Wicklow schools are tops in Leinster

TWO Co Wicklow schools are ranked first and second in Leinster (excluding Dublin) in a list of the top 400 of the country’s 714 state-funded secondary schools published in the Sunday Times and based on the number of students who gained places at university in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

At the fee-paying St Gerard’s in Bray, 69.9 per cent of students progressed to university, placing the school first in Leinster and 40th overall in this year’s league table - up 28 places from last year.

Not far behind - at 42nd overall and second in Leinster - is the all-Irish Gaelcholáiste na Mara, Arklow, where 69.2 per cent gained university places.

Other Co Wicklow schools in the top 400: East Glendalough School, Wicklow, ranked 115th, 57%; Coláiste Raithin, Bray, 147th, 53.4%; Loreto Bray, 221st, 45.8%; St. Mary’s College, Arklow, 282nd, 41.4%; St. David’s, Greystones, 292nd, 41.2%; St. Kevin’s Community College, Dunlavin, 321st, 39.2%; and Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, 327th, 38.8%.

Nationally, St Gerard’s is the ninth ranked mixed school, with Gaelcholáiste na Mara tenth.