A number of Mayo secondary schools are standing well up the ranks of the prestigious Sunday Times guide to the top 400 schools in the country.
The guide is released annually and assesses some 721 state-funded secondary schools to find the top 400.
St Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar, is the highest rated school in Mayo, according to the list.
It is ranked as the 49th best secondary school in the country.
Just under 92 per cent of its students go on to third-level education and 66.5 per cent of those are at university, according to the Sunday Times.
The all-girls school has climbed 14 places up the national rankings since last year.
St Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, also sits high up the rankings. It is the 100th top school in the country.
St Louis has climbed 11 places since 2013.
More than 90 per cent of the school’s students go onto third-level education with 56.7 per cent going to university.
The Sacred Heart School, Westport, immediately follows St Louis and stands in the 101st position in the rankings.
It has 86 per cent of students going onto third level education and 56.5 per cent of those are at university.
St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, is ranked 123 while St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina, climbed from 179 last year to 134 this year.
Other Mayo schools listed in the top 400 include Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Crossmolina (160 ); Mount St Michael, Claremorris (183 ); Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford (189 ); Colasite Mhuire, Tourmakeady (204 ); Colaiste Cholmain, Claremorris (227 ); Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh (238 ); Rice College, Westport (241 ); Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet (255 ); St Joseph’s Secondary School, Claremorris (269 ); Balla Secondary School (349 ); St Muredach’s College, Ballina (375 ); and Colaiste Pobail Acla, Achill (397 ).
Five Mayo schools are ranked in the top 20 in Connacht. St Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar, is ranked sixth best in the province followed by St Louis Community School, Kiltimagh (12th ); Sacred Heart School, Westport (13 ); St Gerald’s College, Castlebar (18th ); and St Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina (19th ).
