Valley Forge Military Academy to Close Campus Operations Next Week, Except for Seniors
In a move that has left many students and parents reeling, Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) announced that it will be closing its campus operations next week for all cadets except seniors. The decision comes as a shock, as the academy had already planned to close at the end of the current academic year.
However, in an effort to salvage what's left of the school year, VFMA has decided to limit on-campus instruction to the senior class only. This means that students enrolled in grades 7-11 will be permanently sent home by next Friday, with all personal belongings to be removed by then.
According to a letter shared with parents, the decision was made due to low enrollment and staffing issues. The academy's leadership cited "rising costs" as a major contributor to the decline in student body, which had priced families out of a boarding school education. Increased insurance premiums were also mentioned as a factor.
The private school had previously announced plans to close its doors at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, citing an unsustainable future. However, with the new timeline, most cadets will only have one week left on campus.
It's worth noting that Valley Forge Military College, which shares a campus with VFMA, will remain open and unaffected by this decision. The academy's chairman, Gray Beck, expressed his commitment to ensuring that the remaining cadets are supported in a safe and structured environment.
The news has sparked concern among students and parents, who had been counting on the school year to continue as usual. With the decision made, it remains to be seen how this will impact the academic experience for those affected.
In a move that has left many students and parents reeling, Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) announced that it will be closing its campus operations next week for all cadets except seniors. The decision comes as a shock, as the academy had already planned to close at the end of the current academic year.
However, in an effort to salvage what's left of the school year, VFMA has decided to limit on-campus instruction to the senior class only. This means that students enrolled in grades 7-11 will be permanently sent home by next Friday, with all personal belongings to be removed by then.
According to a letter shared with parents, the decision was made due to low enrollment and staffing issues. The academy's leadership cited "rising costs" as a major contributor to the decline in student body, which had priced families out of a boarding school education. Increased insurance premiums were also mentioned as a factor.
The private school had previously announced plans to close its doors at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, citing an unsustainable future. However, with the new timeline, most cadets will only have one week left on campus.
It's worth noting that Valley Forge Military College, which shares a campus with VFMA, will remain open and unaffected by this decision. The academy's chairman, Gray Beck, expressed his commitment to ensuring that the remaining cadets are supported in a safe and structured environment.
The news has sparked concern among students and parents, who had been counting on the school year to continue as usual. With the decision made, it remains to be seen how this will impact the academic experience for those affected.
oh man I feel bad for all those kids who were gonna have a weird senior year 
they gotta say goodbye to their friends and stuff in like just one week 
hope the school is prepared to support the seniors after next friday 
and I'm also thinking about Gray Beck, he sounds like a cool dude 
trying to make sure everything goes smoothly for those remaining cadets 
i mean i get it costs r high but its like they cant even make ends meet 
its a shame for all the kids who got accepted into that school and were really lookin forward to their senior year...i hope the seniors dont get ruined by this sudden change 
meanwhile the seniors get to finish what they came for 
but what about their future plans? did they even think about that 
and rising costs are no joke 
. it's like, okay we get it, school isn't sustainable... can't they just, i don't know, find a way to make it work or something? 
anyway, gotta give credit where credit is due - at least they're being upfront about it and trying to support the seniors who are stuck there 
IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW MANY MORE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW?!?! 
THE RISING COSTS AND STAFFING ISSUES MUST BE SO HARD FOR THE PARENTS WHO HAVE ALREADY INVESTED SO MUCH TIME, MONEY, AND EMOTION INTO THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION 
. I can imagine how tough it must be for families who had been counting on the school year to continue as usual 
.
. I'm curious to see how this will impact the seniors who get to finish their school year on campus 
.
. It could lead to a shortage of skilled individuals in certain fields, which would be a shame 
. Anyway, I hope the affected students will find ways to make the most of this unexpected situation 
.
... like, think about it - you just paid a pretty penny for your kid to go to this school and now they're being sent home in a week? That can't be easy on anyone 
but idk what's gonna happen to those 7-11 graders... i mean they got sent home with like, no notice or anything 
This is just really unfortunate...
, I mean, who gets notified that their kid's school is gonna close in just one week? I know a few parents personally and they're all freaking out 
It's almost like they're saying, "We've given you the resources, now it's up to you." But what about the students who are left in limbo? It's not exactly fair to send them packing just because the school's enrollment numbers aren't cooperating.
. rising costs & insurance premiums also played a role 
. what's your take on it? do you think they're making a smart move or is there more to this story? 
) that the academy has been struggling financially for years, but they've just been hoping to keep the parents in the dark until now