The very first school built at Knockanean was built in 1824 and had 84 pupils. The school closed in 1837 and there are no remains of that school now.

In 1842 Mr. Howley, the landlord gave ten pounds to build a new school in Knockanean, Mr. Patrick O Gorman was the first teacher. He was paid eight pounds a year and he had the use of four acres of land. 84 children (58 boys, 26 girls) attended and they paid to attend.
The second school was built near Gaurus Bridge. In 1840 Mr. O Neill was teaching there. Knockanean school was used during The Famine (1845-1848) as a feeding station for the locals. Indian meal came Clarecastle and was distributed from the school.
In 1860-1861the first school under the state system was built. Fr. Gerry Vaughan P.P took n aid from the State but built it using local money. It was built with stone and morter, a thatched roof and earthen floor. It was 49 ft 2 inches long and 21 ft wide. There were two rooms ( a boys school and a girls school). Mr. O Neill was the teacher of the boys and Mrs. Healy was the teacher of the girls. There were three desks in each room.Some of the teachers in the girls school were Mary Donnellan, Elizabeth Ryan, Catherine Corbett, Catherine Lynch, Mona Liddy and Kate Foundation (all in 1873).
Susan O Callaghan was appointed Principal in 1873. She married Robert Killeen a local farmer. The two schools amalgamated in 1877, with Mr. O Neill as Principal.
School hours were 10am – 4pm (Monday – Friday) 10am – 1m (Saturday). In 1949 the new school was built by Fr. Smyth. The two teachers were Mrs. Doherty (Principal) and Ms. Brennan. Ms. Eileen Griffin (O Loughlan) was appointed in 1963 as Principal and Mrs. Nugent as Assitant.

1896-1930……………….60 pupils

1960………………………39 pupils

1999……………………..130 pupils

2010……………………..276 pupils