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Sligo

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

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

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

62

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

Grown most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 Cliffoney N SCliffoney, Co. Sligo 59 → 96 +62.7%
  2. 2 St Brendans NSSligo, Co. Sligo 120 → 177 +47.5%
  3. 3 Scoil Mhuire agus IosafCollooney, Co. Sligo 167 → 241 +44.3%
  4. 4 Enniscrone N SEnniscrone, Co. Sligo 98 → 137 +39.8%
  5. 5 S N Muire gan SmalTubbercurry, Co. Sligo 76 → 103 +35.5%

Fallen most

Pupils in 2015/16 and 2025/26

  1. 1 Owenbeg N SCulleens, Co. Sligo 67 → 36 −46.3%
  2. 2 S N Cnoc MionnaBallymote, Co. Sligo 87 → 52 −40.2%
  3. 3 S N Naithi NaofaTubbercurry, Co. Sligo 104 → 77 −26.0%
  4. 4 S N Lissara NaofaBallymote, Co. Sligo 88 → 66 −25.0%
  5. 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 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 137 pupils between them. They aren’t in the figures above.

Break Sligo down

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

Planning areas

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

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
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 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).

Schools in Sligo

62 schools with 2025/26 figures, largest first.

Every school in Sligo (CSV)
Change over

Select a column heading to sort

Roll number
Our Lady of Mercy N SSligo 19985F 449
+8.7%
24 17.96 22 0
S N UrsulaSligo 18979F 439
+8.7%
18 24.06 29 0
Carraroe N SCarraroe 14636B 389
+21.6%
16 24.31 28 0
Scoil Eoin NaofaSligo 19974A 289
+11.2%
15 17.80 25 0
Scoil Naomh MolaiseGrange 18575E 274
−1.1%
11 24.45 32 2
Scoil AsicusStrandhill 15004P 252
+6.3%
10 25.20 30 2
Ransboro New CentralKnocknahur 19635B 247
+7.9%
10 23.50 32 2
Rathcormack N SDrumcliffe South 19408N 244
+0.4%
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%
9 25.11 31 2
Scoil Mhuire gan SmalBallymote 19964U 215
−2.3%
9 23.89 32 1
Carbury National SchoolSligo 19495L 210
−10.3%
8 26.25 30 1
Gaelscoil Chnoc na ReSligeach 20044I 208
−15.8%
8 26.00 30 1
St Edwards N SSligo 17277O 207
+11.9%
11 18.27 21 0
Holy Family SchoolTubbercurry 20019J 192
+1.6%
8 24.00 30 1
St Patricks NSSligo 19942K 182
−0.5%
7 26.00 32 2
St Brendans NSSligo 19826I 177
+47.5%
7 23.57 31 1
Rockfield N SCoolaney 15378K 174
−7.0%
7 24.86 33 1
Enniscrone N SEnniscrone 13940W 137
+39.8%
5 27.40 30 1
S N Realt na MaraSligo 17641J 117
+11.4%
5 23.40 29 0
Carn N SBallymote 12537M 116
+22.1%
5 23.20 26 0
Corballa N SVia Ballina 12171T 115
−2.5%
5 23.00 32 2
Kilglass N SEnniscrone 15571E 114
+18.8%
5 22.80 27 0
Sooey N SBoyle 18053U 112
−4.3%
5 22.40 27 0
Ardkeerin N SRiverstown 15217J 111
0.0%
5 22.20 30 1
Cloonacool N STubbercurry 04802J 103
+3.0%
4 25.75 31 1
S N Muire gan SmalTubbercurry 18029A 103
+35.5%
5 20.60 27 0
Moylough N STubbercurry 13831R 100
−8.3%
4 25.00 30 1
S N Pairc ArdDromard 18715R 99
+12.5%
4 24.75 27 0
S.N. Naomh AilbheVia Boyle 20575Q 97 – 4 24.25 28 0
Cliffoney N SCliffoney 16136O 96
+62.7%
4 24.00 31 1
Dromore West CentralDromore West 19688W 90
+21.6%
4 22.50 24 0
Ballintogher N SBallintogher 02013S 87
+7.4%
4 21.75 25 0
Scoil Croi NaofaBunnanadden 20113B 81
+1.2%
4 20.25 26 0
Scoil Naomh Aodainvia Ballaghadereen 19392B 79
+11.3%
4 19.75 25 0
S N Naithi NaofaTubbercurry 04487E 77
−26.0%
4 19.25 28 0
SN Muire gan SmalCurry 19389M 76
−14.6%
4 19.00 23 0
S N Padraig NaofaBallinfull 17021C 75
−21.9%
3 25.00 28 0
St Pauls NS CollooneyCollooney 19416M 75
+15.4%
4 18.75 23 0
S N Cul FadaBallymote 18298E 73
−19.8%
4 18.25 23 0
Rathlee N SEaskey 16492N 68
+28.3%
4 17.00 22 0
S N Lissara NaofaBallymote 17774F 66
−25.0%
3 22.00 26 0
S N ClochogBoyle 18543O 61
−21.8%
3 20.33 22 0
S N Cnoc MionnaBallymote 18334F 52
−40.2%
3 17.33 20 0
Sligo Project SchoolSligo 19910U 52
+116.7%
3 17.33 18 0
S N Naomh MhuireBallymote 15342M 47
+27.0%
3 15.67 18 0
Kilross N SBallintogher 16044J 42
+23.5%
2 21.00 24 0
Our Lady's National SchoolTourlestrane 20385L 40
−16.7%
3 7.33 10 0
S N Ronain NaofaVia Boyle 12767G 37
+27.6%
2 18.50 22 0
Owenbeg N SCulleens 03924S 36
−46.3%
2 15.50 18 0
S N BhrideMoneygold 17725P 35
+12.9%
2 17.50 18 0
Castlerock N SAclare 13242V 31
−32.6%
2 15.50 19 0
Stokane NSEnniscrone 14051T 30
+3.4%
2 15.00 15 0
Taunagh National SchoolRiverstown 13196R 30
+20.0%
2 15.00 16 0
S N Baile an LuigSligeach 17599N 29
−6.5%
2 14.50 15 0
S N Naomh IosefTempleboy 18592E 29
−14.7%
2 14.50 22 0
S N Muire gan SmalTempleboy 18580U 24
0.0%
2 12.00 15 0
Killeenduff N SEaskey 09691F 20
−35.5%
2 10.00 11 0
Killaville N SBallymote 15431L 19
−13.6%
2 9.50 11 0
S N AodainBallintrillick 18366S 16
−61.0%
2 8.00 11 0
S N MhuireCliffoney 15337T 15
−67.4%
2 7.50 10 0
Leaffoney N SKilglass 15496Q 1
−93.8%
1 1.00 1 0