Laois

Name: Primary schools in County Laois, 2025/26
Creator: Department of Education

63 primary schools and 10,814 pupils in 2025/26.

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Pupils in 2025/26: 10,814; −76 on 2024/25
Schools: 63; No change on 2024/25
Average school size: 171.7; −1.2 on 2024/25
Average class size: 21.65; −0.41 on 2024/25

Trends in Laois

Counts every school that reported in each year, including schools that have since closed. Dotted lines bridge 1983/84 to 1992/93. 1974/75 is left out because that year's source file is missing five counties.

Pupils

10,814

−76 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

73 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

171.7

111.2 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

21.65

−0.41 on 2024/25

2006/072025/26

Growing and falling since 2015/16

Each school's change in pupils over 10 years, from 2015/16 to 2025/26. A change of 10% or more either way counts as growing or falling.

Every school's change

59 schools with figures for both years

Schools still filling their classes in 2015/16, and schools opened since, are listed separately.

22fell by 10% or more

19within 10%

18grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 12Down 10 to 25% · 10Within 10% · 19Up 10 to 25% · 9Up 25% or more · 9

Average class size in these schools went from 24.9 in 2015/16 to 21.3 in 2025/26. 15 of the 22 schools that fell by 10% or more kept or added classes. A fall in pupils can mean smaller classes rather than fewer children wanting places. Smaller classes

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Tobar an LeinnAbbeyleix, Co. Laois 108 → 167 +54.6%
2 Barr na Sruthan N SMountmellick, Co. Laois 64 → 91 +42.2%
3 St Fintans N SMountrath, Co. Laois 79 → 108 +36.7%
4 Scoil PhadraigPortarlington, Co. Laois 393 → 521 +32.6%
5 Kiladooley Mixed N SBorris-in-Ossory, Co. Laois 104 → 132 +26.9%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Cloch an Tsionnaigh N SAbbeyleix, Co. Laois 106 → 64 −39.6%
2 Presentation Primary SchoolPortarlington, Co. Laois 723 → 496 −31.4%
3 Mountmellick Boys N SMountmellick, Co. Laois 272 → 187 −31.2%
4 Scoil Mhuire Naofa CastlecuffeClonaslee, Co. Laois 77 → 53 −31.2%
5 S N Fionntan NaofaPortlaoise, Co. Laois 85 → 60 −29.4%

Ranked by percentage change. Only schools with 50 or more pupils in 2015/16 are ranked, leaving out any still filling their classes then, because a few pupils make a big percentage in a small or new school. An amalgamation, a new school nearby or smaller classes can also explain a big rise or fall.

Newer schools

4 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 1,877 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Holy Family Senior SchoolPortlaoise · figures start 2016/17 644
Holy Family Junior SchoolPortlaoise · figures start 2016/17 599
Portlaoise Educate Together NSPortlaoise · opened 2010/11 457
Ballyroan Primary SchoolBallyroan · figures start 2016/17 177

Break Laois down

Select a group to see its schools, pupils and class sizes.

Planning areas

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Portlaoise	12	4,091	340.9	22.72	176	+54.7%	+252.4%
Portarlington	4	1,475	368.8	22.39	64	−8.8%	+51.9%
Ballinakill	11	1,291	117.4	21.60	57	+7.0%	+32.8%
Mountmellick	7	1,046	149.4	20.37	49	−9.4%	+18.7%
Mountrath	9	726	80.7	19.71	35	−0.3%	+16.0%
Rathdowney	6	655	109.2	22.00	28	+7.2%	+10.5%
Carlow	6	637	106.2	19.84	31	+1.4%	+41.6%
Athy	4	444	111.0	20.70	20	−20.1%	+15.9%
Clonaslee	3	255	85.0	18.23	13	−8.6%	+0.4%
Monasterevin	1	194	194.0	22.75	8	−6.7%	+88.3%

Changes count today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area, so changes run high, more so since 2005/06. Known data issues · All planning areas in Ireland

Patrons


Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin	40	8,027	200.7	21.72	356
Bishop of Ossory	13	1,355	104.2	21.00	62
Educate Together	1	457	457.0	23.42	19
An Foras Pátrúnachta	1	369	369.0	22.69	16
Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory COI	3	269	89.7	21.42	12
Bishop of Meath & Kildare COI	2	125	62.5	20.83	6
Archbishop of Dublin	1	106	106.0	18.80	5
Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI	1	57	57.0	19.00	3
Joint patronage between Bishop of Killaloe and the Bishop of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert COI	1	49	49.0	19.50	2

Local authorities


Laois County Council	63	10,814	171.7	21.65	481

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 10,415 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size: 21.65
Mainstream classes: 481
Largest class: 32
Classes of 30 or more: 12
Schools with a class of 30+: 9

Teachers

Teachers in the 63 mainstream primary schools here, 2006/07 to 2025/26. Class teachers are counted every year; all teaching posts where they're known.

How we count teachers

Class teachers in 2025/26: 481; Up 155 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 31%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 787; Estimate: 481 class teachers, 37 principals and deputies, 202 special education and 67 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 620; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 6 / 3; 6 schools gained a class teacher, 3 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

2 special schools in Laois, and the special classes in its 63 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 170; In 2 schools, up from 125 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26: 67; In 36 of 63 schools. 35 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27: 78; In 39 schools: 11 new classes, 3 schools with their first
Autism classes: 60; 90% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

In Laois's mainstream schools, from the NCSE's yearly lists

2020/21 35
2021/22 41
2022/23 46
2023/24 51
2024/25 59
2025/26 67
2026/27 78

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special schools in Laois
Special school	Pupils	Since 2015/16	Teaching posts	SNAs
St Francis S SPortlaoise · Mild general learning disability	121	+28.7%	19	33
The Kolbe Special SchoolPortlaoise · Severe or profound general learning disability	49	+58.1%	8	32

Sources: Department of Education enrolment lists; NCSE special class lists and special school allocations (CC BY 4.0).

What parents would prefer

2,854 of the 7,706 households with children at the 61 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 2 more schools had too few answers for their own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

The Department's own results: School reports for Co. Laois (PDF)Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 37%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 15%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 6%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 5%

By school planning area

The Department publishes the answers of parents of children not yet at school by planning area only, so these are whole areas, including any part in another county.

Compare all 314 areas

Share of parents who would prefer each, by planning area, for children at school and not yet at school
Planning area	Schools here	Households answered	Multi-denominational		Through Irish		Single-sex
Planning area	Schools here	Households answered	At school	Not yet	At school	Not yet	At school	Not yet
Portlaoise	12	1,384 (35%)	38%	42%	13%	22%	4%	4%
Ballinakill	11	417 (42%)	37%	42%	18%	19%	0%	1%
Mountrath	9	288 (45%)	27%	30%	14%	21%	8%	14%
MountmellickAlso in Co. Offaly	7	373 (44%)	33%	28%	19%	26%	10%	9%
CarlowAlso in Co. Carlow	6	1,412 (37%)	36%	45%	23%	27%	7%	6%
Rathdowney	6	300 (45%)	44%	39%	14%	21%	2%	2%
AthyAlso in Co. Kildare	4	666 (36%)	38%	38%	17%	25%	3%	4%
PortarlingtonAlso in Co. Offaly	4	658 (42%)	41%	42%	16%	20%	13%	9%
Clonaslee	3	120 (48%)	27%	47%	10%	16%	1%	0%
MonasterevinAlso in Co. Kildare	1	481 (44%)	40%	44%	18%	24%	5%	7%

Grey: fewer than 60 parents of children not yet at school answered in that area, so a handful of answers moves the figure a long way.

Each count opens those schools in Find schools, with each school's figures.

Source: Department of Education and Youth, Primary School Survey results, published 23 June 2026. Figures here add up the parents at each school with its own results.

Schools in Laois

63 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Laois (CSV)

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
Scoil Bhride NSPortlaoise	19747M	727	−3.8%	+57.7%	36	19.86	23	0
Holy Family Senior SchoolPortlaoise	20480F	644	–	–	27	23.41	26	0
Holy Family Junior SchoolPortlaoise	20270R	599	–	–	25	23.40	26	0
Scoil PhadraigPortarlington	17827A	521	+32.6%	+172.8%	23	21.87	26	0
Presentation Primary SchoolPortarlington	15556I	496	−31.4%	+27.5%	21	22.48	29	0
Portlaoise Educate Together NSPortlaoise	20347D	457	–	–	19	23.42	27	0
Scoil Chomhgain NaofaCarlow	17617M	380	+9.5%	+75.9%	16	23.12	27	0
S N Naomh EoinKillenard	18641O	374	−7.0%	+11.6%	16	23.38	28	0
Gaelscoil Phort LaoisePortlaoise	20081O	369	+24.2%	+139.6%	16	22.69	28	0
St Coleman's National SchoolStradbally	20353V	318	+24.7%	–	13	23.54	30	1
Scoil MhuireAbbeyleix	19750B	269	−28.8%	−12.4%	11	22.27	31	1
Scoil BhrideRathdowney	20071L	244	+19.0%	+8.4%	10	23.20	30	1
St Josephs Girls N.S.Mountmellick	07183W	230	−7.6%	−7.3%	12	19.17	26	0
Scoil PadraigBallylinan	17064U	218	−20.1%	+17.2%	9	23.56	30	1
Fraoch Mor N SLaois	18150S	212	−6.6%	+64.3%	8	26.50	31	1
Raithin an Uisce N SStradbally	17604D	211	−9.4%	+81.9%	8	25.62	31	1
S N Baile FinnPortlaoise	15537E	208	−8.4%	+55.2%	9	22.44	27	0
Emo Mixed N SPortlaoise	13643Q	207	−2.8%	+54.5%	8	24.38	27	0
Na Carraige N SMountmellick	18206T	204	−8.1%	+145.8%	8	24.75	28	0
Rath Mixed N SPortlaoise	13741Q	194	−6.7%	+88.3%	8	22.75	24	0
Mhuire Fatima N SPortlaoise	18368W	193	+21.4%	+132.5%	8	22.62	26	0
Our Ladys Meadow National SchooDurrow	20065Q	192	−1.0%	+44.4%	8	22.50	29	0
Mountmellick Boys N SMountmellick	16070K	187	−31.2%	−25.8%	11	15.91	24	0
Ballyroan Primary SchoolBallyroan	20485P	177	–	–	7	24.43	29	0
Tobar an LeinnAbbeyleix	16667W	167	+54.6%	+92.0%	6	25.83	32	3
Camross N SPortlaoise	15933M	156	+17.3%	+47.2%	6	26.00	29	0
Kiladooley Mixed N SBorris-in-Ossory	12692B	132	+26.9%	+61.0%	5	26.40	32	2
Scoil BhrideClonaslee	20118L	127	+16.5%	+0.8%	6	21.17	27	0
Ballyadams N SVia ATHY	16617H	111	−21.8%	−7.5%	4	24.75	26	0
Castletown N.SCastletown	20169F	111	−27.0%	+26.1%	5	19.80	25	0
St Fintans N SMountrath	07636K	108	+36.7%	−6.1%	5	19.20	22	0
Scoil Tíghearnach NaofaRathdowney	19791P	108	−9.2%	+25.6%	6	18.00	24	0
Shanganamore N SAthy	00892Q	106	−11.7%	+140.9%	5	18.80	23	0
Scoil Abbain CillinMaganey	17557U	99	+4.2%	+39.4%	5	19.80	31	1
Ballinakill Mixed N SPortlaoise	00895W	98	+18.1%	0.0%	4	24.50	29	0
Maryboro N SPortlaoise	14838N	96	−1.0%	+50.0%	4	24.00	28	0
Scoil BhrideMountrath	13343E	95	−7.8%	−16.7%	5	19.00	23	0
St Josephs National SchoolBorrin-in-Ossory	07442U	95	−2.1%	−22.1%	4	19.50	27	0
Barr na Sruthan N SMountmellick	18294T	91	+42.2%	+145.9%	4	19.75	24	0
Cluain Eidhneach N SMountrath	18166K	89	+18.7%	+128.2%	4	19.25	20	0
Naomh Padraig N SRosenallis	18513F	86	−22.5%	−7.5%	4	20.00	22	0
Abbeyleix STH N SAbbeyleix	14260F	84	−14.3%	+9.1%	4	21.00	24	0
Scoil Náisiúnta Cúil an tSúdaire 2Portarlington	18203N	84	−15.2%	+50.0%	4	21.00	27	0
Paddock N SMountrath	13173F	80	+6.7%	+9.6%	4	20.00	23	0
Rosenallis N SRosenallis	17493U	75	−19.4%	+10.3%	4	15.75	23	0
Scoil Naomh AbbanCrettyard	17555Q	73	+21.7%	+19.7%	3	22.33	23	0
S N Naomh ColmcillePortlaoise	18780F	71	+7.6%	−4.1%	4	17.75	22	0
Cloch an Tsionnaigh N SAbbeyleix	15562D	64	−39.6%	−20.0%	3	21.33	25	0
S N Fionntan NaofaPortlaoise	17489G	60	−29.4%	−1.6%	3	18.00	26	0
S N MolaiseAbbeyleix	17695J	58	−21.6%	+1.8%	3	19.33	23	0
Cosby N SStradbally	10544W	57	+46.2%	+185.0%	3	19.00	29	0
Scoil Mhuire Naofa CastlecuffeClonaslee	17883K	53	−31.2%	−11.7%	3	15.67	18	0
Ardlios N SBallickmoyler	18532J	50	−26.5%	−3.8%	3	14.67	21	0
Gaelscoil an Tsli DalaAn Bealach Mór	20224K	49	+48.5%	–	2	19.50	22	0
Naomh Pius X N SPortlaoise	18433H	49	+53.1%	+19.5%	3	16.33	19	0
St Pauls N SMountmellick	19369G	41	+70.8%	+20.6%	2	20.50	24	0
Trummera N SMaighean Rátha	15446B	34	−15.0%	+6.2%	2	17.00	19	0
Rushall N SMountrath	12231L	30	−9.1%	−9.1%	2	15.00	16	0
Scoil an Chroi Ro Naofavia Athy	18014K	29	−19.4%	+16.0%	2	14.50	17	0
Cill an Iubhair N SMountrath	17084D	23	−39.5%	−11.5%	2	11.50	12	0
Scoil Mhuire MuigheoCrettyard	17271C	22	−43.6%	−26.7%	2	11.00	13	0
Bhride N SCarlow	18265M	13	−31.6%	−35.0%	2	6.50	8	0
Scoil MhuireAthy	17441B	9	−57.1%	−72.7%	2	4.50	5	0