[9] Kilmarnock Academy is one of a few schools in the UK, and the first school in Scotland, to have educated several Nobel laureates: Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin, and John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr, for his scientific research into nutrition and his work as the first Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

It became a comprehensive school in 1968, fees having been abolished for pupils attending Kilmarnock Academy in 1945 following World War II.

[13] The first mention of a town schoolmaster in Kilmarnock came before the Scottish Parliamentary legislation which was passed in 1633 which required there to be a school in every parish in Scotland.

Andersoune had died that year, however, the first relative clear indication of a burgh school having been established in Kilmarnock in the late sixteenth century is from the notable education Zachary Boyd.

John Duncan succeed Graham as schoolmaster and served from 1779–1797, and was credited as being the first known rector of the grammar school.

[15] The North Hamilton Street Kilmarnock Academy was where two Nobel laureates were educated – Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin, and John Boyd Orr, 1st Baron Boyd-Orr, for his scientific research into nutrition and his work as the first Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

[15] The building at North Hamilton Street soon became cramped and could not accommodate the increased number of pupils wishing to attend the school, leading to a newer building being constructed at Elmbank Drive which was erected in 1898, with pupils transferring from North Hamilton Street to the new Elmbank Drive Kilmarnock Academy in 1898.

Built of traditional red sandstone, the new Kilmarnock Academy contained a gym, swimming pool and workshops, in addition to the usual classrooms.

[15] A public clock was erected at the top of the building, facing towards the town centre, with a tall 80 ft square tower which was originally used for astronomy lessons.

[15] On 24 March 1923, a war memorial was dedicated by Sir Charles Fergusson, and was designed by former pupil of the school and architect W.F.

[15] The newly constructed main building of the Elmbank Drive site cost taxpayers £1 million, and was said to ensure " Kilmarnock will have a very fine modern school with a proud history stretching back many centuries".

The assembly hall was designed to seat 1400 people and consisted of a fully equipped stage for performances, as well as a projection room.

[15] Additionally, pupils could study building design, art, domestic science, woodwork, metalwork and plumbing at the site.

[19] On 12 October 2016, Deputy First Minister of Scotland in his capacity of Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, visited the site of the construction for the new school where he laid the foundation stone for the new structure.

[10] The William McIllvanney Campus, containing Kilmarnock Academy, James Hamilton Primary School and Early Childhood Centre and a Gaelic education unit, was handed over to East Ayrshire Council from Keir Construction on 30 March 2018.

In 2022, Kilmarnock Academy was the top performing school in East Ayrshire based on exam result attainment data of pupils who received the Scottish Government educational “gold standard” of achieving 5 Highers passes.

[25] As Rector As Head Teacher Kilmarnock Academy is one of the few schools in the world to have educated several Nobel laureates: Alexander Fleming and John Boyd Orr.