6 Best Military Schools in America

1 Marine Military Academy, Harlingen, Texas

The Marine Military Academy can be found in Harlingen, Texas. It is a private academy for students who are in the college preparatory stage. It was established in 1965. Boys that are in grades 8-12 can enroll there. Students will also receive 1 year of post graduate study.
The United States Marine Corps is not in any way affiliated with the school but its ideals and traditions are being upheld here. By chance, you can be associated with the Marine Corps only if you participate in the Junior ROTC program. The school mascot is the bulldog.
There are also high school classes offered in this school. There are also dual enrollment courses where students can start early to earn a college degree as well as placement authorized courses. Most courses offered there are taught by professors throughout the year.
Students cannot avoid missed assignments or failed exams without an acceptable reason. They are also required to submit to Closed Call to Quarters. It means that there is a time set to handle all academic responsibilities every night in the barracks. It is a mandatory requirement for students to study and do assignments. If a student is failing, there are tutorials designed to help students improve.
The school offers summer camps for boys ages 13-17. This program allows boys to participate in an adventure that has a duration of four weeks.
The structure of the Academy is likened to the United States Marine Corps. The freshmen cannot surpass Cadet Corporal and the eighth graders cannot reach above Cadet Lance Corporal. Sophomores have a chance to be promoted to non commissioned officers while the juniors capture most of the Academy’s NCO.
Seniors usually go up the officer rank. They are able to get Platoon Commanders, Company Commanders, Company Executive Officers and Battalion Commanders. These positions are of command responsibility.
There are extracurricular activities that cadets should participate in between 4:00-5:30 pm. The goal of the program is for all cadets to participate in sports with no bearing on their skill level. There are also sports activities that they can join to include: boxing, judo, cycling, rock climbing, and drill.
The sports that are present at the Marine Military Academy are included in the competition of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (T.A.P.P.S.). It began during the 2000-2001 school year. There is also a program called V.I.S.A. (Valley Independent School Association) that eight graders can participate in and compete against other private schools in the state.

2La Salle Institute, Troy, New York

Troy, New York has a private Catholic school for males in the form of La Salle Institute or LSI. This all-male school is a college preparatory educational institution run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The school welcomes students from grades 6 to 12.
LSI is located in Williams Road, Troy, New York. Currently, it has a total enrollment of over 400 students and classes last about 6 hours a day. The school year consists of 180 days of classes, which is actually more than the average for the private schools in New York and in other places in the United States. Right now, the school has over 50 faculty members with a student to teacher ratio of 12:1.
The school’s slogan is “Builders of boys, makers of MEN.” LSI is in a suburb school setting under the supervision of the principal, Brother Carl Malacalza. Since the school is run by a religious organization, LSI consists of many religious activities and most of them are a part of the school’s tradition.
In 1981, the first ever cadet battalion of the school was formed. Today, the high school students are required to join the Army JROTC program. The main goal here is to motivate the students to become better citizens instead of focusing on becoming a soldier or recruiting new members of the US Army.
JROTC program at the school has received the “Honor Unit with Distinction” from the US Department of Army. Thus, the LSI is viewed as a prestigious member of the educational assembly particularly in the private catholic college preparatory school group.
When it comes to athletics, the student body is actively participating in the interscholastic baseball, cross country, basketball, golf, and bowling among others. They also have teams of ice hockey, football, lacrosse, tennis, and track. The school boasts a team of champions including the varsity basketball which was a part of the Big 10 Class AA. LSI is represented by blue and white colors with their mascot, Cadets.
The LSI offers a library for the students. They are affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and are an independent member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The school offers a variety of general learning courses as well as for the accelerated, honors level, and advanced students. LSI is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

3Howe Military Academy, Howe, Indiana

The Howe School is a college preparatory academy located on 100 beautiful acres in Northeast Indiana. This exclusive boarding school has a fantastic student to teacher ratio. Students can expect plenty of one-on-one attention. The historic campus dates back to 1884, when the school was founded.
It wasn’t until 1895 that The Howe School became a military-style boarding school. In 1988, the school began admitting girls as day-school students and full-time boarding students.
Students who are interested in applying to The Howe School can complete an admissions inquiry online. In addition, the school hosts scheduled campus preview events for prospective students.
Dates for campus preview days can be found on their website. Financial aid may be available through the National Association of Independent Schools or through Student Service for Financial Aid.
The Howe School is accredited by the State of Indiana, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association. This private boarding school is also available to international students. Students who attend The Howe School can expect a top-tier academic program in addition to character development.
Students in grades seven and eight follow a traditional middle school curriculum. In addition to core classes, they also begin coursework in leadership, typing, foreign languages and physical education. The Potential Achievement Rating (PAR) system is individually tailored to each student. Students are encouraged to meet and exceed their PAR scores.
Over 97 percent of Howe School graduates go on to college. In addition, AP classes are also offered to dedicated students.
The summer camp at The Howe School is available to boys ages nine to 15. They have a variety of confidence building exercises with a strong focus on leadership development. This is a great place for potential students to learn about The Howe School. Students can participate in canoeing, fishing, horseback riding and archery. In addition, students learn how to excel in a military-like atmosphere.
Cadet Wildcats thrive under the strict military structure of The Howe School. Cadets take classes in leadership and follow a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps curriculum. Leadership, confidence, selfless service and education are all important parts of being a cadet at The Howe School.
Attending The Howe School does not mean students have to join the service or attend a service academy after graduation. Many graduates do go on to military careers. Ultimately, the rigorous military structure provides students with the valuable skills they need to succeed in college and in life.
The athletic program at The Howe School also has a military focus. Honor and integrity are paramount during organized sports competitions. In addition, a high level of personal physical fitness is always encouraged.
The Howe School offers 11 different sports for students to choose from. Football, soccer, tennis, and basketball are popular choices for many cadets. Students are expected to give their personal best at all times.

4Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, Virginia

Located in Chatham, Virginia, Hargrave Military Academy is a privatized boarding school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. It was originally founded as the Chatham Training School in 1909. The school was renamed in 1925 in honor of a local farmer, J. Hunt Hargrave.
There is a moderately difficult application process, which includes a detailed application and submission of current transcripts and academic recommendations. The application is then reviewed by admissions personnel who make sure the academy and your student are a good match for each other.
The academy accepts only male students in grades 7 through 12 but offers continuing education opportunities for post-graduate students seeking to improve their educational and athletic abilities to better prepare for college acceptance. Students seeking a jump start to their college career can enroll in dual-enrollment college courses through Danville Community College.
In 2011 the average SAT score for a Hargrave student was 1515 and the school boasted a 99 percent college acceptance rate from 2003 to 2011. Retention rates among students average 83 percent at Hargrave Military Academy.
With an average of 12 students in each class, students receive personalized attention which helps keep their grades and morale high.
The school received accreditation through both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Council on Accreditation and School Improvement via AdvancED and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. These standards are maintained by the schools governing board of trustees which is made up mostly of academy alumni.
The school primarily focuses on college-preparation in a military-structured setting but is also well known for its basketball and football teams. The schools’ mascot is a tiger, representing the school colors of orange and black.
For a more disciplined sport, the academy is home of The Camden Rifles, an elite drill unit formed in 1951. Academically, the academy’s Christian values based military preparatory program is what the school is best known for.

5Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, Virginia

Commonly referred to as FUMA (foo-mah), Fork Union Military academy is located in the village community known as Fork Union, Virginia. This location provides peace and respite from all the hustle of the city and the pressures of everyday life. To further promote positive attitudes, the academy emphasizes the importance of positive peer pressure, or leading by example.
Baptist minister Dr. William E. Hatcher founded the academy in 1898 to fill the need of education for students aged 14 to 17. Fork Union adopted its current independent military curriculum in 1902 and has no affiliation with any branch of the US military.
Fork Union began its affiliation with the Baptist Association of Virginia in 1913 when it became an all-male institution. The academy is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.
Admission requires an application process and a visit to the campus is highly recommended. Once on campus, prospective students are then given a tour and an opportunity to meet other students to determine if the academy is indeed a good fit for them.
The admission process is not as detailed or rigorous as other military schools in the state. Accepted students have the advantage of attending the school with students from 13 other countries. International students make up 10 percent of the campus population.
As part of the academic and military curriculum, the academy prides itself on teaching structure, discipline and Christian values. Boys, grades 6-12 and postgraduate courses participate in 10 different athletic programs, multiple clubs, organizations and the academy rifle team.
Athletic teams sport the Blue Devils as their mascot. Participation in these extracurricular activities is not required but offers a change of pace from daily academic life.
The academy houses approximately 500 students and employs 175 staff members. Fork Union emphasizes college preparation while building a strong, well-rounded personality individual. The academy is best known for its unconventional academic plan.
Students focus on one subject at a time for each seven week grading period rather than 4 subjects all session long. This has earned the graduating students a 100 percent college acceptance rate.

6Florida Preparatory Academy, Melbourne, Florida

The Florida Preparatory Academy or the Florida Prep, formerly the Florida Air Academy, is one of the most reputable boarding schools in the entire state of Florida. Its father, Jonathan Dwight, founded the boarding school in 1961.
However, the main building was already in existence since 1923. It served as the personal mansion of Ernest Kouwen-Hoven, a famous Dutch who founded Indialantic, Florida.
The boarding school is located in Melbourne, Florida and is considered one of the oldest in the area. The school will turn 52 years old this 2013. Both young men and women can attend the school, from grades 6 to 12.
This co-ed type boarding school employs a military-style approach in educating students as a way to prepare them for college. Currently, there are 300 students in the school with 35 members of the faculty to assist the learners. The private campus covers 22 acres of land and is headed by Principal Melissa Alton.
This boarding school in Florida is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools as well as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. When it was first established by Jonathan Dwight with the help of his wife, Emily, the school was modeled according to the methods of the United States Air Force Academy.
Until today, it is a family operated educational institution, focusing on both leadership and responsibility.
Florida Prep is best known for its strong academic programs. It encourages students to seek assistance from teachers through the Teacher Help Period. This can be done after school hours where teachers interact with students so that they can complete their homework and answer academic-related questions.
Students who need additional support and instruction can take advantage of the Academic Assistance Program.
The school has a small-sized classes. Usually, there are only five to twenty learners, averaging from 13 to 14 students. In 2012, there were 190 boarding undergraduates at FPA. Many classes are offered, including Honors and Dual Enrollment. Dual Enrollment allows students to be enrolled in FPA, Brevard Community College, and Florida Tech, which are two nearby schools.
FPA uses rolling admission where candidates are allowed to submit their applications anytime. There are no specific deadlines for application submissions and the acceptance rate is high, around 70%. The school boasts 100% acceptance rate by colleges for more than 30 years now.
The FPA uses blue or navy and white colors and is represented by the falcon. There are many activities and clubs financed by the school, including the FPA Surf Club, Skateboarding Club, Flight Training Programs, Rowing Crew, and the Academic Team among others.
The boys’ basketball classes became state champions in baseball and basketball for several seasons. Class 3A also became the state champion for triple jump, high jump, and long jump. The school has already produced three Olympic athletes with two winning the bronze medals.