Photo: The original uploader was Suckindiesel at English Wikipedia . · CC BY 2.5Rathfarnham has 12 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
Around Rathfarnham, 22% of schools are in DEIS, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 65 primary schools, 37 secondary schools and 9 special schools are in or within 3 km of Rathfarnham, with 39,391 pupils between them. These schools are described rather than graded, because Ireland publishes no school results and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them.
Schools in the town or within 3 km of its outline, Department of Education lists for 2025/26; the Ireland figures cover all schools listed.
What stands out about Rathfarnham’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: Wesley College (942), The High School (811), Terenure College (800) and Alexandra College (664), and 8 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 108 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: Loreto High School (0.3 km), Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh (0.5 km) and Coláiste Éanna (0.9 km). Post-primary choices ↓
From the Department of Education’s school lists: facts, not judgements of how well a school teaches.
The 111 schools in and around Rathfarnham
Here are the schools in Rathfarnham or within 3 km of it, every one with its own page. You won’t find letters or results below: Ireland publishes none for single schools.
Show all 37 secondary schools
Show all 65 primary schools
Where the 111 schools in and around Rathfarnham 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 Rathfarnham’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 Rathfarnham
The schools by teaching language, with Ireland’s share as the black tick.
10 of Rathfarnham’s 111 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Scoil Naithi and Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna.
Who Rathfarnham’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 Rathfarnham | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 17% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 51% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 44% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 34% | 18% | 6% |
Around Rathfarnham, 17% of pupils attend a school in DEIS; across Ireland it is 27%, and 28% in Co. Dublin. Furthest from Ireland’s mix is the share of post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools: 34% here against 6%. The biggest school in DEIS is Tallaght Community School (840 pupils).
Each of the 111 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 Rathfarnham’s schools
Ethos as listed for 2025/26: each bar splits the schools by who runs them.
70 of Rathfarnham’s 111 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (49), Educate Together (9) and Le Chéile Schools Trust (6). 24 of the 111 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 33 patrons of Rathfarnham’s schools
Patrons own the schools and set their ethos; boards of management run them day to day.
33 patrons run the 111 schools around Rathfarnham; the largest, Archbishop of Dublin, has 49 of them and 38% of the pupils. The local Education and Training Board runs 10. Educate Together runs 9.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Colmcille Senior, Scoil Colmcille Naofa, St. Louis, St Marys Central, St Pius X G, St Pius X N.S. Boys, St Patrick GNS, Marley Grange, Bishop Galvin, Clochar Loreto, Bishop Shanahan, Our lady's Grove Primary School, Harolds Cross, Scoil Treasa Firhouse, Ballyroan B, St Attractas Senior, Scoil Mhuire Boys, Presentation Primary School, St Josephs Boys, S.N. Brighde, Scoil Úna Naofa, St Attractas Junior, Scoil Carmel, Holy Spirit Junior Primary School, Holy Spirit Senior Primary School, Scoil Santain, Holy Cross, Scoil Naithi, St Damiens, Gaelscoil Mologa, Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1, Marist, Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire, S.N. Aenghusa, Na Maighdine Muire Girl, Muire Og 2 Loreto Con, Scoil Mhuire, Scoil an Maighdine Mhuire Boys, Our Ladys, St Clares Convent, Scoil Aenghusa Jun, Scoil Eoin, Scoil Iosa, St Josephs Special Sch, Scoil Iosagain Boys Senior, S.N. Bhaile Eamonn, St Peters Special Sch, St Roses Special School, Our Lady of Hope School | Catholic | 49 | 14,878 |
| Educate TogetherHarolds Cross Educate Together, Firhouse Educate Together, Ballinteer Educate Together, Goatstown Educate Together, Firhouse Educate Together, Riverview Educate Together, Rathfarnham Educate Together, Dublin 6 Clonskeagh and Dublin 6W Primary School, Goatstown Stillorgan Primary School | Multi-denominational | 9 | 2,742 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustOur Ladys School, Muckross Park College, St Louis High School, St Pauls, De La Salle College, Our Lady's Grove | Catholic | 6 | 3,422 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil na Fuinseoige, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil na Giúise, Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna, Gaelscoil Lios na nOg | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 5 | 1,436 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COITaney, Rathfarnham Parish, Sandford Parish, Whitechurch Nat School, Zion Parish Primary School | Church of Ireland | 5 | 1,080 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETBSt Mac Dara's, Firhouse, Coláiste de hÍde, Greenhills College | Inter-denominational, Multi-denominational | 4 | 2,192 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Carmelite Order (Irish Province)St. Colmcille's, Ballinteer, St. Tiernan's | Inter-denominational | 3 | 1,510 |
| The Spiritan Education TrustTempleogue College, St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | Catholic | 2 | 1,137 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto High School, Loreto College | Catholic | 2 | 945 |
| City of Dublin ETBPresentation, Clogher Road | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 2 | 740 |
| Dublin Talmud TorahStratford College, Scoil Naisiunta Stratford | Jewish | 2 | 277 |
| Conference of the Methodist Church in IrelandWesley College | Methodist | 1 | 942 |
| 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 |
| Council of Alexandra CollegeAlexandra College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 664 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustColáiste Éanna | Catholic | 1 | 618 |
| CEISTSancta Maria College | Catholic | 1 | 577 |
| Society of Jesus (Jesuits)Gonzaga College | Catholic | 1 | 576 |
| Der Deutsche SchulvereinSt Kilian's Deutsche Schule | Inter-denominational | 1 | 475 |
| Board of Governors of Sandford Park SchoolSandford Park School Ltd | Inter-denominational | 1 | 437 |
| Islamic Foundation of IrelandIslamic | Muslim | 1 | 414 |
| Griffith Barracks Multi-denominational School Company Limited by GuaranteeGriffith Barracks Multi D School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 403 |
| Body of Fellows of St Columba's CollegeSt Columba's College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 357 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityRosary College | Catholic | 1 | 250 |
| 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 |
| Famed Company Limited by GuaranteeRockbrook Park School | Catholic | 1 | 186 |
| Conference of Methodist Church in IrelandRathgar | Methodist | 1 | 94 |
| Health Service ExecutiveSetanta Special School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 68 |
| Spiritan Education TrustLibermann Spiritan School | Catholic | 1 | 51 |
| Sapling School Company Limited by GuaranteeSaplings Special School | Multi-denominational | 1 | 30 |
| Cheeverstown School Company limited by guaranteeCheeverstown Sp Sch | Catholic | 1 | 29 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Rathfarnham
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
Of these 97 schools, 29 have grown by at least 5% since 2019/20 and 44 have lost as much; Ireland’s pupils changed by +5%.
All 97 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 Rathfarnham’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 111 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 Rathfarnham
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
108 post-primary schools are within 10 km of Rathfarnham: 79 voluntary secondary schools, 16 ETB schools, 11 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. 48 teach girls and boys apart: 26 girls’ and 22 boys’ schools. Fees are charged at 27 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 7 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 0.3 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 0.5 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 0.9 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 1.2 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 1.3 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 1.6 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 1.7 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 1.9 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 2.1 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 2.2 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 2.2 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 2.3 km |
All 108 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 2.3 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 2.7 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 3 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 3.3 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 3.3 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 3.3 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 3.4 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 3.4 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 3.4 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 3.5 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 3.6 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 3.6 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 3.7 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 3.7 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 3.7 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 3.8 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 4 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 4.1 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 4.1 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 4.2 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 4.3 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 4.3 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 4.3 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 4.4 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 4.4 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 4.5 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 4.5 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 4.6 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 4.8 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 4.8 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 4.9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 4.9 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 5.1 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 5.2 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 5.2 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 5.4 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 5.5 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 5.5 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 5.5 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 5.5 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 5.6 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 5.6 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 5.6 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 5.6 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 5.7 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 5.7 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 5.9 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 5.9 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 6.2 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 6.3 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 6.4 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 6.6 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 6.6 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 6.7 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 6.7 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 6.8 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 6.9 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 6.9 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 7 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 7.1 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 7.2 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 7.4 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 7.4 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 7.4 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 7.5 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 7.5 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 7.6 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 7.6 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 7.9 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 8 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 8.3 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 8.3 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 8.3 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 8.4 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 8.5 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 8.5 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 8.6 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 8.7 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 8.7 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 8.9 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 8.9 km |
| Clonkeen CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 635 | 9 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 9 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 9 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 9.1 km |
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 549 | 9.3 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 9.3 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 9.5 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 9.5 km |
| Deansrath Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 425 | 9.6 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 9.6 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 9.6 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 9.7 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 9.8 km |
| Cabinteely Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 512 | 9.9 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 Rathfarnham
9 special schools serve the area: Cheeverstown Sp Sch, Saplings Special School, St Peters Special Sch, Libermann Spiritan School, Setanta Special School, St Josephs Special Sch, Scoil Eoin, St Roses Special School and Our Lady of Hope School, 584 pupils between them. 33 of the 65 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.
Rathfarnham beside the 78 other Irish towns of 12,300 to 23,600 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portlaoise | 23,494 | 13 | 6,518 | 1 | 15% | 0.6 km |
| … | ||||||
| Carrigaline | 18,239 | 12 | 4,439 | 2 | 8% | 0.5 km |
| Stillorgan | 18,212 | 81 | 32,574 | 8 | 7% | 0.4 km |
| Templeogue | 18,076 | 118 | 40,646 | 8 | 34% | 0.5 km |
| Dún Laoghaire | 17,994 | 52 | 17,578 | 1 | 19% | 0.8 km |
| Rathfarnham | 17,508 | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
| Maynooth | 17,259 | 12 | 6,742 | 3 | 0% | 0.3 km |
| Rathmines East | 16,923 | 135 | 41,393 | 12 | 36% | 0.2 km |
| Leixlip | 16,733 | 29 | 13,767 | 1 | 0% | 0.4 km |
| Dundrum | 16,570 | 89 | 35,482 | 10 | 7% | 0.4 km |
| … | ||||||
| Enniscorthy | 12,310 | 9 | 3,951 | 2 | 44% | 0.9 km |
Of the other 78 towns, 8 have more pupils at the schools around them than Rathfarnham. 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 Rathfarnham
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 Rathfarnham had 36,800 pupils in 2015/16 and 39,391 in 2025/26. Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School grew most: +407% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Rathfarnham
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 Rathfarnham
Schools in or within 3 km of each neighbouring town; distances in a straight line.
| Town | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathfarnham | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
| Ballyboden 1.5 km | 73 | 26,593 | 7 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Edmondstown 1.6 km | 57 | 23,063 | 6 | 12% | 1.1 km |
| Churchtown 1.7 km | 106 | 41,500 | 9 | 13% | 0.2 km |
| Rathgar 2.4 km | 105 | 34,594 | 8 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Ballinteer 2.5 km | 72 | 28,624 | 5 | 8% | 0.5 km |
| Templeogue 2.5 km | 118 | 40,646 | 8 | 34% | 0.5 km |
Of Rathfarnham’s neighbours, Rathgar saw the most growth in pupils since 2019/20 (+8%) and Edmondstown the least (+1%); Rathfarnham itself: +6%.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Rathfarnham 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 Rathfarnham
How many schools are there in Rathfarnham?
In Rathfarnham or within 3 km of it: 65 primary schools, 37 secondary schools and 9 special schools, with 39,391 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Rathfarnham that teach through Irish?
Yes, 10: Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Scoil Naithi and Gaelscoil Chnoc Liamhna teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Rathfarnham?
12 of the 37: Loreto High School, The High School, Stratford College and Terenure College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Rathfarnham?
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 Rathfarnham?
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).