Ratheniska National School is a mainstream, co-ed primary school, located approximately 3kms to the south east of Portlaoise. The earliest records for a school in Ratheniska dates back to 1824 (194 years ago!) Our school has a Roman Catholic ethos. The school operates under the patronage of The Kildare & Leiglin Dioscese in the Parish of Portlaoise. Currently there are 232 children in school at present, 114 boys and 118 girls. The school building houses 8 spacious classrooms (90 sqm), 2 support rooms, offices and store rooms. We are very fortunate to also have use of the local community hall and the nearby GAA grounds (17 acres) for all our recreational requirements. Visit our home page to meet our teachers and learn more about our school.

Ratheniska  National School strives to provide a well-ordered, caring, happy and secure atmosphere where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of the pupils are identified and addressed.

While Ratheniska National School is a school with a Catholic ethos, it also has due recognition for all other religions. Ratheniska National School will strive to promote, both individually and collectively, the professional and personal development of teachers through staff development programmes. Ratheniska National School will encourage the involvement of parents through home/school contacts and through their involvement in the Parents Association. Ratheniska National school will endeavour to enhance the self-esteem of everyone in the school community, to imbue in the pupils respect for people and property and to encourage in them the idea of being responsible. Ratheniska National school will promote gender equity amongst the teachers and pupils.

I Scoil Náisiúnta Ráithín an Uisce tá an foireann aontaithe ina n-iomlán gur teanga bheo cumarsáide í an Ghaeilge agus déanaimid uile iarracht dearcadh dearfach i leith na Gaeilge a chothú.