I’ve Got Questions

Fishburne offers variety of scholarships to offset tuition costs. Most likely, your family will qualify for at least one scholarship and/or financial aid. 

He will be challenged at Fishburne—both inside and outside the classroom. This is what sets Fishburne apart from non-military schools because we see what’s great in him. Our dedicated faculty and staff will help him chart his path to success, including the military side of instruction.

The faculty and staff at Fishburne are dedicated to his future. They will help him identify what his plans after graduation are, and help him find the best path to get him there.

Being a Fishburne cadet is like being a student at a non-military school. However, as a member of the our JROTC Corps of Cadets, he will wear a uniform and practice military drill. He will also follow a certain set of rules that include sticking to a daily schedule. He will attend class, play sports if he likes, and participate in organized activities outside the classroom.

Poor grades won’t automatically disqualify your son from admission to Fishburne. Some students who matriculate to Fishburne have struggled academically at their previous schools. However, once he becomes a Fishburne cadet, he must be committed to academic success. This includes asking for help, attending help class when required, and holding himself accountable to complete his work on time. 

A Regulation Book is provided on the school’s online network for each cadet to access upon entrance to FMS. This book clearly spells out the Fishburne rules and regulations. As mentioned in the forward, in the event of conflict between this handbook and the Regulation Book, the Regulation Book shall take precedence. The Regulations Handbook is also available as a PDF.

Cadets are issued uniforms from the Cadet Store when they register into FMS. Your cadet will spend the majority of his time in these uniforms. We limit the amount of civilian clothing that a cadet may have with him due to the small amount of storage space. All Cadets should arrive with khaki pants, khaki shorts and a polo shirt. 

Fishburne is an all-male school for both day and boarding students. 

If he is a seven-day boarder, he can go home on the weekends if it is an “open” weekend. There is usually at least one weekend per month during which he will be able to go home.

Emergency leave can be granted any time. A written or emailed request for leave is required; however, the Commandant may, as an exception, approve a telephone request from the Cadet’s guardians. This request should be made to the Commandant’s Office or to the Officer in Charge. Emergency leave may be used only in cases of extreme emergencies such as death, serious injury, or illness to a member of the cadet’s immediate family. 

While a student at Fishburne Military School, a cadet will not possess, use, or distribute illegal substances or paraphernalia, alcohol, prescription drugs or over the counter drugs of any kind. All Cadets will be subject to drug and alcohol tests, randomly, or directed at the discretion of FMS. Parents will be notified about results and billed. The school considers the abuse of any substance, legal or illegal, OTC or prescription as a violation of the school’s drug policy.

Fishburne Military School has adopted the designation of a “TOBACCO FREE SCHOOL”. The possession, use, sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco like products at Fishburne Military School is prohibited. Parents will be notified of all tobacco rule infractions. 

The Army Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) is an academic required course and is under the direction of the Senior Army Instructor. All high school cadets at FMS are required to satisfactorily complete (Pass) JROTC each year that they are enrolled at FMS. JROTC is a course which is worth one credit per year. Leadership and character development instructions are included in all phases of military and cadet life at FMS. All text material and training aids are furnished by the United States Army. The classroom, adventure and drill instruction are carried out by Army-trained and certified instructors.

The objective of the JROTC Program is the cultivation of citizenship and the development of leadership capabilities within the individual cadet. The principles taught apply to both civilian and military pursuits. The program of instruction is designed in a building-block format so that each year of instruction builds on those subjects taught the previous year. JROTC does not teach cadets how to be soldiers. Passing JROTC and earning an academic credit for JROTC for each year enrolled at FMS is a graduation requirement. 

There are a variety of fun activities to get him off campus almost every weekend, including Airsoft Rifle outings, movies, hikes to the nearby mountains, and other social activities. 

He may only bring a car to campus if he is a day student. This will be to drive himself to school and back home every day. 

While rare, a cadet can be expelled from Fishburne if he has repeated offenses against the regulation Cadet handbook, or if he has done something that is not tolerated beyond the first offense. 

Once you have been officially expelled from Fishburne, he will not be able to re-enroll. However, this a rare occurrence, and his offense(s) would have to be egregious. Again, our Mission is to provide a structured educational environment to help him succeed in his academic career and in life.