Students attending disadvantaged or DEIS schools are 9% more likely to drop out before their Leaving Certificate compared with their peers in non-disadvantaged schools.
However, the latest data from the Department of Education shows that the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged schools has narrowed and five years ago it stood at 13%.
It said 84% of students attending DEIS schools now complete their Leaving Certificate, compared to 93% of students in non-DEIS schools.
Overall, the figures show that the proportion of students who complete second level education in Ireland continues to rise.
They show that in total, 91% of those who entered secondary education in 2010 went on to sit their Leaving Certificate exams, which is a 1% increase on the 2009 figures.
The department said 97% of those who began secondary school in 2010 sat their Junior Certificate exams.
Boys continue to have a slightly higher dropout rate than girls, with 90% of them completing the Leaving Certificate compared to almost 93% of girls.
Ireland's religious-run secondary schools have the highest retention rates, at almost 93% of students.
Community and Comprehensive schools come next with a rate of 90.6%. Vocational or ETB schools have a retention rate of 88%.
The difference reflects the traditional make up of the different sectors, with ETB schools more likely than religious run schools to cater for a more diverse student cohort.
The principal of St Dominic's College in Ballyfermot said there had been a rise in students completing their Leaving Certificate since DEIS was introduced.
Mary Daly told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the social inclusion strategy had changed the lives of many young people in Ireland.
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The Department of Education says the figures show that Ireland's rate of school completion is among the highest in Europe.
Minister for Education Richard Bruton said: "I am very encouraged by these results, particularly by those relating to DEIS schools.
"I have made breaking down cycles of disadvantage a key priority of mine as Minister as part of my overall ambition to make Ireland's education system the best in Europe within a decade. These results suggest our policies are working."
