The number of students from Dublin 4 schools attending university or college in 2013 was high, according to new numbers.
The numbers, compiled as part of The Irish Times 2013 School League Tables – which charts progression rates to third-level education and the amount of students who sat the Leaving Certificate – show South Dublin schools dominating the table.
The numbers were calculated taking into account students who had previously sat the Leaving Certificate, repeat students, PLC students and mature students. Only 71% of the numbers below include students who sat last year’s Leaving Certificate. Combining all these factors means the numbers are 100% or more in some cases.
In Dublin 4, St. Michael’s College on Ailesbury Road had 96 students who sat the Leaving Certificate in 2013 and a progression rate to third-level education of 122%. They were followed closely by Muckross Park College, in Donnybrook, where 105 students sat the Leaving Certificate with a progression rate of 102%. St. Conleth’s College in Ballsbridge had 51 students who sat the Leaving Certificate with a progression rate of 100%.
At The Teresian School on Stillorgan Road 28 students sat the Leaving Certificate with a progression rate of 96%. Ringsend College had 45 students who sat the Leaving Certificate with a progression rate of 64% and at Marian College in Ballsbridge 84 students sat the Leaving Certificate with a progression rate of 57%. The lowest progression rate of 53% being held by John Scottus Secondary School in Donnybrook where 19 sat the Leaving Cert.
It should be noted, although non-fee paying schools dominated the league, students from fee-paying schools claimed the most third-level places. The numbers indicate that students from well-off backgrounds tend to progress to third-level education while those from disadvantaged backgrounds do not.
“We’ve had quite a good percentage this year of 6th years – people who have taken the Leaving Certificate for the first time in the local area – who have gone on to higher education courses,” said Donnchadh Clancy, the Principal of Ringsend College, talking about the numbers. “A lot of it is telling young people that there are so many high education colleges out there, because a lot of the time they don’t realise it.”
The School League Tables also indicate specifically what Colleges or Universities students in the Dublin 4 area attended, Trinity and UCD dominate in this regard, with St. Michael’s College sending the most students to these two universities.
Above: Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD with Ringsend College student Kristel Aguila and Principal Donnchadh Clancy on Leaving Cert Results Day 2013.
By Liam Cahill
