The proposals to close Milne’s High School in Fochabers were opposed by 75% of the respondents to an online survey.
And last night campaigners vowed the fight was not over, warning that in years to come a school would be required in the year as people began moving to east Moray, attracted by the dualling of the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Dougie Potter, chairman of the Save Milne’s campaign group, said: “In 10 to 15 years there will be a dual-carriageway from Aberdeen to Inverness and it will reduce travelling times.
“In 10 to 15 years there will be a dual carriageway from Aberdeen to Inverness and it will reduce travelling times. The east of Moray will be an attractive option with cheap housing and a good school.
“Milne’s is a victim of geography. There are the same number of pupils at Keith and we’re not much below Lossiemouth.”
The campaign group was set up earlier this year, and has fought tirelessly to save the school, using creative ideas such as asking tennis star Andy Murray’s mother Judy for support, running poster competitions and holding general meetings.
The recommendation in the report is that the school closes, with the catchment area of New Elgin High being extended to include its pupils, along with those from Fochabers and Lhanbryde.
The report argues that the roll at Milne’s High School predicted to drop from 446 to 413 by 2012, and that a significant number of pupils from Lhanbryde have to travel further to get to it than they would if they went to school in Elgin.
A super campus, like the one proposed for Keith, was considered but consultants felt it would do nothing to address the major issues facing a school its size.
Caledonian Economics believe the arguments for closing the school are strong, and claim that pupils’ needs in terms of subject choices would be better met elsewhere.