High costs and falling enrollment are forcing the nearly 100-year-old Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne to close in 2026, writes Ryan Mulligan for Philadelphia Business Journal.
There are currently 120 students at the school for grades seven through 12.
The Academy has had its share of dignitaries graduate from the school, including former U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The school will close after graduating its 98th corps of cadets in May 2026.
Valley Forge Military College, also on a 70-acre Wayne campus, is a private two-year college that has different boards of trustees and leadership, so it will continue to operate.
The Academy is one of the smallest private schools in the region.
According to the school, a review of its long-term sustainability found the academy “is no longer viable” because of rising costs that make boarding schools less affordable, triggering “sharp declines” in enrollment.
Changes in state legislation also increased the school’s liability exposure, driving up insurance costs.
“We are indebted to the faculty, staff, cadets, and alumni who make Valley Forge Military Academy an incredibly special place,” said Gray Beck, the school’s board chairman, in a statement.
Find out more about Valley Forge Military Academy in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
