More than half of the top 25 feeder schools for third-level colleges are in the free education sector, according to an Irish Times survey. The survey provides the most comprehensive list published on feeder schools in the State.
For the first time, the lists detail the number of students from each second-level school going to the seven universities, the 13 institutes of technology and the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Surprisingly, not one so-called "grind school" makes it into the top 25 list. The largest grind school in the State - the Institute of Education in Dublin - features just outside this list. However, the institute's director, Ray Kearns, claims scores of students from other schools attend the institute for grinds.
St Conleth's in Ballsbridge, Dublin, is the most successful school in the State when it comes to advancing students to third level. Last year every one of its 33 Leaving Cert students proceeded to a university or institute of technology.
The success of Gaelscoileanna in sending students to third level is another striking feature of the lists. Of the 13 non-fee-paying schools in the top 25 list, no fewer than six are Gaelscoileanna. The top Gaelscoil is Coláiste Eoin in Stillorgan, Dublin. The other top non-fee-paying schools include Scoil Damhnait in Achill, Co Mayo; St Ita's College in Limerick; and Coláiste Pobail in Rath Cairn, Co Meath.
The top fee-paying schools include three Dublin colleges: Holy Child, Killiney; CBC Monkstown, and Gonzaga.
The lists are based on the percentage of students from Leaving Cert classes who proceeded to 21 third-level institutes. This method recognises the relative success of smaller schools.
The top-performing schools credit their success to student motivation, parental involvement and dedicated teachers. Michael Hennessy, principal of Presentation Brothers College, Mardyke , Cork - which features in the top 10 - says the school benefits from "the famous triangle" of parents, teachers and students working well together.
While non-fee-paying schools feature prominently in the overall list, they are less prominent in the top 25 for Dublin, which is again dominated by Gonzaga, Mount Anville and Blackrock colleges.
Dominican College, Muckcross Park, Donnybrook, is the only non-fee-paying, non-Irish-speaking school to make the top 25 list for Dublin. The lists are published as Minister for Education Mary Hanafin prepares to issue school inspection reports from January.
A table detailing special needs provision shows that provision for students is concentrated in poorer areas and in fee-paying schools.