ADMISSION TO THE ACADEMY
Thank you for your interest in attending The Sarasota Military Academy.
As a public charter high school operating under the auspices of the School Board of Sarasota County, The Sarasota Military Academy does not have restrictive entrance requirements. Cadets must be able to participate in rigorous Army JROTC training. We usually have a waiting list; and we suggest that parents inquire about freshman vacancies when the student is in the 8th grade. We accept cadets in grades 9-12. A tour of the school is offered at 7:10 a.m. most Tuesday mornings during the school year. Please call the Academy at (941) 926-1700 to verify the next tour date. The tour, viewing of our signature event known as the First Formation, and discussion with the headmaster will help acquaint parents and students with the goals of the Academy. We are not a boot camp or correctional facility. The Academy is designed to train America’s next generation of great thinkers and leaders. We seek students who are very serious about academics, desirous of attending orderly and well managed classrooms, and intent on preparing themselves for college and the career of their choice.
The prospective cadet and parent must sign a behavioral and academic agreement before entry to the Academy. The agreement outlines the high expectations we hold for each cadet in terms of conduct, academics, personal appearance, and effort. Every SMA cadet is expected to be in complete uniform, to show respect to faculty members at all times, and to be a superb representative of the Academy whether she/he is on campus or anywhere else in the community. Failure to comply will be grounds for dismissal from the Academy. Each cadet is also tested for drugs. The Academy is, to our knowledge, the only school in the country that tests every student.
SMA has received the U.S. Army’s highest ranking – Honor Unit With Distinction. We are the only Five Star High School (as recognized by the State Department of Education) in Sarasota County, and we are accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Again, thank you for your interest in America’s first and foremost public charter military high school. We look forward to hearing from you and to the possibility that you will select SMA and its high standards to meet the educational needs of your family.