The building opened in 1966 with the intention of accommodating all of the pupils of the town who were seeking to do "Higher" level examinations. Prior to this older pupils living in Glenrothes had to attend schools in neighbouring towns to continue their highers as the earlier secondary schools in the new town, Glenwood and Auchmuty, only provided for pupils at a junior secondary level. This system operated successfully for a number of years, however changes in the education system at the National level in the 1970s made the system redundant and both Auchmuty and Glenwood were raised to full "high school" status. In 2007 a modern gameshall was added to the sports facilities available at the school. The school has a Department of Additional Support comprising the former Department of Special Education and Physical Impairment Unit. The school is distinguished by a cylindrical belvedere feature on the roof. This is a green house which was once used by biology students. In 2018 Fife Council announced that the only money they had available for a new school building, which is badly required was to merge the school with Glenwood High School. Still to be rubber stamped, it is hoped that the new school will enter planning once nearby Madras College's new building is finished.
House system
The school operates a house system in which pupils are separated into three different houses which each have their own house colour and a PT of Guidance assigned to each house. The three houses and colours are:
Glen Nevis – Red
Glen Finnan – Yellow
Glen Coe – Blue
Glenrothes High School
Fife average
Scotland average
Total pupils
864
-
-
Leavers in 2009/10
169
-
-
Higher Education
30%
33%
36%
Further Education
41%
37%
27%
Training
7%
4%
5%
Employment
12%
12%
19%
Unemployment
11%
13%
12%
School performance
The school was inspected in 2003 and 2005 and was considered in 2005 to have made very good progress since the earlier inspection in 2003. It was again inspected in September 2009 and was found to have made further good progress. As of late 2011, the school was working towards gaining the UNICEF-recognised Rights Respecting School Award. The Scottish Qualifications Credit Framework contains 12 levels ranging from Access at SCQF level 1, up to Doctorate at level 12. SCQF Level 3 refers to the national qualifications taken over two years of study with exams at the end of S4. The proportion of S4 Pupils attaining SCQF Level 3 or above during 2009/10 was 91%, which was marginally below the Fife and Scottish averages of 92%.
