Carndonagh Community School
Carndonagh Community School is a secondary school in Donegal. 1118 pupils, Inter-denominational ethos, 2 special classes, DEIS Post-primary.
The facts
| Type | Secondary school |
|---|---|
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ethos | Inter-denominational |
| Patron | Donegal ETB & Bishop of Derry |
| Fees | Free |
| Enrolment | 1,118 (553 boys, 565 girls) 2025/26 |
| Language of instruction | English Medium School |
| DEIS | Yes — Post-primary |
| Roll number | 91406R |
| Eircode | F93VK61 |
| Address | Carndonagh Community School, P.O. Box 4, Carndonagh, Co Donegal |
What DEIS means here
DEIS Post-primary. This is extra staffing, a Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access, enhanced capitation, free State exam fees, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme for reduced-points college entry.
Post-primary DEIS benefits: Free State examination fees for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate, Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinator, School Completion Programme, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme (Higher Education Access Route) offering reserved university places at reduced CAO points across Irish universities.
Worth knowing: several things people associate with DEIS are now available in every school. Schoolbooks are free at primary and post-primary regardless of DEIS status, and since 2025 all primary schools are eligible for the hot school meals programme. What remains specific to DEIS is the staffing — reduced class sizes in Urban Band 1, the Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access and enhanced capitation.
Band as published in the Department's DEIS list, last revised 2022-10-12.
Special classes
2 special classes sanctioned for 26/27:
- 2 × Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Source: National Council for Special Education. Children in a special class travel under a separate transport scheme with its own rules.
The area around this school
School planning area: Carndonagh. This is how the Department plans where to build capacity. It is not a catchment.
Local house prices: the median residential sale price in Eircode district F93 (Lifford) was €173,750 in 2025. That is up 44.8% since 2020. CSO figures for the whole district, not the streets beside the school.
Area profile: the Pobal HP Deprivation Index rates Carndonagh at -9.41 (Marginally Below Average), where 0 is the national average. 31% of adults there hold a third-level qualification.
Contact
| Principal | Mr John McGuinness |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0749374260 |
| admin@carndonaghcs.ie | |
| Local authority | Donegal County Council |
Other schools in Carndonagh
- Gaelscoil Chois Feabhaill Primary school, Donegal
- Glentogher Con N S Primary school, Donegal
- Moville Community College Secondary school, Donegal
- Moville N S Primary school, Donegal
- Naomh Bodain Primary school, Donegal
- Naomh Bridhid Primary school, Donegal
- S N An Iorball Riabaigh Primary school, Donegal
- S N Donaigh Primary school, Donegal
- S N Na Gcluainte Primary school, Donegal
- Scoil Cholmchille Primary school, Donegal
- Scoil Cholmcille Primary school, Donegal
- Scoil Chroí Naofa, Carndomhnach Primary school, Donegal
How we know
DoE Schools GIS 2026 (CC BY 4.0) — checked 2026-08-27.