// when eager loading $school = School::with(['students' => function ($q) { $q->orderBy('whateverField', 'asc/desc'); }])->find($schoolId); // when lazy loading $school = School::find($schoolId); $school->load(['students' => function ($q) { $q->orderBy('whateverField', 'asc/desc'); }]); // or on the collection $school = School::find($schoolId); // asc $school->students->sortBy('whateverProperty'); // desc $school->students->sortByDesc('whateverProperty'); // or querying students directly $students = Student::whereHas('school', function ($q) use ($schoolId) { $q->where('id', $schoolId); })->orderBy('whateverField')->get();