The John Watson's Institution was a school established in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1762. The building was designed in the Greek Revival style in 1825 by architect William Burn. Following the closure of the school, the building was left vacated for a number of years before becoming home to Modern One of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

In 1762 John Watson, an Edinburgh solicitor and Writer to the Signet, left the residue of his estate for charitable purposes for children in the Edinburgh area. A refuge was established which eventually became John Watson's Institution, commonly known as John Watson's School.

In 1975 the school was closed and in 1984 the organisation was changed by Parliament^[1] to the John Watson's Trust in order to distribute funds from the sale of its assets.^[2]

The school magazine was known as "The Levite".

• Marion Stevenson, missionary to Africa, and opponent of female genital mutilation.
• James Drummond Young, Lord Drummond Young, judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland and Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission.