Confirmation of the decision came from the Scottish parliament on Monday.
Schools to be regenerated under a £1.25 billion programme were selected partly because of their unsuitability to deliver modern education.
Applications had been submit
ted by East Renfrewshire council for two schools and after inspection, 45-year-old Eastwood was given a (ITALS) D (ITALS) rating – the worst possible.
An inefficient boiler and draughty windows made it worse off than Barrhead, which is of a similar age and was rated (ITALS) C.
ERC's education convener, councillor Alan Lafferty is disappointed that Barrhead high lost out.
But pledged: "We will be ready to bid again immediately if and when a new tranche of funding is announced. We remain committed to a new Barrhead high school".
He added: "I am very pleased that Eastwood high has been included in the new secondary school announcement".
Jess Faulds has a grandson David Cooper (15) who attends Barrhead high, and she thinks the school's plight is "dreadful".
Mrs Faulds told The Extra: "Barrhead high has been in need of a facelift for a very long time. Schools are not made to stand up for ever.
"From what I have seen of it recently, it badly needs rebuilt".
Parent council chair June Cunningham has two children at the school –
Kay (15) and Holly (13) – and revealed the parent council is "very, very disappointed" at the decision.
She told The Extra: "Barrhead and Eastwood were always together in this as they are in a similar state, and to find out Barrhead has lost out is bitterly disappointing for parents and pupils alike".
Jackson Carlaw MSP added that "it was always going to be difficult for East Renfrewshire to get two new schools".
Decisions were made after consultation between Holyrood, the Convention of Scottish Authorities and the Scottish Futures Trust, which is funding the refurbishments.
