Louth

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

69 primary schools and 16,798 pupils in 2025/26.

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Pupils in 2025/26: 16,798; +9 on 2024/25
Schools: 69; −1 on 2024/25
Average school size: 243.4; +3.6 on 2024/25
Average class size: 22.50; +0.14 on 2024/25

Trends in Louth

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

16,798

+9 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

68 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

243.4

215.2 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

22.50

+0.14 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

67 schools with figures for both years

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

25fell by 10% or more

27within 10%

15grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 5Down 10 to 25% · 20Within 10% · 27Up 10 to 25% · 8Up 25% or more · 7

Average class size in these schools went from 25.3 in 2015/16 to 22.5 in 2025/26. 12 of the 25 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 St. Francis National SchoolDundalk, Co. Louth 196 → 441 +125.0%
2 S N an Tslanaitheora BDundalk, Co. Louth 84 → 169 +101.2%
3 Faughart Community National SchoolDundalk, Co. Louth 59 → 102 +72.9%
4 S N an Tslanaitheora CDundalk, Co. Louth 100 → 160 +60.0%
5 Ardee Educate Together NSArdee, Co. Louth 124 → 177 +42.7%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 S N San NioclasCastlebellingham, Co. Louth 95 → 49 −48.4%
2 S N MhuireGreenore, Co. Louth 145 → 89 −38.6%
3 S N AonghusaDroichead Atha, Co. Louth 211 → 147 −30.3%
4 S N BhrideDundalk, Co. Louth 93 → 67 −28.0%
5 S N Rath CorrDundalk, Co. Louth 75 → 56 −25.3%

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

2 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 928 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

St Brigid's and St Patrick's National SchoolDrogheda · figures start 2018/19 575
Scoil Oilibhéir NaofaDrogheda · opened 2010/11 353

Break Louth down

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

Planning areas

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Dundalk	29	7,128	245.8	22.66	304	+9.8%	+28.4%
Drogheda	17	6,263	368.4	22.20	276	+5.0%	+91.7%
Ardee	7	1,461	208.7	22.94	62	−4.1%	+20.5%
Dunleer	8	1,157	144.6	23.04	47	−11.1%	+20.3%
Bush	8	789	98.6	21.89	35	−13.6%	+44.0%

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


Archbishop of Armagh	58	13,316	229.6	22.72	568
Bishop of Meath	4	2,121	530.2	21.40	98
Educate Together	3	935	311.7	21.88	40
Archbishop of Armagh COI	2	240	120.0	22.30	10
Louth & Meath ETB	1	102	102.0	25.50	4
Presbytery of Derry & Donegal	1	84	84.0	21.00	4

Local authorities


Louth County Council	69	16,798	243.4	22.50	724

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 16,288 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size: 22.50
Mainstream classes: 724
Largest class: 36
Classes of 30 or more: 43
Schools with a class of 30+: 22

Teachers

Teachers in the 69 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: 724; Up 178 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 19%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 1,151; Estimate: 724 class teachers, 58 principals and deputies, 281 special education and 88 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 957; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 8 / 14; 8 schools gained a class teacher, 14 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

4 special schools in Louth, and the special classes in its 69 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 453; In 4 schools, up from 338 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26: 88; In 41 of 69 schools. 35 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27: 96; In 47 schools: 8 new classes, 6 schools with their first
Autism classes: 73; 83% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

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

2020/21 35
2021/22 41
2022/23 51
2023/24 62
2024/25 75
2025/26 88
2026/27 96

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special schools in Louth
Special school	Pupils	Since 2015/16	Teaching posts	SNAs
St Itas Special SchoolDrogheda · Mild general learning disability	207	+54.5%	27	30
St Marys Special SCHDrumcar · Moderate general learning disability	111	+56.3%	18	43
St Brighids Special SCHDundalk · Mild general learning disability	104	+1.0%	15	21
ABACAS SchoolDrogheda · Autism	31	–	7	23

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

What parents would prefer

4,610 of the 12,109 households with children at the 69 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures

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

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 39%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 15%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 5%; 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
Dundalk	29	2,609 (41%)	35%	43%	17%	20%	6%	8%
DroghedaAlso in Co. Meath	17	3,263 (42%)	44%	47%	17%	22%	6%	7%
Bush	8	288 (44%)	36%	36%	23%	27%	2%	0%
Dunleer	8	448 (47%)	39%	41%	15%	24%	2%	3%
ArdeeAlso in Co. Meath	7	697 (45%)	39%	35%	16%	18%	2%	3%

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 Louth

69 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Louth (CSV)

Change over

Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
St Marys Parish Primary SchoolDrogheda	20205G	967	−11.0%	–	40	24.18	27	0
Scoil Mhuire na nGaelDundalk	19598V	624	−9.6%	−9.2%	26	23.08	30	1
St Brigid's and St Patrick's National SchoolDrogheda	20508B	575	–	–	25	22.76	26	0
St Josephs N SDundalk	19673J	574	+10.4%	+31.7%	26	21.58	25	0
C.B.S. PrimaryDundalk	17195M	524	+18.8%	+72.9%	21	24.67	30	3
Scoil na gCreagacha DubhaBlackrock	15285D	503	+19.5%	+16.7%	19	26.16	33	5
Réalt na Mara SchoolDundalk	20339E	467	+6.1%	–	19	23.00	29	0
St Pauls Senior NSDrogheda	19678T	466	+5.7%	+75.2%	20	22.75	25	0
St. Francis National SchoolDundalk	20259G	441	+125.0%	–	16	26.81	30	1
S N Tulach AluinnTullyallen	17726R	411	−9.5%	+81.9%	17	23.12	28	0
Presentation ConventDrogheda	00851C	385	+19.9%	+15.6%	17	22.65	29	0
Le Cheile Educate Together NSDrogheda	20146Q	383	−12.6%	–	16	23.94	27	0
Aston Village Educate Together National SchoolDrogheda	20294I	375	+0.8%	–	16	21.56	24	0
Rathmullan N SDrogheda	19479N	373	−12.4%	+19.6%	22	16.64	19	0
Scoil na mBraithre SnDrogheda	17059E	359	+4.1%	−7.0%	16	22.06	24	0
Scoil Oilibhéir NaofaDrogheda	20349H	353	–	–	15	22.73	28	0
S N Mhuire na TrocaireArdee	18099V	339	+29.9%	+24.6%	14	24.21	32	4
S N Ard Mhuire CDrogheda	19215C	315	+7.1%	−10.3%	16	19.31	22	0
Scoil Náisíunta Naomh FeichínDrogheda	16208N	307	+4.1%	+32.3%	13	22.69	27	0
Naomh SeosamhDrogheda	18069M	293	+0.3%	+85.4%	12	24.42	30	1
Knockbridge Mixed N SDundalk	15101N	285	+0.7%	+5.9%	13	21.92	32	1
Tallonstown N SDundalk	02745N	276	−8.9%	+30.8%	11	25.09	36	4
Callystown Mixed N SClogherhead	14252G	261	−18.2%	+7.0%	10	25.10	35	1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh BDundalk	18504E	246	+22.4%	+24.9%	10	24.60	32	2
Ardee MonasteryArdee	17124M	244	−8.6%	−1.2%	11	22.18	32	3
Dromiskin Mixed N SDundalk	16760M	234	+2.6%	+35.3%	9	24.11	33	1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh CDundalk	15259C	233	+9.9%	−6.4%	9	25.89	35	3
Scoil FhursaDundalk	17550G	229	+20.5%	+29.4%	9	24.78	32	1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh NDundalk	15260K	220	−13.0%	−22.8%	9	24.44	26	0
Gaelscoil Dhun DealganDún Dealgan	19892V	214	0.0%	+4.4%	12	17.33	27	0
Scoil Phadraig NaofaDundalk	18186Q	206	−6.4%	+35.5%	8	25.75	29	0
Scoil Bhride Mixed N SDunleer	18148I	202	−13.3%	−5.2%	8	24.50	34	2
S N Muire gan SmalDrogheda	18045V	201	−20.9%	−1.5%	9	21.00	27	0
S N Tigh an LubhairDunleer	18635T	192	−12.3%	+23.1%	8	23.38	33	2
Castletown RD ConventDundalk	14651U	191	+16.5%	−9.9%	10	19.10	23	0
Scoil Naomh FaincheCollon	14578N	190	−17.4%	+19.5%	7	27.14	31	2
Scoil Mhuire gan SmálDundalk	16749B	189	−9.1%	+43.2%	8	23.62	29	0
S N MuireJenkinstown	18101F	187	+6.9%	+112.5%	7	25.14	33	1
Ballapousta NSArdee	01554B	186	−23.5%	−4.1%	8	22.12	29	0
St. Mochta's National SchoolLouth Village	01553W	181	+6.5%	+84.7%	8	21.12	29	0
Ardee Educate Together NSArdee	20171P	177	+42.7%	–	8	18.38	25	0
S N PadraigDrogheda	19223B	172	−16.5%	−14.4%	7	23.00	27	0
S N an Tslanaitheora BDundalk	19246N	169	+101.2%	+20.7%	8	19.62	28	0
S.N Eoin BaisteDundalk	20163Q	164	−5.7%	−23.4%	8	19.75	28	0
St Nicholas Monastery NSDundalk	16469S	164	−3.0%	−20.4%	8	19.75	25	0
SN Chill SarainCastlebellingham	14207B	161	−19.9%	−4.7%	7	19.57	28	0
S N an Tslanaitheora CDundalk	19247P	160	+60.0%	−3.0%	8	16.38	19	0
S N ColumcilleDrogheda	01434O	151	−17.5%	+36.0%	6	21.33	28	0
Dulargy Mixed N SRavensdale	13670T	150	−22.7%	0.0%	6	25.00	30	1
S N Chaoimhin NaofaDunleer	18019U	148	+8.0%	+102.7%	6	23.67	33	2
S N San NioclasDundalk	18347O	148	+22.3%	+46.5%	6	22.83	24	0
S N AonghusaDroichead Atha	19740V	147	−30.3%	−29.0%	8	18.38	21	0
S N Talamh na ManachCarlingford	18312S	139	+4.5%	+104.4%	6	21.17	26	0
St Olivers NSCarlingford	02322I	120	−22.1%	+22.4%	5	24.00	26	0
Bellurgan N SDundalk	16249E	112	−19.4%	+28.7%	5	20.00	27	0
Faughart Community National SchoolDundalk	18391R	102	+72.9%	+39.7%	4	25.50	31	1
S N Naomh FhionainDunleer	17952D	100	+1.0%	+47.1%	4	22.25	25	0
Dromin N SDunleer	06576N	97	−12.6%	+102.1%	4	24.25	30	1
Walshestown N SClogherhead	03787L	95	−15.9%	+3.3%	4	20.75	23	0
S N Naomh PeadarDrogheda	11072M	92	−1.1%	−8.9%	4	21.50	24	0
S N MhuireGreenore	18034Q	89	−38.6%	−10.1%	4	22.25	28	0
Dun Dealgan N SDundalk	14069P	84	0.0%	−9.7%	4	21.00	26	0
Scoil BhrideHackballscross	18382Q	82	+203.7%	+100.0%	4	19.00	24	0
Scoil Dairbhre MixedDundalk	17315T	71	−17.4%	−34.3%	4	17.75	24	0
S N Naomh LorcanDundalk	18001B	69	−11.5%	+68.3%	4	17.25	21	0
S N BhrideDundalk	17965M	67	−28.0%	+59.5%	3	22.33	24	0
S N Mullach BuiRiverstown	02793B	62	+3.3%	+44.2%	3	20.67	27	0
S N Rath CorrDundalk	18471P	56	−25.3%	−18.8%	3	18.67	23	0
S N San NioclasCastlebellingham	18126V	49	−48.4%	−36.4%	3	16.33	19	0