naithi, S.N. Aenghusa, Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire, Na Maighdine Muire Girl, Scoil Mhuire, Scoil an Maighdine Mhuire Boys, Scoil Aenghusa Jun, Scoil Eoin, Scoil Iosa, St Josephs Special Sch, S.N. Bhaile Eamonn, St Roses Special School | Catholic | 41 | 13,481 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBSt Mac Dara's, Firhouse, Coláiste de hÍde, Greenhills College | Inter-denominational, Multi-denominational | 4 | 2,192 |
| Educate TogetherFirhouse Educate Together, Firhouse Educate Together, Riverview Educate Together, Rathfarnham Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 4 | 1,196 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil na Giúise, Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 3 | 807 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustOur Ladys School, St Pauls | Catholic | 2 | 1,265 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Carmelite Order (Irish Province)St. Colmcille's, Ballinteer | Inter-denominational | 2 | 1,142 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIRathfarnham Parish, Whitechurch Nat School | Church of Ireland | 2 | 409 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Dominican FathersOld Bawn | Inter-denominational | 1 | 1,024 |
| 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 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityRosary College | Catholic | 1 | 250 |
| 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 |
| Irish Autism ActionABACAS Special School for Children with Autism | 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 Knocklyon
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 5 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 67 schools, 18 have grown by at least 5% since 2019/20 and 36 have lost as much; Ireland’s pupils changed by +5%.
All 67 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 Knocklyon’s schools
The Department of Education’s Inspectorate: every school’s reports linked, 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 75 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 Knocklyon
Every post-primary school within 10 km of the town; families choose and apply to each, at about twelve
Within 10 km of Knocklyon there are 95 post-primary schools: 68 voluntary secondary schools, 17 ETB schools, 9 community schools and one comprehensive school. Of these, 39 are single-sex: 21 for girls and 18 for boys. Fees are charged at 26 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 6 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 0.3 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 1.2 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 1.5 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 1.6 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 2 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 2.2 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 2.2 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 2.2 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 2.8 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 2.9 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 2.9 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 3 km |
All 95 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 3.2 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 3.2 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 3.4 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 3.4 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 3.5 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 3.6 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 3.9 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 4.2 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 4.2 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 4.3 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 4.5 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 4.6 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 4.7 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 4.8 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 4.9 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 5.1 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 5.2 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 5.2 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 5.4 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 5.7 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 5.7 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 5.8 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 5.8 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 5.8 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 5.9 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 6 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 6 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 6.1 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 6.3 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 6.3 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 6.3 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 6.4 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 6.5 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 6.5 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 6.5 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 6.6 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 6.6 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 6.7 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 7 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 7 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 7 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 7 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 7.2 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 7.3 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 7.4 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 7.5 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 7.6 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 7.6 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 7.6 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 7.7 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 7.7 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 7.7 km |
| Coláiste pobail FólaETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 758 | 7.9 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 7.9 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 8.1 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 8.1 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 8.2 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 8.4 km |
| Deansrath Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 425 | 8.4 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 8.5 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 8.5 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 8.6 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 8.6 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 8.6 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 8.7 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 8.7 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 8.8 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 8.9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 9 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 9 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 9.2 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 9.3 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 9.4 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 9.4 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 9.5 km |
| Kishoge Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 937 | 9.6 km |
| Griffeen Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 576 | 9.6 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 9.6 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 9.8 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 9.8 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 9.9 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 10 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 10 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Knocklyon
8 special schools serve the area: Cheeverstown Sp Sch, Saplings Special School, St Roses Special School, St Josephs Special Sch, Libermann Spiritan School, Setanta Special School, ABACAS Special School for Children with Autism and Scoil Eoin, 499 pupils between them. 25 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.
Knocklyon beside the 86 other Irish towns of 9,700 to 18,700 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoneybatter | 18,644 | 142 | 37,206 | 11 | 53% | 0.1 km |
| … | ||||||
| Clonskeagh | 14,142 | 106 | 39,846 | 10 | 10% | 0.3 km |
| Midleton | 13,906 | 10 | 5,560 | 1 | 10% | 0.3 km |
| Cabra East | 13,895 | 157 | 40,651 | 10 | 63% | 0.9 km |
| Mahon | 13,892 | 63 | 18,590 | 8 | 30% | 0.4 km |
| Knocklyon | 13,854 | 75 | 27,868 | 6 | 23% | 0.3 km |
| Deansrath | 13,743 | 64 | 26,713 | 6 | 34% | 0.3 km |
| Whitehall | 13,675 | 132 | 37,232 | 12 | 61% | 0.2 km |
| Mallow | 13,456 | 11 | 4,357 | 1 | 18% | 0.6 km |
| Arklow | 13,399 | 9 | 3,343 | 2 | 33% | 0.3 km |
| … | ||||||
| Killiney | 9,776 | 45 | 13,019 | 1 | 31% | 0.7 km |
Of these 86 other towns, 33 count more pupils at their schools than Knocklyon. Every one of them has an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Knocklyon
Every school in or within 3 km of the town each September, counted where it stands today.
The schools in and around Knocklyon had 27,242 pupils in 2015/16 and 27,868 in 2025/26. Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +407% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Knocklyon
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 Knocklyon
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knocklyon | 75 | 27,868 | 6 | 23% | 0.3 km |
| Ballyboden 1 km | 73 | 26,593 | 7 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Firhouse 1.3 km | 70 | 25,224 | 5 | 34% | 0.7 km |
| Edmondstown 1.7 km | 57 | 23,063 | 6 | 12% | 1.1 km |
| Rathfarnham 2.5 km | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
| Bohernabreena 2.7 km | 54 | 19,297 | 5 | 46% | 0.9 km |
| Templeogue 2.8 km | 118 | 40,646 | 8 | 34% | 0.5 km |
Rathfarnham has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 10. The roll around Knocklyon moved −1% since 2019/20; nearby, Rathfarnham grew most (+6%) and Bohernabreena least (−2%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Knocklyon 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 Knocklyon
How many schools are there in Knocklyon?
In Knocklyon or within 3 km of it: 45 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 8 special schools, with 27,868 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Knocklyon that teach through Irish?
Yes, 6: Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Gaelscoil na Giúise and Scoil Santain teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Knocklyon?
5 of the 22: Rockbrook Park School, Terenure College, Loreto High School and St Columba's College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Knocklyon?
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 Knocklyon?
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).