Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace are within the catchment area of James Gillespie's High School.

The school acknowledges Gillespie's links to the North Virginia slave trade and, in keeping with best practice, educates students about slavery in its various forms.

The project added three teaching blocks, a separate library, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium to the original Bruntsfield House building.

[6] Prior to the move, the high school divided the student population into four 'houses' — Warrender, Roslin, Spylaw, and Gilmore.

In August 2021, due to rising pupil numbers, a further revision was made and as of then, the communities have been Roslin, Spylaw and Lauder.

[7] Following consultation with parents, students, staff, and the wider community, building of a new school began on the existing site in December 2013.

In mid-2019, a small set of temporary units serving as a Humanities building were built in order to better space out these subjects.

[citation needed] In October 2022, Darroch Annexe[9] in the nearby Fountainbridge area of the city opened after it was refurbished.