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Louth

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

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

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

69

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

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 St. Francis National SchoolDundalk, Co. Louth 196 → 441 +125.0%
  2. 2 S N an Tslanaitheora BDundalk, Co. Louth 84 → 169 +101.2%
  3. 3 Faughart Community National SchoolDundalk, Co. Louth 59 → 102 +72.9%
  4. 4 S N an Tslanaitheora CDundalk, Co. Louth 100 → 160 +60.0%
  5. 5 Ardee Educate Together NSArdee, Co. Louth 124 → 177 +42.7%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 S N San NioclasCastlebellingham, Co. Louth 95 → 49 −48.4%
  2. 2 S N MhuireGreenore, Co. Louth 145 → 89 −38.6%
  3. 3 S N AonghusaDroichead Atha, Co. Louth 211 → 147 −30.3%
  4. 4 S N BhrideDundalk, Co. Louth 93 → 67 −28.0%
  5. 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 or a new school nearby 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.

Break Louth down

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

Planning areas

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

Change since 2015/16 counts today's schools and any that closed from 2023/24; earlier closures aren't in any planning area. 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 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
+3.3%
7 23

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

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%
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%
26 21.58 25 0
C.B.S. PrimaryDundalk 17195M 524
+18.8%
21 24.67 30 3
Scoil na gCreagacha DubhaBlackrock 15285D 503
+19.5%
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%
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%
17 23.12 28 0
Presentation ConventDrogheda 00851C 385
+19.9%
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%
22 16.64 19 0
Scoil na mBraithre SnDrogheda 17059E 359
+4.1%
16 22.06 24 0
Scoil Oilibhéir NaofaDrogheda 20349H 353
+8.3%
15 22.73 28 0
S N Mhuire na TrocaireArdee 18099V 339
+29.9%
14 24.21 32 4
S N Ard Mhuire CDrogheda 19215C 315
+7.1%
16 19.31 22 0
Scoil Náisíunta Naomh FeichínDrogheda 16208N 307
+4.1%
13 22.69 27 0
Naomh SeosamhDrogheda 18069M 293
+0.3%
12 24.42 30 1
Knockbridge Mixed N SDundalk 15101N 285
+0.7%
13 21.92 32 1
Tallonstown N SDundalk 02745N 276
−8.9%
11 25.09 36 4
Callystown Mixed N SClogherhead 14252G 261
−18.2%
10 25.10 35 1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh BDundalk 18504E 246
+22.4%
10 24.60 32 2
Ardee MonasteryArdee 17124M 244
−8.6%
11 22.18 32 3
Dromiskin Mixed N SDundalk 16760M 234
+2.6%
9 24.11 33 1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh CDundalk 15259C 233
+9.9%
9 25.89 35 3
Scoil FhursaDundalk 17550G 229
+20.5%
9 24.78 32 1
S N N Maolmhaodhagh NDundalk 15260K 220
−13.0%
9 24.44 26 0
Gaelscoil Dhun DealganDún Dealgan 19892V 214
0.0%
12 17.33 27 0
Scoil Phadraig NaofaDundalk 18186Q 206
−6.4%
8 25.75 29 0
Scoil Bhride Mixed N SDunleer 18148I 202
−13.3%
8 24.50 34 2
S N Muire gan SmalDrogheda 18045V 201
−20.9%
9 21.00 27 0
S N Tigh an LubhairDunleer 18635T 192
−12.3%
8 23.38 33 2
Castletown RD ConventDundalk 14651U 191
+16.5%
10 19.10 23 0
Scoil Naomh FaincheCollon 14578N 190
−17.4%
7 27.14 31 2
Scoil Mhuire gan SmálDundalk 16749B 189
−9.1%
8 23.62 29 0
S N MuireJenkinstown 18101F 187
+6.9%
7 25.14 33 1
Ballapousta NSArdee 01554B 186
−23.5%
8 22.12 29 0
St. Mochta's National SchoolLouth Village 01553W 181
+6.5%
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%
7 23.00 27 0
S N an Tslanaitheora BDundalk 19246N 169
+101.2%
8 19.62 28 0
S.N Eoin BaisteDundalk 20163Q 164
−5.7%
8 19.75 28 0
St Nicholas Monastery NSDundalk 16469S 164
−3.0%
8 19.75 25 0
SN Chill SarainCastlebellingham 14207B 161
−19.9%
7 19.57 28 0
S N an Tslanaitheora CDundalk 19247P 160
+60.0%
8 16.38 19 0
S N ColumcilleDrogheda 01434O 151
−17.5%
6 21.33 28 0
Dulargy Mixed N SRavensdale 13670T 150
−22.7%
6 25.00 30 1
S N Chaoimhin NaofaDunleer 18019U 148
+8.0%
6 23.67 33 2
S N San NioclasDundalk 18347O 148
+22.3%
6 22.83 24 0
S N AonghusaDroichead Atha 19740V 147
−30.3%
8 18.38 21 0
S N Talamh na ManachCarlingford 18312S 139
+4.5%
6 21.17 26 0
St Olivers NSCarlingford 02322I 120
−22.1%
5 24.00 26 0
Bellurgan N SDundalk 16249E 112
−19.4%
5 20.00 27 0
Faughart Community National SchoolDundalk 18391R 102
+72.9%
4 25.50 31 1
S N Naomh FhionainDunleer 17952D 100
+1.0%
4 22.25 25 0
Dromin N SDunleer 06576N 97
−12.6%
4 24.25 30 1
Walshestown N SClogherhead 03787L 95
−15.9%
4 20.75 23 0
S N Naomh PeadarDrogheda 11072M 92
−1.1%
4 21.50 24 0
S N MhuireGreenore 18034Q 89
−38.6%
4 22.25 28 0
Dun Dealgan N SDundalk 14069P 84
0.0%
4 21.00 26 0
Scoil BhrideHackballscross 18382Q 82
+203.7%
4 19.00 24 0
Scoil Dairbhre MixedDundalk 17315T 71
−17.4%
4 17.75 24 0
S N Naomh LorcanDundalk 18001B 69
−11.5%
4 17.25 21 0
S N BhrideDundalk 17965M 67
−28.0%
3 22.33 24 0
S N Mullach BuiRiverstown 02793B 62
+3.3%
3 20.67 27 0
S N Rath CorrDundalk 18471P 56
−25.3%
3 18.67 23 0
S N San NioclasCastlebellingham 18126V 49
−48.4%
3 16.33 19 0