Photo: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0Rathgar has 15 fee-paying secondary schools in and around it
DEIS, the extra support for schools serving disadvantaged areas, reaches 21% of the schools around Rathgar, below both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 19 of its 34 secondary schools take only boys or only girls. Ireland publishes no school results, and the Education Act 1998 restricts comparing them, so these schools are described here, never 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 Rathgar’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), St Michaels College (731) and Mount Anville Secondary School (726), and 11 more. Every school ↓
Mostly single-sex at secondary
Most secondary schools here take only boys or only girls; the mixed ones are marked on the cards below. Single-sex: Terenure College (800), Our Ladys School (799), St Michaels College (731) and Mount Anville Secondary School (726), and 15 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Within 10 km of the town there are 127 post-primary schools to choose from, of different kinds; each sets its own admission policy, and many families apply to several. The nearest: Stratford College (0.3 km), The High School (0.4 km) and Presentation Community College (1.2 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Drawn from the Department of Education’s lists; none of it judges how well a school teaches.
The 105 schools in and around Rathgar
Each school in or within 3 km of Rathgar links to a page of its own. Ireland doesn’t publish results for individual schools, so none of these carries a letter.
Show all 34 secondary schools
Show all 61 primary schools
Where the 105 schools in and around Rathgar 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 Rathgar’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 Rathgar
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
8 of Rathgar’s 105 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Mologa, S.N. Brighde and Gaelscoil Lios na nOg.
Who Rathgar’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 Rathgar | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 16% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 51% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 65% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 49% | 18% | 6% |
Fewer of the pupils around Rathgar are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 16% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). Where this area differs most from Ireland is post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools, at 49% against 6%. St Christopher's NS, with 598 pupils, is the largest school here in DEIS.
Each of the 105 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 Rathgar’s schools
Ethos as listed for 2025/26: each bar splits the schools by who runs them.
69 of Rathgar’s 105 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (43), Educate Together (8) and Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COI (5). 22 of the 105 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 35 patrons of Rathgar’s schools
The patron owns the school and sets its ethos; a board of management runs it day to day.
The schools around Rathgar answer to 35 patrons, and Archbishop of Dublin leads with 43 of the 105 schools and 37% of their pupils. 4 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 8.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Christopher's NS, 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, Ballyroan B, St Attractas Senior, Presentation Primary School, Scoil Mhuire Boys, St Josephs Boys, S.N. Brighde, Scoil Úna Naofa, St Attractas Junior, Holy Spirit Junior Primary School, Holy Cross, Scoil Naithi, St Damiens, Gaelscoil Mologa, St Brigids Primary School, Presentation Primary School, Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1, Marist, Scoil Naisiunta an Dea Aoire, Muire Og 2 Loreto Con, Scoil Mhuire, Our Ladys, Scoil Treasa Naofa, St Clares Convent, Scoil Eoin, Scoil Caitriona na mBraithre, Sancta Maria C B S, Catherine Mc Auley N Sc, Scoil Iosagain Boys Senior, St Peters Special Sch, Our Lady of Hope School, St Declans Special Sch | Catholic | 43 | 12,712 |
| Educate TogetherHarolds Cross Educate Together, Ballinteer Educate Together, Goatstown Educate Together, Harcourt Terrace Educate Together, Riverview Educate Together, Rathfarnham Educate Together, Dublin 6 Clonskeagh and Dublin 6W Primary School, Goatstown Stillorgan Primary School | Multi-denominational | 8 | 2,271 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustOur Ladys School, Muckross Park College, St Louis High School, De La Salle College, Our Lady's Grove | Catholic | 5 | 2,956 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil na Fuinseoige, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, Gaelscoil Lios na nOg, Gaelscoil Laighean, Gaelscoil Eoin | Multi-denominational, Catholic | 5 | 1,119 |
| Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COITaney, Rathfarnham Parish, Sandford Parish, St Catherines West, Zion Parish Primary School | Church of Ireland | 5 | 1,079 |
| The Spiritan Education TrustSt Michaels College, Templeogue College, St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., Rathmines | Catholic | 3 | 1,868 |
| Loreto Education TrustLoreto High School, Loreto College, Loreto College | Catholic | 3 | 1,533 |
| City of Dublin ETBPresentation, Clogher Road, Solas Hospital School | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 3 | 838 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustColáiste Éanna, Christian Brothers, Synge St. | Catholic | 2 | 874 |
| CEISTSancta Maria College, Presentation College | Catholic | 2 | 839 |
| Dublin Talmud TorahStratford College, Scoil Naisiunta Stratford | Jewish | 2 | 277 |
| Board of Governors of the High SchoolThe High School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 811 |
| Carmelite Order (Irish Province)Terenure College | Catholic | 1 | 800 |
| Mount Anville Sacred Heart Education TrustMount Anville | Catholic | 1 | 726 |
| Council of Alexandra CollegeAlexandra College | Church of Ireland | 1 | 664 |
| Society of Jesus (Jesuits)Gonzaga College | Catholic | 1 | 576 |
| Marist Education AuthorityCatholic University School | Catholic | 1 | 544 |
| 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 |
| Dublin & Dún Laoghaire ETB & Carmelite Order (Irish Province)Ballinteer | Inter-denominational | 1 | 415 |
| Islamic Foundation of IrelandIslamic | Muslim | 1 | 414 |
| 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 |
| Board of Governors of St Patrick's Cathedral Grammar SchoolSt Patricks Cathedral Grammar School | Church of Ireland | 1 | 302 |
| Religious Sisters of CharityRosary College | Catholic | 1 | 250 |
| 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 |
| The John Scottus Education Trust Company Limited by GuaranteeJohn Scottus | Multi-denominational | 1 | 136 |
| 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 |
| 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 Rathgar
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 15 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
Between 2019/20 and now, 28 of the 88 grew by 5% or more and 36 shrank as much, while Ireland’s pupil numbers moved +5%.
All 88 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 Rathgar’s schools
Reports from the Department of Education’s Inspectorate, every school’s linked and none rated
The Inspectorate inspects schools in several ways: a whole-school evaluation covers teaching, learning and how the school is led; a subject inspection looks at one subject; a follow-through checks on earlier advice. Reports go on gov.ie with the school’s reply.
Reports say what inspectors found and what should improve, without an overall grade, so none appears here; each of the 105 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 Rathgar
Post-primary schools within 10 km of the town; children move at about twelve, and families apply to each school
Families in Rathgar have 127 post-primary schools within 10 km: 94 voluntary secondary schools, 18 ETB schools, 12 community schools and 3 comprehensive schools. Of these, 58 are single-sex: 31 for girls and 27 for boys. Fees are charged at 29 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 7 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford CollegeVoluntary secondary · Jewish | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 189 | 0.3 km |
| The High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 811 | 0.4 km |
| Presentation Community CollegeETB · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 443 | 1.2 km |
| Alexandra CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls | Fee-paying, Boarding | 664 | 1.3 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 1.4 km |
| De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 463 | 1.4 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 1.6 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 1.7 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 1.9 km |
| Terenure CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 800 | 1.9 km |
| Gaelcholáiste an PhiarsaighVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 296 | 2 km |
| Our Ladys SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 2 km |
All 127 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 2.1 km |
| Loreto High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 625 | 2.1 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 2.3 km |
| Our Lady's Grove Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 295 | 2.5 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 2.6 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 2.7 km |
| St Kilian's Deutsche SchuleVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 475 | 2.7 km |
| Rosary CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 250 | 2.8 km |
| The Teresian SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 230 | 2.8 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 2.9 km |
| Goatstown Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 366 | 2.9 km |
| Templeogue CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 637 | 2.9 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 3 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 3 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 3.1 km |
| Ballinteer Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 415 | 3.1 km |
| Coláiste ÉannaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 618 | 3.2 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 3.2 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 3.3 km |
| Sancta Maria CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 577 | 3.5 km |
| Mount Anville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 726 | 3.6 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 3.6 km |
| St. Tiernan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 368 | 3.7 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 3.7 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 3.9 km |
| Wesley CollegeVoluntary secondary · Methodist | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 942 | 3.9 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 4 km |
| St Mac Dara's Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 915 | 4.1 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 4.1 km |
| St Pauls Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 466 | 4.2 km |
| St Benildus CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 949 | 4.2 km |
| Coláiste EoinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Gaelcholáiste | 517 | 4.3 km |
| Greenhills CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 186 | 4.4 km |
| Assumption Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 270 | 4.4 km |
| Coláiste ÍosagáinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Gaelcholáiste | 488 | 4.4 km |
| St Andrews CollegeVoluntary secondary · Presbyterian | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 4.5 km |
| St. Colmcille's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 727 | 4.5 km |
| Meanscoil Iognáid RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 521 | 4.6 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 4.6 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 4.6 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 4.7 km |
| St Columba's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 357 | 4.7 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 4.8 km |
| Oatlands CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 623 | 4.8 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 4.9 km |
| Tallaght Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 840 | 4.9 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 4.9 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 4.9 km |
| Willow Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 206 | 4.9 km |
| St Raphaela's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 637 | 5.1 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 5.2 km |
| Blackrock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 1,041 | 5.3 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 521 | 5.4 km |
| Coláiste de hÍdeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 266 | 5.4 km |
| Rockbrook Park SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 186 | 5.6 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 5.6 km |
| Rosemont SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 307 | 6.1 km |
| Firhouse Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 411 | 6.2 km |
| Firhouse Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 825 | 6.4 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 6.5 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 6.6 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 6.6 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 6.7 km |
| Newpark Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 884 | 6.8 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 6.8 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 6.8 km |
| Kingswood Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,006 | 6.8 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 6.8 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 6.9 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 7.1 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 7.2 km |
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 7.3 km |
| Stepaside Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 741 | 7.3 km |
| Old Bawn Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,024 | 7.3 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 7.3 km |
| Loreto College FoxrockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 660 | 7.3 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 7.4 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 7.4 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 7.4 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 7.4 km |
| Rockford Manor Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 273 | 7.5 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 7.8 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 8 km |
| Coláiste BrídeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 993 | 8 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 8.1 km |
| St Marks Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 931 | 8.2 km |
| Christian Brothers CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 549 | 8.3 km |
| Phobailscoil IosoldeCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 764 | 8.4 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 8.5 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 8.5 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 8.6 km |
| Moyle Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 763 | 8.6 km |
| Clonkeen CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 635 | 8.6 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 8.7 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 8.7 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 9 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 9 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 9 km |
| Coláiste ChilliainETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 400 | 9 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 9 km |
| Collinstown Park Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 630 | 9.2 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 9.2 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 9.2 km |
| Killinarden Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 471 | 9.3 km |
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 9.3 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 9.3 km |
| The Kings HospitalVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 732 | 9.5 km |
| Holy Child Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 275 | 9.6 km |
| Cabinteely Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 512 | 9.7 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 9.8 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 9.8 km |
| St Aidan's Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 561 | 9.8 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 9.9 km |
| Mount Seskin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 350 | 9.9 km |
| Rathdown SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | Fee-paying, Boarding | 364 | 10 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Rathgar
10 special schools serve the area: St Peters Special Sch, Scoil Eoin, Our Lady of Hope School, Libermann Spiritan School, Cheeverstown Sp Sch, Saplings Special School, Catherine Mc Auley N Sc, St Declans Special Sch, Solas Hospital School and Setanta Special School, 667 pupils between them. 27 of the 61 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.
Rathgar beside the 97 other Irish towns of 4,000 to 7,800 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 |
| … | ||||||
| Oranmore | 5,819 | 8 | 3,669 | 1 | 13% | 0.4 km |
| Rathcoole | 5,792 | 11 | 5,371 | 2 | 9% | 0.5 km |
| Sutton | 5,789 | 50 | 14,773 | 4 | 30% | 0.4 km |
| Harmonstown | 5,769 | 84 | 25,004 | 5 | 39% | 0.4 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 |
| … | ||||||
| Newcastle | 4,032 | 31 | 11,321 | 5 | 29% | 0.9 km |
Among the 97 other towns, 1 have more pupils at their schools than Rathgar does. Within 3 km, 84 of these 98 towns have a school teaching through Irish.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Rathgar
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 Rathgar had 32,369 pupils in 2015/16 and 34,594 in 2025/26. Harcourt Terrace Educate Together National School grew most: +852% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Rathgar
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 Rathgar
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rathgar | 105 | 34,594 | 8 | 21% | 0.3 km |
| Terenure 1.4 km | 119 | 38,960 | 8 | 37% | 0.3 km |
| Rathmines West 1.4 km | 136 | 39,314 | 9 | 38% | 0 km |
| Churchtown 1.6 km | 106 | 41,500 | 9 | 13% | 0.2 km |
| Rathmines East 1.7 km | 135 | 41,393 | 12 | 36% | 0.2 km |
| Clonskeagh 2.3 km | 106 | 39,846 | 10 | 10% | 0.3 km |
| Rathfarnham 2.4 km | 111 | 39,391 | 10 | 22% | 0.3 km |
Rathmines East has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 12. The roll around Rathgar moved +8% since 2019/20; nearby, Rathmines East grew most (+8%) and Rathfarnham least (+6%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Rathgar 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 Rathgar
How many schools are there in Rathgar?
In Rathgar or within 3 km of it: 61 primary schools, 34 secondary schools and 10 special schools, with 34,594 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Rathgar that teach through Irish?
Yes, 8: Gaelscoil Mologa, S.N. Brighde and Gaelscoil Lios na nOg teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Rathgar?
15 of the 34: The High School, Stratford College, Alexandra College and Gonzaga College. The others are free.
What is the best school in Rathgar?
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 Rathgar?
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).