Sligo

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

62 primary schools and 7,528 pupils in 2025/26.

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Pupils in 2025/26: 7,528; −17 on 2024/25
Schools: 62; No change on 2024/25
Average school size: 121.4; −0.3 on 2024/25
Average class size: 21.56; −0.28 on 2024/25

Trends in Sligo

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

7,528

−17 on 2024/25

1976/772025/26

Schools

82 in 1976/77

1976/772025/26

Average pupils per school

121.4

95.8 in 1976/77

1976/772025/26

Average class size

21.56

−0.28 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

60 schools with figures for both years

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

17fell by 10% or more

21within 10%

22grew by 10% or more

Down 25% or more · 9Down 10 to 25% · 8Within 10% · 21Up 10 to 25% · 13Up 25% or more · 9

Average class size in these schools went from 24.2 in 2015/16 to 21.7 in 2025/26. 11 of the 17 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 Cliffoney N SCliffoney, Co. Sligo 59 → 96 +62.7%
2 St Brendans NSSligo, Co. Sligo 120 → 177 +47.5%
3 Scoil Mhuire agus IosafCollooney, Co. Sligo 167 → 241 +44.3%
4 Enniscrone N SEnniscrone, Co. Sligo 98 → 137 +39.8%
5 S N Muire gan SmalTubbercurry, Co. Sligo 76 → 103 +35.5%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

1 Owenbeg N SCulleens, Co. Sligo 67 → 36 −46.3%
2 S N Cnoc MionnaBallymote, Co. Sligo 87 → 52 −40.2%
3 S N Naithi NaofaTubbercurry, Co. Sligo 104 → 77 −26.0%
4 S N Lissara NaofaBallymote, Co. Sligo 88 → 66 −25.0%
5 S N Padraig NaofaBallinfull, Co. Sligo 96 → 75 −21.9%

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 137 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

S.N. Naomh AilbheVia Boyle · figures start 2023/24 97
Our Lady's National SchoolTourlestrane · opened 2011/12 40

Break Sligo down

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

Planning areas

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Sligo	13	3,218	247.5	22.13	142	+8.7%	+15.7%
Grange	7	755	107.9	22.06	34	−4.8%	+9.6%
Banada–Tubbercurry	8	727	90.9	20.85	34	−3.3%	+26.0%
Ballisodare	5	670	134.0	22.90	29	+14.9%	+76.8%
Ballymote	7	646	92.3	20.84	31	−11.7%	+22.3%
Coola Cross	6	479	79.8	21.77	22	+30.2%	+59.7%
Enniscrone	4	396	99.0	23.29	17	+16.1%	+59.7%
Easkey	7	268	38.3	15.47	17	−10.4%	−19.3%
Ballaghadereen	2	195	97.5	21.67	9	+17.5%	+62.5%
Boyle	2	98	49.0	19.60	5	−8.4%	−3.0%
Charlestown	1	76	76.0	19.00	4	−14.6%	−10.6%

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 Elphin	21	3,910	186.2	22.01	174
Bishop of Achonry	21	2,148	102.3	21.45	99
Bishop of Killala	12	791	65.9	20.15	39
Joint patronage of Bishop of Kilmore Elphin & Ardagh COI , the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland	1	210	210.0	26.25	8
An Foras Pátrúnachta	1	208	208.0	26.00	8
Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnoise	1	87	87.0	21.75	4
Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry COI	2	76	38.0	15.20	5
Sligo School Project	1	52	52.0	17.33	3
Bishop of Kilmore Elphin & Ardagh COI	1	30	30.0	15.00	2
Bishop of Kilmore	1	16	16.0	8.00	2

Local authorities


Sligo County Council	62	7,528	121.4	21.56	344

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 7,418 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size: 21.56
Mainstream classes: 344
Largest class: 33
Classes of 30 or more: 24
Schools with a class of 30+: 18

Teachers

Teachers in the 62 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: 344; Up 54 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 12%
Teaching posts in 2025/26: about 504; Estimate: 344 class teachers, 19 principals and deputies, 121 special education and 20 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16: 428; The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25: 6 / 5; 6 schools gained a class teacher, 5 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

2 special schools in Sligo, and the special classes in its 62 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools

Pupils in special schools: 136; In 2 schools, up from 81 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26: 19; In 11 of 62 schools. 12 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27: 24; In 15 schools: 5 new classes, 4 schools with their first
Autism classes: 16; 84% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

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

2020/21 12
2021/22 12
2022/23 13
2023/24 14
2024/25 17
2025/26 19
2026/27 24

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special schools in Sligo
Special school	Pupils	Since 2015/16	Teaching posts	SNAs
St. Cecilia's SchoolSligo · Moderate general learning disability	93	+126.8%	17	41
St Josephs Special SCHSligo · Mild general learning disability	43	+7.5%	7	11

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

What parents would prefer

1,953 of the 4,820 households with children at the 58 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 4 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. Sligo (PDF)Interactive map Summary report with county figures (PDF)

Prefer a multi-denominational patron: 42%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish: 18%; Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex: 2%; 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
Sligo	13	1,039 (40%)	48%	50%	18%	23%	3%	4%
Banada–Tubbercurry	8	259 (46%)	31%	37%	20%	23%	2%	3%
Ballymote	7	285 (39%)	37%	49%	16%	21%	1%	3%
Easkey	7	148 (57%)	31%	39%	17%	43%	0%	0%
Grange	7	292 (47%)	49%	52%	24%	21%	1%	2%
Coola CrossAlso in Co. Leitrim	6	272 (51%)	38%	35%	13%	18%	0%	1%
Ballisodare	5	247 (41%)	42%	51%	15%	21%	1%	3%
Enniscrone	4	213 (61%)	31%	38%	16%	32%	1%	2%
BallaghadereenAlso in Co. Mayo, Co. Roscommon	2	342 (37%)	33%	25%	20%	27%	2%	3%
BoyleAlso in Co. Roscommon	2	368 (46%)	40%	39%	22%	23%	1%	4%
CharlestownAlso in Co. Mayo	1	164 (43%)	32%	36%	15%	32%	0%	0%

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 Sligo

62 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Sligo (CSV)

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Select a column heading to sort

	Roll number
Our Lady of Mercy N SSligo	19985F	449	+8.7%	−13.0%	24	17.96	22	0
S N UrsulaSligo	18979F	439	+8.7%	+38.9%	18	24.06	29	0
Carraroe N SCarraroe	14636B	389	+21.6%	+36.5%	16	24.31	28	0
Scoil Eoin NaofaSligo	19974A	289	+11.2%	+84.1%	15	17.80	25	0
Scoil Naomh MolaiseGrange	18575E	274	−1.1%	+23.4%	11	24.45	32	2
Scoil AsicusStrandhill	15004P	252	+6.3%	+31.9%	10	25.20	30	2
Ransboro New CentralKnocknahur	19635B	247	+7.9%	+32.8%	10	23.50	32	2
Rathcormack N SDrumcliffe South	19408N	244	+0.4%	+1.7%	10	24.40	30	1
Scoil Mhuire agus IosafCollooney	20122C	241	+44.3%	–	10	23.50	29	0
S N Eoin NaofaBaile Easa Dara	17838F	226	−2.6%	+36.1%	9	25.11	31	2
Scoil Mhuire gan SmalBallymote	19964U	215	−2.3%	+2.4%	9	23.89	32	1
Carbury National SchoolSligo	19495L	210	−10.3%	+11.7%	8	26.25	30	1
Gaelscoil Chnoc na ReSligeach	20044I	208	−15.8%	+25.3%	8	26.00	30	1
St Edwards N SSligo	17277O	207	+11.9%	+23.2%	11	18.27	21	0
Holy Family SchoolTubbercurry	20019J	192	+1.6%	+62.7%	8	24.00	30	1
St Patricks NSSligo	19942K	182	−0.5%	−17.6%	7	26.00	32	2
St Brendans NSSligo	19826I	177	+47.5%	+9.9%	7	23.57	31	1
Rockfield N SCoolaney	15378K	174	−7.0%	+104.7%	7	24.86	33	1
Enniscrone N SEnniscrone	13940W	137	+39.8%	+47.3%	5	27.40	30	1
S N Realt na MaraSligo	17641J	117	+11.4%	+7.3%	5	23.40	29	0
Carn N SBallymote	12537M	116	+22.1%	+103.5%	5	23.20	26	0
Corballa N SVia Ballina	12171T	115	−2.5%	+76.9%	5	23.00	32	2
Kilglass N SEnniscrone	15571E	114	+18.8%	+96.6%	5	22.80	27	0
Sooey N SBoyle	18053U	112	−4.3%	+60.0%	5	22.40	27	0
Ardkeerin N SRiverstown	15217J	111	0.0%	+35.4%	5	22.20	30	1
Cloonacool N STubbercurry	04802J	103	+3.0%	+25.6%	4	25.75	31	1
S N Muire gan SmalTubbercurry	18029A	103	+35.5%	+5.1%	5	20.60	27	0
Moylough N STubbercurry	13831R	100	−8.3%	+20.5%	4	25.00	30	1
S N Pairc ArdDromard	18715R	99	+12.5%	−7.5%	4	24.75	27	0
S.N. Naomh AilbheVia Boyle	20575Q	97	–	–	4	24.25	28	0
Cliffoney N SCliffoney	16136O	96	+62.7%	+10.3%	4	24.00	31	1
Dromore West CentralDromore West	19688W	90	+21.6%	−17.4%	4	22.50	24	0
Ballintogher N SBallintogher	02013S	87	+7.4%	+11.5%	4	21.75	25	0
Scoil Croi NaofaBunnanadden	20113B	81	+1.2%	+80.0%	4	20.25	26	0
Scoil Naomh Aodainvia Ballaghadereen	19392B	79	+11.3%	+25.4%	4	19.75	25	0
S N Naithi NaofaTubbercurry	04487E	77	−26.0%	−18.1%	4	19.25	28	0
SN Muire gan SmalCurry	19389M	76	−14.6%	−10.6%	4	19.00	23	0
S N Padraig NaofaBallinfull	17021C	75	−21.9%	+33.9%	3	25.00	28	0
St Pauls NS CollooneyCollooney	19416M	75	+15.4%	+15.4%	4	18.75	23	0
S N Cul FadaBallymote	18298E	73	−19.8%	+14.1%	4	18.25	23	0
Rathlee N SEaskey	16492N	68	+28.3%	−20.0%	4	17.00	22	0
S N Lissara NaofaBallymote	17774F	66	−25.0%	−2.9%	3	22.00	26	0
S N ClochogBoyle	18543O	61	−21.8%	−18.7%	3	20.33	22	0
S N Cnoc MionnaBallymote	18334F	52	−40.2%	+20.9%	3	17.33	20	0
Sligo Project SchoolSligo	19910U	52	+116.7%	−55.6%	3	17.33	18	0
S N Naomh MhuireBallymote	15342M	47	+27.0%	+42.4%	3	15.67	18	0
Kilross N SBallintogher	16044J	42	+23.5%	−27.6%	2	21.00	24	0
Our Lady's National SchoolTourlestrane	20385L	40	–	–	3	7.33	10	0
S N Ronain NaofaVia Boyle	12767G	37	+27.6%	+42.3%	2	18.50	22	0
Owenbeg N SCulleens	03924S	36	−46.3%	+16.1%	2	15.50	18	0
S N BhrideMoneygold	17725P	35	+12.9%	+25.0%	2	17.50	18	0
Castlerock N SAclare	13242V	31	−32.6%	−45.6%	2	15.50	19	0
Stokane NSEnniscrone	14051T	30	+3.4%	−6.2%	2	15.00	15	0
Taunagh National SchoolRiverstown	13196R	30	+20.0%	+150.0%	2	15.00	16	0
S N Baile an LuigSligeach	17599N	29	−6.5%	−29.3%	2	14.50	15	0
S N Naomh IosefTempleboy	18592E	29	−14.7%	−17.1%	2	14.50	22	0
S N Muire gan SmalTempleboy	18580U	24	0.0%	+20.0%	2	12.00	15	0
Killeenduff N SEaskey	09691F	20	−35.5%	−42.9%	2	10.00	11	0
Killaville N SBallymote	15431L	19	−13.6%	−24.0%	2	9.50	11	0
S N AodainBallintrillick	18366S	16	−61.0%	−20.0%	2	8.00	11	0
S N MhuireCliffoney	15337T	15	−67.4%	−58.3%	2	7.50	10	0
Leaffoney N SKilglass	15496Q	1	−93.8%	−94.1%	1	1.00	1	0