Although there was mention of a school in 1581, another reference to education in 1664 noted 'The Kirk Session decided as there was no place for school they would give the Bailies and Council of North Berwick the sum of three pounds Scotch yearly for the West Laich House under the tollbooth till a new schoolhouse was provided by the heritors.

In 1690, all schoolmasters teaching Latin were obliged to swear allegiance to King William of Orange and it is recorded that the schoolmaster at North Berwick, Alexander Goodale had agreed to this. The following year the schoolmaster was Walter Ainslie, he was also Session Clerk in the parish church.

In an act of the Scottish Parliament in 1696, which was reaffirmed in 1803, the landlord was obliged to provide a school house and salary for a school master, supplemented by fees paid by the parents. Although provision for education in the Parish was on the statute, the landlord and church organised the education system with little state interference. At this time a Royal Burgh was given the authority to administer a Burgh School. The original Parish School was situated in Church Road, known as School Alley. In the 1870's a new school was built at the corner of Church Road and Westgate, the first building was the boys school, and the identical building (now 124-126 Westgate) was the girls school.

The Town Council minutes of 1756 states that Robert Anderson was elected a burgess of the Royal Burgh on his retirement from the position of schoolmaster. His son William Anderson born in North Berwick in 1750 sailed with Captain Cook as ships doctor and naturalist on his second voyage of discovery to the Antarctic and South Pacific in 1772. Anderson died during the third voyage in 1778 and Cook named a newly found island in the Bering Sea, 'Anderson's Island' after his respected friend. In the 1780s, John Kirk was the schoolmaster. He was succeeded by Andrew Crichton in 1820 who published a book about the 'Life of John Blackadder' in 1823. Later he became editor of the Edinburgh Evening Post and in 1832 editor of the Edinburgh Advertiser.

By the 1830s there were several private schools organised by individuals which supplemented the Burgh School and Parish School. The later being described in 1839 as nearly deserted with only 24 pupils. The schoolmaster was George Syme, his son David Syme born in North Berwick in 1827 was fascinated by reports of the gold rush and emigrated to North America and then to Australia in search of his fortune. In the 1850s he was joined by his brother Ebeneezer (1826 -1859) and together they raised enough capital from mining and contracting to purchase the insolvent newspaper 'The Melbourne Age'. David Syme out lived his brother by over forty years and was described as Australia's first press baron. In the 1860s, The Age was a considerable force in moulding public opinion and influencing politicians. David Syme was an advocate of compulsory education and industrial independence by a policy of protection, he also had a fondness for quoting 'Burns' in his newspaper. The Age had a circulation higher than any other in Australia, rising from 15,000 a day in 1868 to more than 120,000 a day in 1874 and continues to be a respected publication with a wide circulation in Melbourne and Victoria.

The schoolhouse for the landward children was situated near the crest of Heugh Brae, beside what is now the entrance to 'Sea Breezes'. In 1849, John Steel was appointed Parish Schoolmaster with Miss Janet Flett as his assistant. He was also the Parish Registrar and his fine hand writing can be seen on many of the old town documents. The Burgh School was situated in the building occupied today by the chemist's shop at 66 High Street. Originally a single storey building with arcades to the east, forming an open butchers market with a bakehouse on the north end. The building owned by the Town Council had a second floor added in 1830 to provide a Burgh School room with access by an outside stone staircase. John M. Davidson was the teacher and his wife Rose Davidson was mistress of the Infants' School in the same building. The Burgh School taught reading, writing and arithmetic as primary subjects and in the second grade other subjects were added such as latin, geography, book-keeping and navigation. Later William Calder was appointed Burgh School master and Parish Registrar as well as secretary of the Penny Savings Bank, instituted in 1860. Over 70 children attended the Burgh School in 1870 paid for by the Town Council for families too poor to afford schooling. Following the Education (Scotland) Act in 1872, education became compulsory for all children between the ages of five and twelve. That year Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, 6th Baronet (1814-1887), became chairman of the School Board in North Berwick.

In 1867, the mistress at the private school in Kays Wynd (Law Brae) was Marion Dobbie. The subscription school at Halfland Barns built in 1704 was under the supervision of John Lamb since 1840 and by 1877 had 42 pupils. There were also two seminaries for young ladies organised by Miss Stiff at Wesdon House, West Links and Miss Boyd in Viewforth. There was also a boarding establishment for young gentlemen supervised by Rev David McCalman at Turpie, (Murray House) West Bay Road.

A purpose-built public school was opened in 1876, on the site of John Neillan's cooperage, known as 'Coopers Well' off East Road and William Calder was appointed head teacher. He was succeeded by George (Tom) Tait who retained the position of head master for over 43 years. In memory of the former headmaster the 'Calder Dux Medal' was instituted and awarded to the leading pupil. The teachers included Mary Finlay, George Philip, Anne Owen, Harper McKenzie, Helen Duncan, Miss Watt, and Agnes Forrett. Among the pupils educated at this school were US Open Golf Champions Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904. 1905), and Fred MacLeod (1908). Daniel Kenny was Canadian Golf Champion in 1910.

In 1885, the Scottish Office was created with responsibility for education and in July 1905, Halfland Barns school was closed. When the proposal to build a new school for higher education was originally mooted by the Burgh School Board, opinion within the community was divided as to it's ultimate success. The Board suggested that the fees should be such, that the working class could afford to give their children an education beyond the elementary instruction at the Public School. In 1895 the Board appointed Mr Glover as the rector and in September the new High School in Law Road was officially opened by Sir Walter Hamilton-Dalrymple.

Pupils attended the public school until the age of 11 and on passing a qualifying examination would enter the High School, while the others would remain at the Public School. The new building (Community Centre in Law Road) cost £2,500 and accommodated 128 pupils in four teaching rooms, a library and gymnasium. The pupils walked to the playing fields and sports pavilion situated in Grange Road. During the First World War the Abbey Church minister, Rev. Robert Small acted as rector of the High School.

The school has the distinction of producing two Moderators of the General Assembly. Nevile Davidson, the son of the Blackadder Church minister and four years later Leonard Small, the son of the Abbey Church minister. At this time less than one fifth of university students came from a working class home.

A new High School built on the Mains Farm in Grange Road, opened in 1940 with J. T. Brown as rector. The population increase during the 1950s and the leaving age being increased to 15, an extension was required and in 1962 new science laboratories, technical department, art facilities and extra gymnasium provided. A further extension was completed in 1998 to accommodate 2,000 pupils. The Law Primary School was constructed in 1974 at a cost of £347,000 and opened in April the following year by Provost John Macnair.

In 1945, Carlekemp was converted into a Priory School under the supervision of the Friars from Fort Augustus Abbey. Father Oswald Eaves and his staff dressed in traditional brown habits taught many well known pupils including the Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Haddington, George Hope of Luffness and in 1975 Cameron Mitchell (film director).

From 1950 the school entertained many international rugby teams staying at the Marine Hotel and practised on the Priory School rugby pitches laid out on ground now occupied by Nos.6 -12 Strathearn Road. On one occasion Cliff Morgan presented the school with his jersey. Many of the teams took part in a question and answer forum at North Berwick High School including Dickie Jeeps with members of the English team and in January 1961, John Gainsford and the famous Springbok visited. The Priory School closed in 1977 and was converted into apartments.