Photo: William Murphy · CC BY-SA 2.0Portobello has 12 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
66 primary schools, 32 secondary schools and 12 special schools are in or within 3 km of Portobello, with 29,104 pupils between them. DEIS, the extra support for schools serving disadvantaged areas, reaches 46% of the schools around Portobello, above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). With no school results published in Ireland, and the Education Act 1998 restricting comparisons of them, these schools are described, not graded or ranked.
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 Portobello’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: Belvedere College S.J (1,011), The High School (811), St Michaels College (731) and Alexandra College (664), and 8 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 129 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: Christian Brothers, Synge St. (0.4 km), St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines (0.6 km) and Catholic University School (0.6 km). Post-primary choices ↓
From the Department of Education’s school lists: facts, not judgements of how well a school teaches.
The 110 schools in and around Portobello
Each school in or within 3 km of Portobello links to a page of its own. Ireland publishes no school-by-school results, which is why these cards have no letters.
Show all 32 secondary schools
Show all 66 primary schools
Where the 110 schools in and around Portobello 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 Portobello’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 Portobello
The schools by teaching language, with Ireland’s share as the black tick.
7 of Portobello’s 110 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Eoin, Gaelscoil Lios na nOg and S.N. Brighde.
Who Portobello’s schools serve
How the area’s pupils divide, against 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 Portobello | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 39% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 4% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 49% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 53% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 49% | 18% | 6% |
39% of the pupils around Portobello are at a DEIS school, more than the 27% across Ireland (28% in Co. Dublin). The biggest difference from Ireland is in post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools: 49% here, 6% there. Of the DEIS schools here, St Christopher's NS is the biggest: 598 pupils.
Each of the 110 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 Portobello’s schools
Who runs each school, as listed for 2025/26; the bars give the share of schools of each kind.
79 of Portobello’s 110 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (52), Educate Together (8) and Edmund Rice Schools Trust (5). 50 of the 110 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 30 patrons of Portobello’s schools
Patrons own the schools and set their ethos; boards of management run them day to day.
30 patrons run the 110 schools around Portobello; the largest, Archbishop of Dublin, has 52 of them and 37% of the pupils. Education and Training Boards run 5 of them. Educate Together runs 8.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Christopher's NS, St. Louis, St Marys Central, St Peters, Harolds Cross, Stanhope Street Primary School, Presentation Primary School, St Josephs Boys, S.N. Brighde, Scoil Úna Naofa, Gardiner Street Convent, Scoil Mhuire, St. James's Primary School, St Brigids Primary School, Gaelscoil Mologa, Presentation Primary School, Star of the Sea, Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1, St Josephs Mxd, Marist, Gaelscoil Inse Chor, S.N. San Vinseann Cailin, Muire Og 2 Loreto Con, Scoil Treasa Naofa, St Audoens, St Gabriels, Presentation Primary School, St Clares Convent, Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire, St Laurence O'Toole's, Scoil na mBrathar, Scoil Ui Chonaill Boys Seniors, Rutland, City Quay, St Patricks Girls, Scoil Eoin, Naomh Padraig Boys, Scoil Caitriona na mBraithre, Scoil na Mbrathar Boys Senior School, Sancta Maria C B S, Catherine Mc Auley N Sc, An Taonad Reamhscoile, St Vincents Inf Boys, St John of God Sp Sch, Scoil Iosagain Boys Senior, St Peters Special Sch, Naomh Lorcan O Tuathail Senior Boys, Hospital School CHI at Temple Street, Our Lady of Hope School, St Declans Special Sch, Henrietta Street School, St L O Tooles 2 Spec | Catholic | 52 | 10,744 |
| Educate TogetherDublin 7 Educate Together NS, Harolds Cross Educate Together, Sandymount Park Educate Together, Canal Way Educate Together, Shellybanks Educate Together, Harcourt Terrace Educate Together, Paradise Place ETNS, Dublin 6 Clonskeagh and Dublin 6W Primary School | Multi-denominational | 8 | 2,821 |
| City of Dublin ETBPresentation, Larkin, Clogher Road, Ringsend College, An Cosan CSS | Catholic, Inter-denominational, Multi-denominational | 5 | 1,390 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustChristian Brothers, Synge St., C.B.S. James Street, St Pauls C.B.S., O'Connell School, C.B.S. Westland Row | Catholic | 5 | 1,178 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COIS.N. Paroiste Maitiu Nfa, Sandford Parish, St Catherines West, Zion Parish Primary School, St Columbas N.S. Mxd | Church of Ireland | 5 | 782 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityMount Carmel, St Josephs, Rosary College | Catholic | 3 | 919 |
| Minister for Education & SkillsCentral Senior Mxd, Central Infs School, Scoil Chaoimhin | Catholic | 3 | 444 |
| Society of Jesus (Jesuits)Belvedere College S.J, Gonzaga College | Catholic | 2 | 1,587 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustMuckross Park College, St Louis High School | Catholic | 2 | 1,399 |
| The Spiritan Education TrustSt Michaels College, St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | Catholic | 2 | 1,231 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto College, Loreto College | Catholic | 2 | 908 |
| Dublin Talmud TorahStratford College, Scoil Naisiunta Stratford | Jewish | 2 | 277 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Lios na nOg, Gaelscoil Eoin | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 2 | 252 |
| Board of Governors of the High SchoolThe High School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 811 |
| Council of Alexandra CollegeAlexandra College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 664 |
| Marist Education AuthorityCatholic University School | Catholic | 1 | 544 |
| Board of Governors of Sandford Park SchoolSandford Park School Ltd | Inter-denominational | 1 | 437 |
| Griffith Barracks Multi-denominational School Company Limited by GuaranteeGriffith Barracks Multi D School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 403 |
| St Conleth's LtdSt Conleths College | Catholic | 1 | 339 |
| Marist Brothers (Province of West Central Europe)Marian College | Catholic | 1 | 319 |
| Board of Governors of St Patrick's Cathedral Grammar SchoolSt Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 302 |
| CEISTPresentation College | Catholic | 1 | 262 |
| Teresian Association IrelandThe Teresian School | Catholic | 1 | 230 |
| The Ranelagh Multidenominational AssociationRanelagh Multi Denom | Multi-denominational | 1 | 221 |
| Board of Governors of the Church of Ireland College of EducationKildare Place | Church of Ireland | 1 | 189 |
| City of Dublin Education and Training BoardSouth City CNS | Multi-denominational | 1 | 148 |
| The John Scottus Education Trust Company Limited by GuaranteeJohn Scottus | Multi-denominational | 1 | 136 |
| Conference of Methodist Church in IrelandRathgar | Methodist | 1 | 94 |
| Enable Ireland Disability ServicesEnable Ireland Sandymount School | Catholic | 1 | 49 |
| Dean of St Patrick's CatheralSt Patricks | Church of Ireland | 1 | 24 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Portobello
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 12 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, 35 of these 94 schools have grown by 5% or more and 35 have shrunk as much; across Ireland the number of pupils changed by +5%.
All 94 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 Portobello’s schools
The Inspectorate’s published reports for each school, linked, without ratings
Each school is visited by inspectors from time to time, for a whole-school evaluation of teaching, learning and leadership, for one subject, or to follow up earlier advice, and every report is posted 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 110 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 Portobello
All post-primaries within 10 km; at about twelve, families choose and apply school by school
129 post-primary schools are within 10 km of Portobello: 97 voluntary secondary schools, 20 ETB schools, 9 community schools and 3 comprehensive schools. Of these, 59 are single-sex: 32 for girls and 27 for boys. Fees are charged at 28 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 7 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 0.4 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 0.6 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 0.6 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 0.7 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 1 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 1.1 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 1.3 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 1.4 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 1.4 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 1.5 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 1.6 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 1.8 km |
All 129 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 1.9 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 2 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 2.2 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 2.2 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 2.3 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 2.3 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 2.3 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 2.4 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 2.5 km |
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 2.6 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 2.6 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 2.6 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 2.8 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 2.9 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 3 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 3 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 3 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 3.3 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 3.3 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 3.3 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 3.8 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 3.8 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 3.8 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 3.9 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 3.9 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 4 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 4 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 4.1 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 4.2 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 4.2 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 4.5 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 4.5 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 4.6 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 4.6 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 4.6 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 4.6 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 4.6 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 4.7 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 4.7 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 4.7 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 4.7 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 4.8 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 4.8 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 4.9 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 4.9 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 5 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 5 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 5.1 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 5.1 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 5.2 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 5.3 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 5.3 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 5.3 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 5.3 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 5.4 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 5.5 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 5.6 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 5.6 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 5.8 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 5.8 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 5.8 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 5.9 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 5.9 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 5.9 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 5.9 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 5.9 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 6 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 6 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 6.1 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 6.2 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 6.2 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 6.3 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 6.4 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 6.5 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 6.5 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 6.6 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 6.6 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 6.6 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 6.7 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 6.7 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 6.7 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 6.9 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 7 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 7 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 7.3 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 7.3 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 7.4 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 7.6 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 7.6 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 7.8 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 7.8 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 7.8 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 7.9 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 7.9 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 8.1 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 8.1 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 8.3 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 8.3 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 8.4 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 8.5 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 8.6 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 8.7 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 8.7 km |
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 8.8 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 8.9 km |
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 549 | 9 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 9 km |
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 9 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 9 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 9.1 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 9.3 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 9.5 km |
| Castleknock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,318 | 9.6 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 9.7 km |
| St. Kevin's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 525 | 9.8 km |
| Clonkeen CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 635 | 9.8 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 10 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Portobello
12 special schools serve the area: Catherine Mc Auley N Sc, St Declans Special Sch, Henrietta Street School, An Cosan CSS, An Taonad Reamhscoile, St Peters Special Sch, Hospital School CHI at Temple Street, St L O Tooles 2 Spec, Enable Ireland Sandymount School, Our Lady of Hope School, Scoil Eoin and St John of God Sp Sch, 778 pupils between them. 29 of the 66 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.
Portobello beside the 97 other Irish towns of 4,000 to 7,700 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfield and Grange | 7,687 | 58 | 20,798 | 6 | 24% | 2 km |
| … | ||||||
| Rathgar | 5,768 | 105 | 34,594 | 8 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Ferrybank | 5,766 | 32 | 12,081 | 2 | 38% | 0.6 km |
| Carrick-on-Suir | 5,752 | 8 | 2,088 | 1 | 63% | 0.6 km |
| Carrickmacross | 5,745 | 6 | 2,352 | 1 | 17% | 0.2 km |
| Portobello | 5,732 | 110 | 29,104 | 7 | 46% | 0.4 km |
| Blessington | 5,611 | 6 | 1,711 | 1 | 0% | 0.2 km |
| Knocknaheeny | 5,592 | 59 | 18,265 | 5 | 59% | 0.5 km |
| Carrigtwohill | 5,568 | 6 | 2,782 | 0 | 0% | 0.2 km |
| Inishkenny | 5,552 | 43 | 16,164 | 4 | 35% | 1.4 km |
| … | ||||||
| Newcastle | 4,032 | 31 | 11,321 | 5 | 29% | 0.9 km |
Of the other 97 towns, 7 have more pupils at the schools around them than Portobello. 84 of the 98 towns have an all-Irish school within 3 km.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Portobello
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 Portobello had 28,160 pupils in 2015/16 and 29,104 in 2025/26. Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School grew most: +852% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Portobello
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 Portobello
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portobello | 110 | 29,104 | 7 | 46% | 0.4 km |
| Christchurch 0.7 km | 119 | 29,651 | 8 | 51% | 0.3 km |
| Temple Bar 1.2 km | 116 | 27,705 | 10 | 51% | 0.5 km |
| Rathmines West 1.3 km | 136 | 39,314 | 9 | 38% | 0 km |
| The Liberties 1.3 km | 129 | 33,405 | 9 | 53% | 0.3 km |
| St Stephen's Green 1.5 km | 127 | 33,381 | 9 | 47% | 0 km |
| Rathmines East 1.6 km | 135 | 41,393 | 12 | 36% | 0.2 km |
Rathmines East has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 12. Since 2019/20 the pupils around Portobello changed by +8%; among its neighbours, St Stephen's Green’s grew most (+9%) and Christchurch’s least (+5%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Portobello 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 Portobello
How many schools are there in Portobello?
In Portobello or within 3 km of it: 66 primary schools, 32 secondary schools and 12 special schools, with 29,104 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Portobello that teach through Irish?
Yes, 7: Gaelscoil Eoin, Gaelscoil Lios na nOg and S.N. Brighde teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Portobello?
12 of the 32: Catholic University School, Loreto College, St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines and St Conleths College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Portobello?
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 Portobello?
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).