At that time the secondary provided education for pupils from a wider area than nowadays, some from the west and north coasts of Sutherland, who required hostel accommodation in the town.

This situation gradually changed from the mid-1980s as the council adopted a new policy of supporting local communities by upgrading these schools to six-year status, with their pupils staying all week with their own families.

That year, Stuart Sommerville of The Reformer wrote that the opting out caused a "row" that "has split the community for months now.

[3] Shortly after, Dornoch Academy received authority to upgrade back to six-year status in stages, from 1 May 1996 onwards.

The ground floor also comprises the main reception and clerical areas, along with the dining hall and the assembly hall/stage.

First floor departments include English, History, Geography, Music, Art, Chemistry, Biology and Physics.