Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA) is a coeducational private boarding school in the U.S. state of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

with a military leadership component. R-MA serves students in grades 6-12. The 135-acre (0.55 km2) campus overlooks

Front Royal Front Royal is the only incorporated town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was estimated at 15,400 as of 2023. It is the county seat of Warren County. History The entire Shenandoah Valley including the area to beco ...

, and is 70 miles (110 km) west of Washington, D.C. It is one of six private military schools in Virginia.

Accreditation and Programs

Randolph-Macon Academy is accredited by the

Virginia Association of Independent Schools Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) is a non-profit, voluntary membership association of schools within the state of Virginia. The VAIS is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. Prior to its establishment in Ch ...

. As of 2023, they no longer offer any

AFJROTC Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) is an elective class offered in many high schools across the United States. It is the junior division of a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program composed of phys ...

program at the Academy.

Academic programs

Randolph-Macon Academy offers the following programs:

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board. AP offers undergraduate university-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Colleges and universities in the US and elsewhere ...
(AP)

R-MA offers Advanced Placement programs in the following subject areas:

Dual Enrollment Courses (D.E.)

R-MA offers Dual Enrollment Courses with

Laurel Ridge Community College Laurel Ridge Community College, formerly Lord Fairfax Community College, is a public community college with multiple campuses in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions of Virginia. It is part of the Virginia Community College System and opera ...

and

Shenandoah University Shenandoah University is a private university in Winchester, Virginia, United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 4,000 students across more than 200 areas of study in six schools and colleges. Shenandoah University is one of five Unit ...

Career and Transition Services

English for Speakers of Other Languages English as a second or foreign language refers to the use of English by individuals whose native language is different, commonly among students learning to speak and write English. Variably known as English as a foreign language (EFL), Engli ...

(ESOL)

History

Randolph-Macon Acad color guard Pat day 67 jeh

Randolph-Macon Academy was founded in 1892 by Dr. William W. Smith as part of the Randolph-Macon College preparatory school program. The original campus had one main building which housed classrooms as well as dormitories. The original building resembled a castle in its design and architecture. In 1917 it transformed into a military school. The program later undertook the title of the "National Defense Cadet Corps." After a fire, the new "Main Building" was built in 1927; it was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1987 as Sonner Hall. Randolph-Macon Academy admitted its first

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

applicant in 1971. In 1974 it became coeducational and in 1975 adopted the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

Junior ROTC The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a Federal government of the United States, federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and at US mil ...

program. In 1980, it adopted its first flight program. In 1981, Col. Trevor D. Turner (USA, Ret.) was hired as President (1981-1997). Col. Turner's period in charge coincided with a financial crisis due to a fire, which was successfully overcome by the time he left in 1997. In June 2023, Brigadier General David Wesley announced that Randolph-Macon Academy would no longer have an AFJROTC program, and would instead be developing its own military leadership program. The replacement, the Cadet Leadership Development Program, focuses on positive character development with military undertones. In February 2025, Brigadier General David Wesley announced that the Randolph-Macon Academy middle school campus would be shut down during the 2025-2026 year, moving the 8th grade onto the High School campus during the transition.

Notable alumni

* General Walter E. Boomer, USMC, Retired * Major General William H. Gill, USA, Retired *

Harlan Crow Harlan Rogers Crow (born 1949) is an American-Kittitian real estate developer and conservative activist. He is the former chairman and CEO of the Trammell Crow Company, which was founded by his father, Trammell Crow. His father was described as t ...

, real estate developer *

Joel Shankle Joel Shankle (March 2, 1933 – April 8, 2015) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 110 meter hurdles. He competed for the United States in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the 110 meter hurdles where he ...

, 1956 Summer Olympics Bronze Medalist in the 110 Hurdles * VADM John Stufflebeem, USN, Retired

References

External links

* {{authority control Boarding schools in Virginia Private high schools in Virginia Private middle schools in Virginia Preparatory schools in Virginia Military high schools in the United States Educational institutions established in 1892 Schools in Warren County, Virginia Front Royal, Virginia 1892 establishments in Virginia Brick buildings and structures in Virginia