Mellon Hall on the campus of Valley Forge Military Academy which will close at the end of the school year. (Credit: @VFMacademy on Instagram)
Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA), the nearly 100-year-old college-prep boarding and day school for boys in grades 7 through 12, announced Monday that it will permanently shut its doors in May 2026.
The decision, approved by the academy’s Board of Trustees, comes after years of financial strain due to declining enrollment, escalating tuition and insurance costs, and changes in Pennsylvania law that sharply increased liability exposure.
Founded in 1928, VFMA has served on the Main Line in Wayne with a mission to develop young men of character.
In its closing announcement, academy leadership clarified that Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) will remain open — the two operate under separate governance despite sharing a campus.
In its final 2025-26 academic year, VFMA will focus on ensuring a smooth transition for cadets and staff, culminating with the 98th Corps of Cadets’ graduation on May 30, 2026, under the diploma of the academy.
Administrators said several forces converged that made the academy no longer viable. T
he tuition for boarding students had become prohibitively expensive — exceeding $49,000 annually in recent years — while enrollment had fallen drastically. Only about 150 cadets attended VFMA during the 2023 school year.
Rising insurance premiums, driven by changing Pennsylvania laws and growing liability concerns, also dramatically increased the academy’s operating costs.
In addition to financial pressures, public accountability issues have dogged VFMA.
Multiple lawsuits alleging abuse, hazing, and financial mismanagement have surfaced in recent years.
These include accusations of a “fight club” in the barracks, improper leadership oversight, and claims that the institution failed to address long-standing issues adequately. The academy has denied the most serious allegations but legal costs and reputational damage are seen as contributing to its decline.
The announcement of VFMA’s closure blindsided many parents, students, alumni, and staff. Some families say they are scrambling to find alternative schools for cadets, while others express sorrow that an institution with storied alumni — including Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, H.R. McMaster, and author J.D. Salinger — will soon cease operations in its traditional form. Local residents lament the loss of an institution that has long been part of the Main Line’s history.
The Board of Trustees stated that it will assist with cadet transfers, provide support to faculty and staff, and preserve traditions and legacy through continued alumni engagement.
Meanwhile, VFMC will carry forward the broader educational mission, leveraging its two-year college programs and expanding transfer partnerships and leadership development offerings.
The scheduled final commencement for VFMA’s 98th and last graduating class is May 30, 2026. Transition plans for cadets include honoring current senior cadets with full academy diplomas, supporting underclass cadets in finding placements elsewhere, and ensuring continuity of claims and traditions through VFMC.
The college side of the institution, which shares the campus but operates independently, is positioning itself to grow amid the academy’s closure.
