5 Military Boarding Schools in Florida

Looking for a military school to send your child to? We have listed and discussed the military boarding schools in Florida in this blog post that are suitable for children and youths.

It is common knowledge that military boarding schools are for badly behaved kids or youths, while this is partly true, it isn’t entirely true. Kids with anger issues, underperforming in class, or have some behavioral issues that the parents can’t condone are often sent to military boarding schools but this doesn’t make up the entire population of students in these schools.

There are other kids there for other reasons as well aside from bad behaviors. It could be because they were been bullied in their former school and parents seeing this could send their child to a military boarding school where they can learn about self-respect, improve on their confidence and self-esteem, and learn how to protect and stand up for themselves.

Whatever the reason may be that has made you as a parent considering sending your child off to a military boarding school this article will help you make a better decision. This post discusses the military boarding schools in Florida which will be helpful to those who live in Florida and other parts of the United States.

Note that the military boarding schools in Florida do not accept international students but Florida residents, American citizens, and permanent residents of the United States.

Most people see these military boarding schools as a place where children are youths are put through rigorous training and trained to become soldiers. That is not true. These schools also make use of the typical high school curriculum and students earn credits too.

The military boarding schools in Florida and anywhere in the U.S provide quality education to students while instilling discipline and other humane qualities in them to become upholding members of the society. They are taught leadership qualities and physical fitness to boost their confidence. Some of these schools even equip their students with job-ready skills that they can use in the outside world.

At the end of your stay at a military boarding school, you can decide to go back to high school, volunteer for the military, or go on to continue your studies in a college. Graduates of military preparatory schools usually receive placement at one of the best universities and colleges in the nation.

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Admission Requirements Into Military Schools in Florida

To get admitted into any of the military schools in Florida there is a certain eligibility requirement that you must meet to be considered for admission. These requirements have been listed below.

  1. Applicants must be within the required age range that the military academy accepts.
  2. Must be a resident of Florida and a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
  3. Applicant should be free of felony charges and no pending court proceedings
  4. Physical and mental capability to participate in the program
  5. Should be free from the use of illegal drugs or other substances
  6. Complete then submit all supporting documents as required by your preferred school.

How Much Does Military School Cost in Florida?

Military schools in Florida are public charter schools or government-owned therefore they are free to attend and require no fee or tuition. However, if you want to attend a college preparatory military boarding school in Florida then you need to pay for tuition. They cost around $25,000 to $50,000 per year.

These military academies where you have to pay for tuition aren’t exactly military schools, rather, they are military-like and are privately owned.

Must I Become A Soldier If I Attend A Military Boarding School in Florida?

It isn’t necessary that you become a soldier after graduating from a military boarding in Florida. You can continue high school, apply for college, or volunteer in the army.

What Is The Age Requirement For Military School In Florida?

The age requirement for military schools in Florida varies from academy to academy. Every school has its different age requirements. All the military boarding schools in Florida are discussed further below with the age requirement of each of the schools provided. That way, you can easily learn about the age requirements and the suitable one to send your child to.

Without any further ado, let’s get into the military boarding schools in Florida…

Best Military Boarding Schools In Florida

Florida has a handful of well-established military academies both government and privately owned. Details of these schools have been discussed below.

  • Florida Air Academy
  • Sarasota Military Academy (SMA)
  • Gateway Military Academy
  • Philips High School
  • Admiral Farragut Academy

1.      Florida Air Academy

The Florida Air Academy is one of the best private military boarding schools in Florida. It was founded in 1961 as a private day and boarding preparatory academy by the Dwight family. It is a fully-accredited co-ed school located in Melbourne, Florida, and has since been operating to date offering excellent academics to students in grades 6-12.

The academy prepares her students for college offering them a college-preparatory education that is built on leadership, character accountability, and trust. It is a private academy and classes are kept small so that teachers can give students the attention they deserve.

Florida Air Academy houses students from all states in the U.S and international students as well. The acceptance rate is 100%. The tuition fee for day students starts from $10,000 and fees for boarding students start from $30,000. There are scholarships set in place to reduce tuition by up to 40% and every student can apply for it.

There is also an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) program at the academy which takes four years to complete. The program educates and trains high school cadets in citizenship, promotes community service, instills personality responsibility, character, and self-discipline. Cadets also learn all about aviation and aerospace science and participate in regular drills and training exercises.

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2.      Sarasota Military Academy (SMA)

This is one of the military boarding schools in Florida founded in Sarasota in 2002. It is a public charter school which makes it non-profit and tuition-free. The academy provides outstanding academics, character, and leadership development to students in grades 6-12. It is also a college preparatory and career pathway school.

The school is divided into two programs, the prep grades 6-8 and the high grades 9-12.

The vision of SMA is to equip cadets with the skills, values, and education that will enable them to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Extracurricular activities here include JROTC programs and a drum line squad. The academy is co-ed and graduates who wish to continue to college get scholarships.

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3.      Gateway Military Academy

Gateway Military Academy is one of the military boarding schools in Florida located in Holmes County. It is a Christian-based academy that accepts only boys aged 12 to 17 from any part of the country at all times of the year. The admission procedure is easy and does not need any document or pass some requirements to apply.

Rather, an interview is held between the admissions officer and the parent or guardian. It is the interview that ensures the admission of the prospective students. After the interview, an introductory email and an application letter will be sent to the prospective student which they then have to fill and send back.

There is no cost or obligation to apply and the tuition fee is $11,400 per year.

Gateway Military Academy is not like the usual military-style school where there are drills and training exercises, it does not employ that method. The curriculum here is designed to prepare troubled young men to build character, leadership, respect, and discipline to turn around bad behavior and poor decisions.

Students can engage in extracurricular activities such as soccer, basketball, and baseball. Aside from making their academic lives excellent, these boys are also equipped with valuable real-world skills to get them career-ready.

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4.      Dr. Philips High School

Dr. Philips High School is one of the military boarding schools in Florida offering several special programs that allow students to concentrate on areas of interest. The programs offered are:

  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • Air Force JROTC
  • Career Academics
  • Dual Enrollment
  • Tech Prep
  • Career Pathways
  • Magnet and Arts Programs.

The school was established in 1987 in Orlando, Florida, and has since been offering innovative and military programs to both boys and girls. The Air Force JROTC program instills military discipline in students and as cadets, they spend time helping their community. Cadets must gain an outstanding academic achievement as great emphasis is placed on it and also engage in extracurricular activities.

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5.      Admiral Farragut Academy

On our final list of military boarding schools in Florida is the Admiral Farragut Academy, a private, college-preparatory school established in 1933 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The academy offers both day and boarding services and also has a military academy. Both boys are girls are accepted from grades PK through 12 from around the country and other parts of the world.

Students are divided into three and not all of them are accepted to become borders. The first category is the lower school from grades K-7 which are day students. The second is the upper school from grades 8-12 and then the boarding school, also from grades 8-12.

The academy provides a globally diverse student experience, comprehensive academic structure, strong character, and leadership development to all of its students. The acceptance rate here is 90% and if you are interested in sending your child here you need to start the admission process.

The admission process begins with submitting an inquiry, touring the campus, and completing an online application. Then proceed to submit the application form and the application fees. Application for admission is done at any time throughout the year. International students may also apply.

The tuition fee ranges from $14,000 to $53,200 per year depending on the student category you fall under.

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These are the military boarding schools in Florida and I hope the information provided here can help in your decision-making and select a suitable place for your child to instill the right qualities in them and at the same time make their academic life better.

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