Originally located in Pine Beach, New Jersey, Admiral Farragut Academy (AFA) is a college preparatory school that instills military values in its students. The school is named after Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, the Navy’s first admiral, who famously uttered the phrase, “Damn the torpedoes; full steam ahead” at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. The school has since moved to Florida and strives to graduate well-rounded, emotionally mature young men and women. Located in beautiful St. Petersburg, Fla., AFA is only five minutes from the beach and only an hour and a half from Orlando’s many theme parks. The closest large city, Tampa, is home to professional sports teams, Busch Gardens, restaurants and other attractions.

Academics

Admiral Farragut Academy is academically challenging and offers advanced placement (AP) courses as well as dual enrollment in local colleges. In addition, AFA has a number of unique educational programs, including aviation, engineering, marine science, SCUBA and naval science, also known as Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC). 

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). In addition,Admiral Farragut Academy is a member of eight professional organizations, including the following: The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Small Boarding Schools Association (SBSA) and the Association of Military Colleges and Schools in the United States (AMCSUS).

Culture

Since 60% or more of the 8th-12th grade population is boarding, the students consider themselves more like a family than merely peers. Graduates refer to their time at AFA as “the Farragut experience.” The school focuses on health as well as academics and encourages athletics and other physical endeavors, such as SCUBA and sailing. In fact, students can participate in 21 different sports at AFA.

In addition to physical and academic emphases, the school has a multicultural component and hosts students from 24 different countries and 17 different states. AFA expects to graduate physically fit, well-rounded, erudite young men and women.

Admissions

To be admitted to Admiral Farragut Academy, applicants must submit two teacher recommendations as well as three years of official transcripts and standardized test scores. The school is located in a safe neighborhood and guarded around the clock by campus security personnel. Many, but not all, students decide to board at the school, which is located in a safe neighborhood and guarded around the clock by campus security personnel.

Admiral Farragut Academy Tuition (this may change)

A daily lunch is included in all school tuition. Total tuition includes a one-time $600 Enrollment Fee. Although Admiral Farragut Academy offers PreK-12th grade, boarding and military is only during 8th-12th grade when students are in Upper School.

• 8th-12th Grade Day Students $22,150
• 8th-12th Grade 5-Day Boarding Students $38,500
• 8th-12th Grade 7-Day Boarding Students (U.S. Citizen) $45,700
• 8th-12th Grade 7-Day Boarding Students (International) $48,700