Fishburne Military School (2026 Profile)

5.00 (7 reviews)

Tel: (540) 946-7706

225 S. Wayne Avenue
Waynesboro, VA 22980

www.fishburne.org

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SAVE SCHOOL

At Fishburne, there`s a mindset and a mission to elevate every boy. We see what`s great in you.

Founded in 1879, FMS is the oldest and smallest of Virginia`s Military Schools100% college acceptance for graduates

Small class sizes = bigger success As an Army JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction (since the 1928-29 school year), Fishburne can nominate qualified Cadets to any of the US Service Academies

With twelve different varsity sports, extra-curricular activities, weekend trips, and social events, our cadets never fall under the radar Offer 7-day boarding or day student attendance options

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: (Boarding Students) 8-12
Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
Enrollment: 95 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $39,114
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $18,550
Acceptance rate: 85%
Average class size: 8 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Fishburne Military School ranks among the top 5 military schools (out of 17 military schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

Fishburne Military School

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College-Prep Military

College Preparatory

Grades Offered (Boarding)

8-12

9-12

Grades Offered (Day)

6-12

Pre-K-12

School Type

All-boys

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1879

1909

Campus Size

9 acres

125 acres

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Motto

We See What's Great In You

Student Body

Enrollment

95 students

300 students

% Students of Color

23%

25%

% International Students

20%

% Students Boarding

75%

70%

Offers Post-Grad Year

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes

Yes

Frequency of Saturday Classes

Monthly

Weekly

Classroom Dress Code

Formal
Military Uniform

Casual

Average Class Size

8 students

* National Avg. »18

Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

7:1

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

50%

70%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

Accreditations

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

Courses

Advanced Trigonometry FunctionsAlgebra II

BiologyCalculus

Calculus IIChemistry

Environmental ScienceGovernment

History 10Pre-Calculus

Tuition & Financial Aid

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$39,114
(Various scholarships and considerations)

$59,900

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$18,550
(Tuition consideration for sons of military. Single Payment. Alumni. Band.)

$33,500

Tuition international students

$41,900

$53,975

Summer Program Cost

$4,000
(Includes uniforms, room & board, academics and athletics, laundry, haircuts.)

% Students on Financial Aid

75%

40%

Merit Scholarships Offered

Yes

Admissions

Application Deadline

None / Rolling

Jan. 15

Acceptance Rate

85%

58%

Director of Admissions

Mr. Mike Payne

Associate Director of Admissions

Nelson Davis

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

BaseballBasketball

Cross CountryCross Country Running

Track and FieldWrestling

School Mascot

Caisson

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Club or Organization:

Boy ScoutsColor Guard

CyberPatriotDrill Team

RaidersRobotics Club

Rocketry ClubSaber Club

Swift Water Rescue

Arts and Music Programs:

BandStudent Newspaper

Yearbook

Recreational Athletic Programs:

AirsoftProctors (student leaders)

Rock/Ice Climbing

School Notes

You see it. And we do, too. Maybe your son just needs a fresh start. Perhaps he simply needs a school where he can focus on learning without public school distractions. Choosing Fishburne isn`t about "sending him away to military prep school in Virginia" or commenting on your parenting. It`s about giving him all the possibilities wrapped in our traditions of fairness,structure and hard work. With a serving of camaraderie, encouragement, and support that will stick with him his whole life.
Fishburne Military School (FMS) is a private, military boarding school for boys in Waynesboro, Virginia, United States. It was founded by James A. Fishburne in 1879 and is one of the oldest military schools in the country.
Accreditations matter. Basically, an objective third party takes a thorough look at an institution (Fishburne, in this case) and validates that the institution is doing what it claims to do. Beyond that, an accredited institution has met standards that cross state lines, which means they have value everywhere.
What does that mean for you? The simple truth is that students from accredited military academies have greater access to federal loans, scholarships, post-secondary education, and military programs that require students to attend an accredited institution. So we`re proud of our accreditations. And we`re glad they improve the fortunes of our cadets.
Not only is Fishburne`s JROTC one of the oldest in the country, but as an Honor Unit with Distinction, Fishburne is one of only a few schools anywhere that can nominate qualified candidates to ANY of the U.S, service academies. If your son wants to attend a service academy, Fishburne offers advantages other Virginia military academies can`t equal.
At Fishburne, Grades 9-12 are automatically enrolled in our JROTC (Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps) program every academic year, making it an integral part of the FMS experience. In addition, our summer program is one of only four summer programs in the nation that is fully accredited by the 4th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command, making it a more valuable experience for our cadets.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Fishburne Military School cost?

Fishburne Military School's tuition is approximately $39,114 for boarding students and $18,550 for day students.

What is the acceptance rate of Fishburne Military School?

The acceptance rate of Fishburne Military School is 85%, which is higher than the boarding school average of 58%.

What sports does Fishburne Military School offer?

Fishburne Military School offers 16 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Drill Team, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Marksmanship, Riflery, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Wrestling. Fishburne Military School is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.

Does Fishburne Military School offer a summer program?

Yes, Fishburne Military School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What is Fishburne Military School's ranking?

Fishburne Military School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small average class sizes, Low student-teacher ratio, Most sports offered and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for Fishburne Military School?

The application deadline for Fishburne Military School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review

Description

Fishburne Military School Alumni #1
Class of 1984
5.001/19/2022
Hampden-Sydney College

The small size - then as now - makes Fishburne an ideal choice for a structured educational environment for boys 7-12. I came to FMS rom a large public high school where it was difficult. . .

Fishburne Military School Alumni #2
Class of 2015
5.004/15/2020
Salisbury University

I went to two different military academies during my stint at boarding schools, Massanutten Military Academy and Fishburne. I can say without a doubt that the fact that Fishburne was an all male school had. . .

Fishburne Military School Alumni #3
Class of 1999
5.007/18/2017
West virginia university

Army JROTC which has held highest level of distinction for over 20 years due to stellar scores on annual RFI. Outstanding teachers and educational experience. Amazing alumni support. Small classroom and. . .

Show more reviews (4 reviews)

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