Fishburne Military School (2026 Profile)

5.00 (7 reviews)

Tel: (540) 946-7706

225 S. Wayne Avenue
Waynesboro, VA 22980

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Fishburne Military School Photo #1 - Fishburne Military School is the smallest all-boys military boarding school in Virginia. Our cadets come from 18 different states and 4 countries. Located in Waynesboro VA, Fishburne continues to be a pillar of all-boys education since Fishburne's founding in 1879.

Fishburne Military School Photo #2 - All new cadets go through an orientation period called "Rook Phase." Rooks go through an amazing transformation process from nervous and unsure Rooks, to confident and successful "Old Men."

Fishburne Military School Photo #3 - Cadets are involved in many activities while at FMS. Each morning & evening, Fishburne's Color Guard raises & lowers the colors on Fishburne's historic campus.

Fishburne Military School Photo #4 - Faculty and Staff at Fishburne pride themselves on challenging and educating boys. Our faculty are triple threats (teacher, advisor, barracks life) and believe in the mission of Fishburne: we see what is great in you.

Fishburne Military School Photo #5 - Cadets have opportunities to lead their peers through the military structure and model. This develops confidence for the cadets, and the ability to learn how to lead before heading off into adulthood.

Fishburne Military School Photo #6 - Fishburne's JROTC program is an Honor Unit of Distinction. Not only will cadets gain classroom practices in leadership, they will also enjoy physical Friday!

Fishburne Military School Photo #7 - Cadets at Fishburne come from all over the country and the world. With cadets from 18 states and 4 different countries, you will make life-long friends with classmates from all walks of life.

Fishburne Military School Photo #8 - Fishburne faculty take time to provide 1:1 academic support for our cadets. Faculty and staff work with young men during and after class to ensure success.

Fishburne Military School Photo #9 - Fishburne cadets live in Yount Barracks: a Virginia historic landmark. Cadets walk the same path that many cadets before them walked. The long line of brotherhood that come from being an FMS cadet resonates to both current cadets and alumni.

Fishburne Military School Photo #10 - Fishburne's campus in downtown Waynesboro, VA, provides an unique opportunity for cadets to be part of the community. Weekends are filled with trips, activities, and town-passes for cadets to enjoys our small town in the Shenandoah Valley.

Fishburne Military School Photo #11 - With 100 cadets, Fishburne prides itself on being a small, high quality, high attention, all boy boarding school. A Fishburne cadet is not a number. He is part of the fabric of our community, and he will develop life-long relationships.

Fishburne Military School Photo #12 - Cadets have the unique opportunity to be involved in a sport/activity Fall, Winter, and Spring. If you are a seasoned athlete or a beginner.....perfect! Continue to play your sport of choice, or try something new. All FMS cadets are required to be involved in an afternoon sport/activity.

Fishburne Military School Photo #13 - Classroom sizes average 6-8 students. Cadets are engaged, challenged, and supported as they sharpen their academic skills. You can not hide in our classes.

Fishburne Military School Photo #14 - Fishburne's history and strong reputation provide cadets opportunities to showcase the school in a variety of ways. From marching in Christmas Parades to presenting the colors at a little league baseball game, FMS cadets are involved in the community.

Fishburne Military School Photo #15 - Brotherhood is the word that cadets use most when describing their experience at Fishburne. There will be times when you reach up for help, and when you will reach back to help another. The brotherhood is strong at Fishburne.

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: (51�Թ�� Students) 8-12
Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
Enrollment: 100 students
Yearly Tuition (51�Թ�� 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 20 boarding schools (out of 276 schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

Fishburne Military School

51�Թ�� School Avg.

School Focus

College-Prep Military

College Preparatory

Grades Offered (51�Թ��)

8-12

9-12

Grades Offered (Day)

6-12

9-12

School Type

All-boys

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1879

1907

Campus Size

9 acres

130 acres

Student Body

Enrollment

100 students

320 students

% Students of Color

23%

27%

% International Students

20%

% Students 51�Թ��

70%

66%

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. »

Student-Teacher Ratio

6:1

7:1

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

50%

73%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

Accreditations

The Association of 51�Թ�� Schools (TABS)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)
Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States
American Military Schools and Colleges of the United States (AMCSUS)

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

Courses

Advanced Trigonometry FunctionsAlgebra II

BiologyCalculus

Calculus IIChemistry

Environmental ScienceGovernment

History 10Pre-Calculus

Tuition & Financial Aid

Yearly Tuition
(51�Թ�� Students)

$39,114
(Various scholarships and considerations)

$69,500

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

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

$38,970

Tuition international students

$45,000

$58,300

Summer Program Cost

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

% Students on Financial Aid

80%

40%

Merit Scholarships Offered

Yes

Admissions

Application Deadline

None / Rolling

Jan. 15

Accepts Standardized Application ( and/or )

Yes

Acceptance Rate

85%

64%

Director of Admissions

Mr. Mike Payne

Application URL

Course Listings

List of Courses Offered

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

BaseballBasketball

Cross CountryCross Country Running

Track and FieldWrestling

School Mascot

Caisson

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Club or Organization:

Ambassador ClubBoy Scouts

Color GuardCyberPatriot

Drill TeamNational Honor Society

RaidersRobotics Club

Rocketry ClubSaber Club

Special Ops

Arts and Music Programs:

BandYearbook

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Airsoft

College Matriculation

College Acceptance Rate

100%

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

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 64%.

What sports does Fishburne Military School offer?

Fishburne Military School offers 14 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Drill Team, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Marksmanship, Riflery, Soccer, Track, Track and Field and Wrestling.

Does Fishburne Military School offer a summer program?

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

What is Fishburne Military School's ranking?

Fishburne Military School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High percentage of students on financial aid and Small average class sizes.

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. . .

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