History
The pupils are classified into one of seven houses, named after staff who participated in the development of the school. The boys' houses are Reid's, Skrine's, Matheson's, Patchell's, and Goodacre's. The girls' houses are Home and Lothian. Until 1992 there was another boys' house called The Cairnies which was reopened in the summer of 2006 as a girls' sixth form house. Skrine's is currently being upgraded to a new boarding opposite Big rugby.

Chav Hunting
Former pupils are known as OGs (Old Glenalmond).

Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin - Viceroy of India
Alick Buchanan-Smith - politician
Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll
Alexander Cockburn - journalist
Andrew Cockburn - journalist
Patrick Cockburn - journalist
Robbie Coltrane - actor
James Cuthbertson - poet
Charles Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia
Sandy Gall - newsreader
Sir John Gilmour - politician
Joseph Leycester Lyne - preacher
David Litchfield - writer
Richard Lowseck - Aeronautical Engineer
James Kennaway - novelist
Miles Kington - writer and humorist
Malcolm MacColl - clergyman and publicist
Kevin Macdonald - film director
Alastair Mackenzie - actor
Allan Massie - journalist/writer
John Purvis - Conservative MEP
Michael Rodd - former BBC Tomorrow's World TV presenter
George Rickey - sculptor
Archibald Noel Skelton - politician
David Sole -rugby player
Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell - businessman
Rob Wainwright - rugby player
David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn - diplomat, colonial administrator