School Numbers
Menu
Find schools Counties Irish-medium Special schools About the data

Wicklow

82 primary schools and 16,940 pupils in 2025/26.

Pupils in 2025/26
16,940
−300 on 2024/25
Schools
82
No change on 2024/25
Average school size
206.6
−3.6 on 2024/25
Average class size
22.36
−0.48 on 2024/25

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

16,940

−300 on 2024/25

1975/762025/26

Schools

82

74 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average pupils per school

206.6

159.0 in 1975/76

1975/762025/26

Average class size

22.36

−0.48 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

79 schools with figures for both years

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

42fell by 10% or more
23within 10%
14grew by 10% or more
Down 25% or more · 17Down 10 to 25% · 25Within 10% · 23Up 10 to 25% · 6Up 25% or more · 8

Average class size in these schools went from 26.0 in 2015/16 to 22.4 in 2025/26. 24 of the 42 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. 1 Ravenswell Primary SchoolBray, Co. Wicklow 266 → 468 +75.9%
  2. 2 Nuns Cross N SAshford, Co. Wicklow 117 → 194 +65.8%
  3. 3 Powerscourt N SEnniskerry, Co. Wicklow 71 → 114 +60.6%
  4. 4 St Saviours N SRathdrum, Co. Wicklow 86 → 124 +44.2%
  5. 5 St Patrick's National SchoolGreystones, Co. Wicklow 277 → 385 +39.0%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 S N Muire MXDBarndarrig, Co. Wicklow 66 → 37 −43.9%
  2. 2 St Michael's and St Peter's Junior SchoolArklow, Co. Wicklow 435 → 250 −42.5%
  3. 3 Gaelscoil na gCloch LiathNa Clocha Liatha, Co. Wicklow 365 → 227 −37.8%
  4. 4 Coolfancy N STinahely, Co. Wicklow 103 → 68 −34.0%
  5. 5 S N Padraig NaofaEnniskerry, Co. Wicklow 71 → 47 −33.8%

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

3 schools still filling their classes in 2015/16 or opened since, with 890 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Break Wicklow down

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

Planning areas

Change over
Bray 13 3,414 262.6 22.22 151
−6.6%
+13.3%
Greystones 8 3,194 399.2 23.77 131
+6.9%
+85.3%
Wicklow 12 2,884 240.3 22.44 124
+13.9%
+41.1%
Arklow 11 2,144 194.9 21.49 94
−24.7%
+50.8%
Blessington 8 1,270 158.8 22.24 55
−6.3%
+43.3%
Kilcoole 3 1,071 357.0 23.27 45
+25.0%
–
Rathdrum 6 957 159.5 23.67 39
+3.5%
+36.5%
Baltinglass 7 688 98.3 20.33 33
−5.9%
−0.6%
Dunlavin 5 611 122.2 23.04 26
−7.4%
+7.4%
Carnew 7 599 85.6 18.97 30
−16.5%
+7.5%
Hacketstown 2 108 54.0 18.00 6
−15.6%
−20.0%

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 Dublin 42 10,686 254.4 22.23 465
Archbishop of Dublin & Bishop of Glendalough COI 12 1,971 164.2 24.11 81
An Foras Pátrúnachta 5 1,071 214.2 23.02 45
Educate Together 4 1,062 265.5 22.67 45
Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin 7 746 106.6 20.83 35
Bishop of Ferns 5 553 110.6 20.19 26
Kildare & Wicklow ETB 1 412 412.0 24.62 16
The Bray School Project 1 223 223.0 26.38 8
Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory COI 5 216 43.2 15.69 13

Local authorities
Wicklow County Council 82 16,940 206.6 22.36 734

Class sizes

Mainstream class groups only. The source does not identify which standard/year group each class group belongs to. Figures for 2025/26: 16,411 pupils in mainstream classes.

Average class size
22.36
Mainstream classes
734
Largest class
35
Classes of 30 or more
32
Schools with a class of 30+
22

Teachers

Teachers in the 82 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
734
Up 175 since 2006/07, while pupils rose 19%
Teaching posts in 2025/26
about 1,177
Estimate: 734 class teachers, 58 principals and deputies, 293 special education and 92 special class teachers
Teachers in 2015/16
950
The Department's last count of every teacher
Since 2024/25
8 / 9
8 schools gained a class teacher, 9 lost one

Class teachers since 2006/07

One for each mainstream class, every school year

Special schools and special classes

4 special schools in Wicklow, and the special classes in its 82 mainstream schools. Special schools aren't counted in the pupils, class sizes or teachers above.

All special schools
Pupils in special schools
295
In 4 schools, down from 303 in 2015/16
Special classes in 2025/26
92
In 43 of 82 schools. 54 in 2020/21
Allocated for 2026/27
104
In 47 schools: 12 new classes, 4 schools with their first
Autism classes
84
91% of special classes

Special classes since 2020/21

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

  • 2020/21 54
  • 2021/22 60
  • 2022/23 63
  • 2023/24 73
  • 2024/25 85
  • 2025/26 92
  • 2026/27 104

2026/27, dashed: allocated for next year.

Special school Pupils Since 2015/16 Teaching posts SNAs
New Court SchoolBray · Mild general learning disability 100
+4.2%
19 33
St Catherines Special SchoolGreystones · Moderate general learning disability 89
−21.9%
15 45
St Kierans Spec SchoolBray 59
+1.7%
– –
Marino School N.S.Bray · Physical disability 47
+34.3%
9 20.66

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

What parents would prefer

4,688 of the 12,009 households with children at the 81 schools here answered the Department of Education and Youth's Primary School Survey, November–December 2025. 1 more school had too few answers for its own results. These are preferences, not applications.

About these figures
The Department's own results: School reports for Co. Wicklow (PDF)Interactive mapSummary report with county figures (PDF)
Prefer a multi-denominational patron
56%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 44%
Prefer teaching through Irish
20%
Parents of children at school · Ireland 20%
Prefer single-sex
3%
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
Planning area Schools here Households answered Multi-denominationalThrough IrishSingle-sex
At schoolNot yetAt schoolNot yetAt schoolNot yet
Bray 13 1,493 (43%) 64% 65% 22% 27% 4% 7%
Wicklow 12 1,167 (42%) 55% 55% 22% 25% 2% 6%
ArklowAlso in Co. Wexford 11 815 (39%) 51% 46% 22% 20% 2% 4%
BlessingtonAlso in Co. Dublin, Co. Kildare 8 496 (47%) 47% 46% 28% 25% 0% 6%
Greystones 8 1,235 (44%) 66% 73% 15% 19% 2% 4%
BaltinglassAlso in Co. Kildare 7 263 (44%) 43% 42% 15% 23% 2% 2%
CarnewAlso in Co. Wexford 7 278 (51%) 41% 42% 18% 22% 0% 3%
Rathdrum 6 458 (49%) 55% 58% 19% 27% 8% 5%
DunlavinAlso in Co. Kildare 5 358 (50%) 42% 47% 19% 23% 1% 2%
Kilcoole 3 510 (45%) 54% 58% 18% 28% 2% 6%
HacketstownAlso in Co. Carlow 2 144 (43%) 28% 44% 24% 15% 2% 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 Wicklow

82 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Wicklow (CSV)
Change over

Select a column heading to sort

Roll number
Scoil Padraig NaofaBray 17537O 680
−14.9%
−11.9%
30 22.47 28 0
St Laurences N SGreystones 19573F 666
+3.9%
+30.8%
28 23.18 28 0
Kilcoole Primary SchoolKilcoole 20346B 553
−1.6%
– 24 23.04 26 0
St Josephs N SArklow 17181B 500
−24.5%
−1.8%
21 22.14 29 0
Ravenswell Primary SchoolBray 07246U 468
+75.9%
+91.8%
24 19.00 23 0
Scoil Naomh CaoimhghinGreystones 17720F 459
−12.9%
−0.4%
19 23.47 30 1
Greystones Educate Together National SchoolGreystones 20300A 440
+3.0%
– 18 23.78 27 0
Scoil an Choroin MhuireWicklow 17576B 432
−2.7%
−2.5%
17 24.35 27 0
Greystones Community NSGreystones 20473I 412 – – 16 24.62 27 0
St Brigids SchoolGreystones 16573N 396
−22.4%
+27.3%
16 24.38 29 0
Scoil Naomh IosafBaltinglass 20039P 393
+7.1%
+4.5%
16 23.50 30 1
Cronan Naofa N SBray 16872A 388
−25.0%
−13.6%
16 23.50 30 1
St Patrick's National SchoolGreystones 12554M 385
+39.0%
+75.8%
16 23.31 27 0
Padraig Naofa N SWicklow 15676S 377
+14.2%
−16.0%
17 20.59 30 1
Wicklow Educate Together NSWicklow Town 20178G 377
+19.7%
– 16 22.44 25 0
St Fergal's National SchoolBray 20466L 373
−18.2%
– 19 19.00 24 0
Newtownmountkennedy Primary SchoolNewtownmountkennedy 20278K 368
+24.7%
– 14 24.57 32 2
St Coen's National SchoolRathnew 20208M 328 – – 16 19.75 25 0
St John's Senior SchoolArklow 20469R 323
−13.9%
– 14 21.79 29 0
Scoil na Coróine MhuireAshford 17826V 309
−15.6%
+13.2%
13 23.31 28 0
S N Mhuire Senior SchoolBlessington 20110S 296
+3.5%
– 13 22.77 26 0
Gaelscoil Chill MhantáinRáth Naoi 20045K 285
+4.0%
+71.7%
12 22.92 31 2
St Laurence O'Toole's NSBray 16634H 254
−21.6%
+39.6%
11 22.45 30 1
S N Nicolais NaofaDunluain 17810G 250
−3.8%
+1.2%
10 23.80 30 2
St Michael's and St Peter's Junior SchoolArklow 20470C 250
−42.5%
– 12 19.00 24 0
Gaelscoil an Inbhir MhoirAn tInbhear Mór 20080M 242
−29.0%
+14.7%
10 22.40 28 0
S N MuireBlessington 17091A 235
−33.0%
−54.9%
11 20.82 28 0
Gaelscoil na gCloch LiathNa Clocha Liatha 20301C 227
−37.8%
– 10 22.50 28 0
Bray School Project N SBray 19754J 223
−8.2%
−6.3%
8 26.38 28 0
Glebe NSWicklow Town 14398L 210
−5.8%
+15.4%
8 26.25 30 1
Delgany N SDelgany 13679O 209
−5.0%
−6.7%
8 26.12 29 0
S N Muire Is GearardEnniskerry 17223O 206
−1.9%
−13.8%
8 25.75 30 2
An Chroi Ro Naofa N SAughrim 18473T 204
−29.9%
+35.1%
9 21.67 29 0
Kilmacanogue N SBray 18365Q 204
−6.4%
−18.1%
8 25.50 30 1
St Andrews N SBray 13597M 204
−6.8%
+5.7%
8 25.50 27 0
Carysfort MXD N SArklow 14045B 197
−8.4%
+24.7%
8 24.62 28 0
Blessington 1 N SBlessington 06176U 195
+18.2%
+134.9%
8 24.38 30 1
Nuns Cross N SAshford 11649S 194
+65.8%
+155.3%
8 24.25 30 1
Donard N SDonard 17920N 188
+23.7%
+75.7%
7 26.86 33 3
Carnew N SArklow 18242A 185
−20.3%
−7.0%
8 22.38 30 1
Scoil ChualannBré 19584K 185
−21.6%
−26.0%
8 23.12 29 0
Clochar Muire N SRathdrum 17228B 176
+26.6%
+39.7%
6 29.33 32 4
Padraig Naofa N SAvoca 18198A 172
−16.9%
+2.4%
7 22.86 29 0
Rathdrum Boys N SRathdrum 17265H 172
+25.5%
+29.3%
7 23.71 27 0
Gaelscoil Ui CheadaighCo.Chill Mhantáin 20016D 166
−10.3%
−4.6%
7 23.71 35 1
St. Peter's Primary SchoolBray 18464S 156
−6.0%
+81.4%
8 18.88 23 0
Gaelscoil na LochannaBaile Coimín 20243O 151
−25.2%
– 6 24.33 30 2
Woodstock Educate Together N.S.Newtownmountkennedy 20524W 150 – – 7 21.43 26 0
Tinahely N SArklow 18489L 133
+15.7%
+46.2%
6 20.17 25 0
Brittas Bay MXD N SBrittas Bay 11372B 129
−19.9%
+10.3%
6 21.50 27 0
Hollywood N SHollywood 18054W 126
−24.1%
+0.8%
5 25.20 31 1
St Saviours N SRathdrum 12529N 124
+44.2%
+96.8%
5 23.60 27 0
Caoimhin Naofa N SGlendalough 16924Q 123
−0.8%
+20.6%
5 23.20 29 0
Annacurra N STinahely 17304O 122
−20.8%
+37.1%
5 22.40 28 0
Glenealy 1 N SGlenealy 00984V 116
−14.1%
+107.1%
5 23.20 26 0
Powerscourt N SEnniskerry 09760V 114
+60.6%
+96.6%
4 28.50 32 1
Moin an Bhealaigh N SBlessington 10131U 110
+4.8%
+8.9%
5 22.00 25 0
Moneystown N SRoundwood Bray 13246G 108
−6.1%
+13.7%
5 20.00 25 0
Kilbride N SBlessington 10683N 97
−19.2%
−17.1%
4 24.25 30 1
Blessington Educate Together NSBlessington 20242M 95
+206.5%
– 4 20.75 24 0
Kilcommon N STinahely 18033O 94
−7.8%
+70.9%
4 20.50 22 0
Lacken MXD N SBlessington 10111O 91
−4.2%
+42.2%
4 16.75 19 0
St Francis N SGreystones 19734D 90
−10.9%
−10.0%
4 22.50 27 0
S N Naomh BridKiltegan 18502A 77
−21.4%
+24.2%
4 19.25 23 0
S N Naomh PadraigArklow 01782O 76
−14.6%
+13.4%
4 19.00 28 0
Scoil Mhuire na nAirdShillelagh 19748O 73
−20.7%
+17.7%
4 18.25 26 0
Coolfancy N STinahely 18118W 68
−34.0%
−34.0%
4 17.00 24 0
S N MuireBaltinglass 16027J 67
−2.9%
+3.1%
3 22.33 30 1
Stratford Lodge NSBaltinglass 19339U 67
−9.5%
+36.7%
3 22.33 27 0
Naomh Brid N SArklow 18470N 63
−16.0%
−18.2%
3 21.00 26 0
Rathcoyle N SKiltegan 18434J 50
−27.5%
−3.8%
3 16.67 20 0
S N Padraig NaofaEnniskerry 18357R 47
−33.8%
−23.0%
3 15.67 19 0
Crossbridge N STinahely 17907V 45
−15.1%
−22.4%
3 15.00 20 0
S N Muire MXDBarndarrig 17500O 37
−43.9%
−61.1%
2 13.00 14 0
Scoil San EoinRedcross 14829M 37
−30.2%
−17.8%
2 18.50 23 0
Donaghmore N SDonard 12413R 25
−32.4%
−53.7%
2 12.50 14 0
Jonathan Swift NSDunlavin 14269A 24
−45.5%
−22.6%
2 12.00 16 0
All Saints National SchoolCarnew 14972R 23
−20.7%
+27.8%
2 11.50 12 0
Grange Con N SDunlavin 00973Q 23
−39.5%
−61.0%
2 11.50 14 0
Shillelagh No 1 N SShillelagh 15359G 23
−47.7%
−20.7%
2 11.50 12 0
St Kevin's Ballycoog NSAvoca 13224T 21
−12.5%
−12.5%
2 10.50 12 0
Kiltegan N SKiltegan 12688K 9
−47.1%
−73.5%
2 4.50 6 0