A South Kilkenny secondary school has been named one of the most improved in the country.
Scoil Aireagail in Ballyhale has seen dramatic improvements in academic performance over the last eight years going from sending only half of students on to third level in 2009 to all of its leaving cert students last year.
Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry in Tipperary is also on the list compiled by the Sunday Independent aswell as Kilrush Community School in Clare
All three sent 51pc of their students on to universities, institutes of technology and other colleges eight years ago. However, they were among a group of 83 schools nationally to send all of their pupils on to third level last September.
Overall, fee-paying schools continue to dominate when it comes to sending students to third level, but schools in the free scheme are catching up.
