Photo: Finnfrog99 · CC BY-SA 4.041 of the 64 schools around Santry get extra support for disadvantaged areas
In the comparison, Santry comes above both Co. Dublin’s towns (40%) and Irish towns (35%). 9 of its 17 secondary schools take only boys or only girls. 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 Santry’s schools
Extra support for many schools
Many schools here are in DEIS, which gives schools in disadvantaged areas more teachers, money and help; across Ireland, 30% of schools are. In DEIS: St Mary's Secondary School (830), St Michaels Secondary School (646), Beneavin De La Salle College (585) and Trinity Comprehensive School (564), and 37 more. Who runs them ↓
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: St Mary's Secondary School (830), Dominican College (799), St. Aidan's C.B.S. (725) and St Michaels Secondary School (646), and 5 more. Every school ↓
A wide choice at twelve
Families here can choose among 84 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: Trinity Comprehensive School (1.7 km), Our Lady Of Mercy College (2.2 km) and St. Aidan's C.B.S. (2.3 km). Post-primary choices ↓
Facts from the Department of Education’s lists; nothing here judges how well a school teaches.
Who runs Santry’s schools
Ethos as listed for 2025/26: each bar splits the schools by who runs them.
55 of Santry’s 64 schools have a Catholic ethos, against 80% across Ireland. The patrons with most schools here: Archbishop of Dublin (38), Le Chéile Schools Trust (6) and An Foras Pátrúnachta (4). 41 of the 64 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 64 schools in and around Santry
Each school in or within 3 km of Santry links to a page of its own. Ireland publishes no school-by-school results, which is why these cards have no letters.
Show all 43 primary schools
Where the 64 schools in and around Santry 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 Santry’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 Santry
How many schools teach through each language; the tick marks Ireland’s share.
7 of Santry’s 64 schools teach every subject through Irish: Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna, Gaelscoil Cholmcille and Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch.
Who Santry’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 Santry | Co. Dublin | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at DEIS schools | 58% | 28% | 27% |
| Pupils at all-Irish schools | 8% | 6% | 6% |
| Girls | 54% | 49% | 49% |
| Post-primary pupils at single-sex schools | 60% | 38% | 29% |
| Post-primary pupils at fee-paying schools | 0% | 18% | 6% |
More of the pupils around Santry are at DEIS schools than across Ireland: 58% against 27% (Co. Dublin: 28%). Set beside Ireland, post-primary pupils at single-sex schools stand out most: 60% against 29%. The largest DEIS school here is St Mary's Secondary School, with 830 pupils.
Each of the 64 schools
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary): enrolments by sex and the DEIS list. Shares are of pupils, not of schools; a county’s are the schools listed with its towns.
The 12 patrons of Santry’s schools
Each school has a patron that owns it and sets its ethos; its board of management runs it.
Of the 64 schools around Santry, 38 have Archbishop of Dublin as patron, teaching 48% of the pupils; 12 patrons in all. 5 are ETB schools. Educate Together runs 2.
| Patron | Ethos | Schools | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop of DublinSt Fiachras Sen, Scoil Fhiachra Soisir, Holy Child, Mother of Divine Grace, St Canices G, St Brigids Convent, Scoil na Croi Naofa, Corpus Christi, St Brigids Convent, St Canices B, S N Mhuire na mBrathar, Our Lady of Consolation, St Davids, Scoil an Leinbh Iosa Boys Seniors, St Josephs, SN an Spioraid Naiomh C, Scoil Mobhi, Holy Spirit B, St Francis Senior, Our Lady of Victories Infant, S.N. Caitriona Girls, Cromcastle Green B, St John of God, Our Lady Immac Sen, S.N. Caitriona Naionain, Bantiarna na mBuanna Girls, Bantiarna na mBuanna Boys, Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch, St Francis Junior, St Josephs Senior, Virgin Mary Girls, Darndale N.S. Junior, Scoil Nais Ide Cailini, S N na Maighdine Muire B, Scoil Chiarain, St Ciarans Spec Sch, St Josephs Jnr, St Pauls Hospital Special School | Catholic | 38 | 10,069 |
| Le Chéile Schools TrustSt Mary's, Dominican College, St Michaels, Beneavin De La Salle College, Maryfield College, Scoil Chaitriona | Catholic | 6 | 3,910 |
| City of Dublin ETBClonturk College, Coolock, Ellenfield, Beaumont Hospital Special School | Multi-denominational, Other | 4 | 1,332 |
| An Foras PátrúnachtaGaelscoil Ui Earcain, Gaelscoil Cholmcille, Gaelscoil Áine, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna | Catholic, Multi-denominational | 4 | 797 |
| Edmund Rice Schools TrustSt. Aidan's C.B.S., St. David's College, St Kevins College | Catholic | 3 | 1,778 |
| Educate TogetherGlasnevin Educate Together NS, Grace Park Educate Together | Multi-denominational | 2 | 820 |
| CEISTOur Lady Of Mercy College, Mercy College Coolock | Catholic | 2 | 809 |
| Minister for EducationTrinity Comprehensive School | Catholic | 1 | 564 |
| Marist Education AuthorityChanel College | Catholic | 1 | 451 |
| The North Dublin National School ProjectNorth Dublin N.S. Project | Multi-denominational | 1 | 214 |
| City of Dublin ETB & Rosminian FathersRosmini | Inter-denominational | 1 | 139 |
| St Michael's HouseSt Michaels Hse Spec Sc | Catholic | 1 | 64 |
Department of Education school lists: patron 2024/25, ethos 2025/26.
How children get a place in Santry
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.
Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; each school’s admission policy and notice are on its own website.
Which schools are growing
20 schools here have grown by 5% or more since 2019/20, 30 have shrunk by as much, out of 59; across Ireland: +5%.
All 59 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 Santry’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 64 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 Santry
All post-primaries within 10 km; at about twelve, families choose and apply school by school
Within 10 km of Santry there are 84 post-primary schools: 61 voluntary secondary schools, 16 ETB schools, 5 community schools and 2 comprehensive schools. Of these, 34 are single-sex: 18 for girls and 16 for boys. Fees are charged at 10 of them. Every subject is taught through Irish at 3 of them.
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 564 | 1.7 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 407 | 2.2 km |
| St. Aidan's C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 725 | 2.3 km |
| Ellenfield Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 150 | 2.3 km |
| Coolock Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 2.4 km |
| Clonturk CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 968 | 2.8 km |
| St Kevins CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 503 | 2.9 km |
| Beneavin De La Salle CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 585 | 3.2 km |
| St. David's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 550 | 3.2 km |
| Maryfield CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 527 | 3.3 km |
| Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 799 | 3.4 km |
| Chanel CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 451 | 3.4 km |
All 84 post-primary schools within reach
| School | Takes | Also | Pupils | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoil ChaitrionaVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 523 | 3.5 km |
| St Mary's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 830 | 3.6 km |
| Rosmini Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 139 | 3.7 km |
| Mercy College CoolockVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 402 | 3.8 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 4.1 km |
| Árdscoil RísVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 563 | 4.1 km |
| St Michaels Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 646 | 4.1 km |
| Mount Temple Comprehensive SchoolComprehensive · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 903 | 4.3 km |
| St Vincents C.B.S. GlasnevinVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 408 | 4.5 km |
| Coláiste EoinETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 257 | 4.5 km |
| Marino CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 4.6 km |
| St Josephs C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 310 | 4.6 km |
| St Pauls CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 650 | 5 km |
| The Donahies Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 488 | 5 km |
| Cabra Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 264 | 5.1 km |
| Belmayne Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 595 | 5.1 km |
| O'Connell SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 222 | 5.2 km |
| New Cross CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 417 | 5.2 km |
| Árdscoil La SalleVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 5.4 km |
| St Dominics CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 790 | 5.5 km |
| Coláiste ChoilmVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 421 | 5.5 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 655 | 5.5 km |
| Belvedere College S.JVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 1,011 | 5.6 km |
| St Declan's CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 651 | 5.6 km |
| Coláiste MhuireVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste, DEIS | 272 | 5.7 km |
| Manor House SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 652 | 5.7 km |
| Larkin Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 403 | 5.9 km |
| Malahide & Portmarnock Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 696 | 5.9 km |
| Holy Faith Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 647 | 5.9 km |
| Grange Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 553 | 6 km |
| Gaelcholáiste ReachrannETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Gaelcholáiste | 453 | 6 km |
| Mount Carmel Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 386 | 6 km |
| St Josephs Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 283 | 6.2 km |
| St Pauls C.B.S.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 244 | 6.3 km |
| Fingal Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 864 | 6.5 km |
| C.B.S. Westland RowVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 205 | 6.9 km |
| Swords Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 952 | 6.9 km |
| St Finians Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 671 | 6.9 km |
| Ringsend CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 191 | 6.9 km |
| Malahide Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 1,250 | 7.3 km |
| St Patricks Cathedral Grammar SchoolVoluntary secondary · Church of Ireland | Girls and boys | – | 302 | 7.5 km |
| Edmund Rice CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 912 | 7.5 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 588 | 7.6 km |
| C.B.S. James StreetVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 251 | 7.7 km |
| Catholic University SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 544 | 7.7 km |
| Pobalscoil NeasáinCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 831 | 7.8 km |
| Portmarnock Community SchoolCommunity school · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 955 | 7.8 km |
| Presentation CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 262 | 7.9 km |
| St Marys Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 230 | 7.9 km |
| Christian Brothers, Synge St.Voluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | DEIS | 256 | 8 km |
| Marian CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 319 | 8.1 km |
| Sandymount Park Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 8.3 km |
| Le Cheile Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | – | 944 | 8.5 km |
| St Conleths CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 339 | 8.5 km |
| St. Mary's College C.S.Sp., RathminesVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 500 | 8.7 km |
| St. Fintan's High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | – | 714 | 8.7 km |
| Rath Dara Community CollegeETB · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 323 | 8.8 km |
| Mount Sackville Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | Fee-paying | 636 | 8.9 km |
| Loreto CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | DEIS | 320 | 9 km |
| Castleknock CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 771 | 9 km |
| Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 349 | 9 km |
| Clogher Road Community CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 297 | 9.2 km |
| Sandford Park School LtdVoluntary secondary · Inter-denominational | Girls and boys | Fee-paying | 437 | 9.2 km |
| Muckross Park CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 709 | 9.2 km |
| Harolds Cross Educate Together Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | – | 437 | 9.2 km |
| St Louis High SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 690 | 9.4 km |
| Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls and boys | DEIS | 289 | 9.5 km |
| Kylemore CollegeETB · Multi-denominational | Girls and boys | DEIS | 479 | 9.6 km |
| St Michaels CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 731 | 9.7 km |
| Gonzaga CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Boys | Fee-paying | 576 | 9.8 km |
| St. Seton's Secondary SchoolVoluntary secondary · Other | Girls and boys | DEIS | 741 | 9.8 km |
| Santa Sabina Dominican CollegeVoluntary secondary · Catholic | Girls | – | 754 | 9.9 km |
Department of Education post-primary list 2025/26; straight-line distances from the town’s centre point.
Special schools and classes around Santry
4 special schools serve the area: St Pauls Hospital Special School, Beaumont Hospital Special School, St Ciarans Spec Sch and St Michaels Hse Spec Sc, 267 pupils between them. 25 of the 43 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.
Santry beside the 100 other Irish towns of 4,700 to 9,100 people
Schools in or within 3 km of each town, by population; none is ranked, as Ireland publishes no results
| Town | People | Schools | Pupils | All-Irish | DEIS schools | Nearest post-primary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterford City Centre | 9,031 | 33 | 12,411 | 2 | 39% | 0.5 km |
| … | ||||||
| Eyre Square | 6,801 | 36 | 12,413 | 5 | 33% | 1.2 km |
| Christchurch | 6,778 | 119 | 29,651 | 8 | 51% | 0.3 km |
| O'Connell Street | 6,749 | 124 | 33,516 | 11 | 52% | 0.5 km |
| Fermoy | 6,720 | 12 | 3,461 | 1 | 17% | 0.2 km |
| Santry | 6,710 | 64 | 20,947 | 7 | 64% | 1.7 km |
| Dunshaughlin | 6,644 | 5 | 2,399 | 1 | 0% | 0.4 km |
| Kells | 6,608 | 6 | 2,154 | 0 | 0% | 0.6 km |
| Ballinasloe | 6,597 | 6 | 2,019 | 1 | 50% | 1.8 km |
| Ballytruckle | 6,563 | 32 | 12,776 | 3 | 41% | 1 km |
| … | ||||||
| Birr | 4,726 | 7 | 1,708 | 1 | 86% | 1.4 km |
More pupils attend the schools around 29 of the other 100 towns than around Santry. Teaching through Irish is on offer within 3 km in 88 of the 101.
Department of Education school lists 2025/26 (preliminary); CSO Census 2022 populations.
Pupil numbers around Santry
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 Santry had 21,582 pupils in 2015/16 and 20,947 in 2025/26, fewer than before. Clonturk College grew most: +182% since 2019/20.
Pupils at schools in and around Santry
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 Santry
Each town’s schools in or within 3 km of its outline; distances as the crow flies.
Whitehall has the most schools teaching through Irish nearby: 12. Pupils around Santry: +1% since 2019/20. Among the neighbours, Darndale led (+4%) and Whitehall trailed (+0%).
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Which schools count. Every school in Santry 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 Santry
How many schools are there in Santry?
In Santry or within 3 km of it: 43 primary schools, 17 secondary schools and 4 special schools, with 20,947 pupils between them.
Are there schools in Santry that teach through Irish?
Yes, 7: Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna, Gaelscoil Cholmcille and Scoil an Tseachtar Laoch teach every subject through Irish.
Are there fee-paying secondary schools near Santry?
No: all 17 secondary schools here are free.
What is the best school in Santry?
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 Santry?
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).