ALMOST 80 per cent of Limerick students progressed from second to third level education in 2023.
That’s according to figures compiled as part of The Irish Times’ Feeder Schools guide, which showed that 77 per cent of students across Limerick progressed onto third level education.
Ardscoil Rís was the school with the highest number of students progressing to third level.
The tally showed that 111 per cent of Ardscoil Rís students went on to third level – the figure being due to a discrepancy in Department of Education figures in which some students who changed schools or deferred a place at third level are counted twice.
Laurel Hill Cólaiste FCJ also had all of their students progress to third level education, with a 100 per cent progression rate.
Salesian Secondary College in Pallaskenry (99 per cent), Castletroy Community College (97), Laurel Hill Secondary School (96), Scoil Pól in Kilfinnane (93), Gaelcolaiste Luimnigh (92), and Glenstal Abbey (90) were also among the schools with the highest progression rates.
Glenstal Abbey is the highest ranking fee paying school in terms of third level progressions, with the next highest fee paying school, Villier’s School, having an 81 per cent progression rate.
The school with the lowest progression rate in Limerick was Desmond College in Newcastle West, with just 44 per cent of their students going on to third level education.
Thomond Community College in Moylish (59 per cent), Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa in Doon (62), CBS Sexton Street (62), and St Clement’s College (63) also had among the lowest progression rates in Limerick City and County.
Castletroy Community College had the biggest Leaving Certificate class this year, with 181 students sitting their state exams in 2023.
Cólsaiste Nano Nagle in Sexton Street had the smallest Leaving Certificate class number with 34, followed by neighbouring school CBS Sexton Street who had 39 students sit Leaving Certificate exams in 2023.
Nationally, Dublin had the highest overall progression rate with 88 per cent of students there going on to third level education, followed by Louth, Kerry, and Waterford on 83 per cent, and Galway on 82.
The county with the lowest progression rate was Longford with just 65 per cent of students going on to further education, with Laois on 66 per cent.
