Expanding housebuilding and construction group Galliford Try will build the new Inverness Royal Academy and a primary school in Wick after netting deals worth a total of £50.8million.
The contracts were awarded by public-private partnership Hub North Scotland and Highland Council.
Galliford Try said the work would be carried out by its newly acquired Miller Construction business.
Inverness Royal Academy is due for completion by summer 2016.
The new four-storey building will have room for about 1,500 pupils.
Classes will continue as normal in the existing building while the new school is being built.
Plans for the £35.4million project were unveiled to staff, pupils and parents last year.
The contract to build Noss Primary School in Wick is worth £15.4million.
It will replace the town’s existing North and Hillhead primary schools and the project will be delivered in two phases, with final completion due in spring 2016.
As well as a new school for nearly 400 children, the contract will deliver a nursery and better facilities to support education for pupils with special needs.
Galliford Try chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said: “We are delighted to have reached agreement with Hub North Scotland Limited and the Highland Council on these significant education contracts, and are now able to get the projects underway.
“The Miller Construction business is an important addition to the group and these awards reflect its reputation and strong market presence in the education sector in Scotland.
“We look forward to successfully delivering both projects for our client and wider stakeholders, and in turn providing pupils, teachers and the communities in Inverness and Wick with an enhanced built environment and improved facilities.”
Galliford Try’s near £16.6million acquisition of Miller Construction, previously part of Edinburgh-based Miller Group, was announced earlier this month.
The deal will see Galliford Try’s order book double to £2.8billion, but will lead to one-off restructuring costs of £4million as the group seeks to squeeze out annual cost savings of £7million.
Middlesex-based Galliford Try also owns Scottish firm Morrison Construction.