Fork Union Military Academy

PO BOX 278

Fork Union, VA 23055

37 Reviews

School District
Grade

7-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on July 23, 2024

I failed the 6th grade and my parents gave me three options. I could go to summer school, repeat the 6th grade at my current school or go to military school. I did not want the first two options as I was embarassed. We were l.iving in Virgina at the time and I chose Fork Union. I attended from 1962 to 1969 (6th through 12th grade).I was not all that sure that military school was going to be a great choice for me but I figured I could stick it out for a year. Was I wrong! Repating the 6th grade at Fork Union allowed me to bring my grades up to Headmasters List (the second highest award). Although my grades were great, I did get into some minor trouble. You see, although I had good parents, they did not seem to push me to be betetr as Fork Union did. We had supervised study halls and lots of marching and parades. We had chapel and lots of activities. We also had movies twice a week. I soon learned thatif you did good, you get more privileges and if you messed up, to lost them. I had teachers and administrators who cared and brought out the best in me. Many of the teachers were fresh out of teachers college and over the decades since I left I have been happy to go back and visit with them. I cannot say the same for other schools I have attended. I also am in tough with a number of fellow classmates more than 60 years later. How many people have friends that long?Yes there are a few cadets who have leave the school each year. Some just can't get in the program and some do things which are not allowed. None of the rules are susprises. If a boy wnats to learn and better himself, it is quite easy to follow the rules.I would not trade my time at Fork Union for anything. It made me a better person, able to cope with problems and have confidence in myself.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2021

Any school who has a part time college guidance department is not serious about education. From a leadership perspective this school was great for my son, but they completely dropped the ball on getting my son into a college of his choice. He was given no help in his application process. My son did everything asked of him and the school did not think enough of him to help tell his story to perspective schools.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2020

Our son was at FUMA for 2-1/2 years. He was Cadet of the Year once, and Cadet of the Term four times. He was on the President's List (Straight As) and in the National Honor Society. He never liked the school. I thought is was a good experience for him, until I raised safety concerns with President Coggins. His reply? I have an attitude and I need to find a new school for my son. Are you serious? So he kicked out one of the best students in the entire school, and a family who always paid in advance. What a waste of money to send our son here. This Coggins character is a complete fool. He will accept your money with a smile, then never wants to speak to you again. The one subject plan does not prepare kids for college, as that isn't the way colleges operate. The school doesn't teach kids independence and doesn't prepare kids for school. It's a terrible place to send your son. A public school is a much better option. And Coggins doesn't know what he is doing to kids and their families. Good teachers, terrible administration! You have many more options than this place. Do not trust your son in a school run by President Coggins!!
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2020

two years and so far AMAZING. My son loves it although loves being home, he misses it when not there, faculty amazing and really care!
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2020

Fork Union saved my son, there is no doubt in my mind. He went from an uninterested C/D student who had to take summer school for math two years in a row and failed the Virginia SOLs in math two years in a row to getting A's in Algebra I, II and Calculus. He has developed leadership skills and a maturity that I don't see in some young men four years his senior. I know we made the right decision for him when we decided to send him there. You can't beat the one subject plan, I wish more high schools would teach that curriculum.
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2019

This is our son's first year at FUMA and so far off to a strong start. He wasn't sure he wanted to attend but was struggling academically at public school and was distracted with a lot of the social environment. The one class at a time program is proving highly effective and he has matured greatly in just a few months. He and his new friends are growing up and becoming well rounded young men. The first few weeks aren't easy and it takes some adjustment, but it's well worth it.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2019

My son is excelling in his studies and performance. He is developing good character and is becoming a young man of good moral compass.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2019

My son attended Fork Union several years ago and the deep of knowledge he has of every subject he took is very impressive. He understands subjects more deeply then his friends. I think teaching one subject every 6 weeks is an excellent way to learn. Gort Union gave him pride, good character and an internal strength he didn't have when he first started at FUMA.
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2019

Our son chose to attend Fork Union for their smaller class size, their structure and discipline in class and in the barracks, and for the opportunity to participate in a military lifestyle, and I believe part of his positive experience is because he wanted to be there. He has succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. At FUMA, he's found an academic home. He has grown and matured as a student, and as a person. We could not be happier with his experience at Fork Union and would recommend it highly.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2018

In a word, fantastic. Spent 4 years there
Submitted by parent on November 21, 2017

I graduated from this wonderful school in 1985 and I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to attend. FUMA is a very highly respected school and for good reason. The teachers are top notch, the facilities are world class and the school, in general, develops its students in a manner which allows them to succeed in life. While FUMA is a military school, it is also a preparatory school. As such, it is at least as focused on academics as it is on discipline. If you have a discipline case for a kid or if you are looking for a super-strict, overbearing approach with which to whip your kids into shape, this is not the school for you as FUMA has strict standards for admission. If your kid is a headcase, send him somewhere where he'll be beaten mercilessly because FUMA does NOT(!) allow any hazing whatsoever. If you want your kid to be prepared for college and life, this is the school for you. Think of it as a prep school with a military emphasis.PLEASE NOTE: Several of the "negative" reviews were posted by the same parent whose kid was supposedly kicked out for "smoking/tobacco". This person's multiple reviews have unfairly skewed the overall rating. In all likelihood, their kid was kicked out after having accumulated enough demerits to allow the "tobacco" offense to serve as the tipping point.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2017

The teachers and staff at FUMA really care about the success of their cadets/students. I have seen a remarkable change in my son's behavior and his academic performance as well. FUMA has given my son the desire to achieve that he never had before. As a parent, I am so happy to see my son happy in the classroom and involved in so many activities outside of the classroom. I highly recommend Fork Union Military Academy!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2016

Everyone has the best interest of the Cadets at the forefront of their minds and hearts!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2016

FUMA really turned my son around. Our son went from being a student that did not put his best foot forward to someone who strives for excellence and tries to be the best that he can be.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2016

My son has grown tremendously during his time at FUMA. We are blessed and thankful for all those that have been instrumental in helping our son grow into a well rounded young man. I know he will do great things with the foundation that was built at FUMA.Lori Moody
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2015

Spend the money to send your kid to Woodberry Forest! Fear based discipline vs conscious discipline, there's no comparison. This review is a warning for students who consider attending FUMA Grade 9 or earlier. Unfortunately the single subject plan does not prepare student for the multi-subject curriculum of colleges and universities, the transfer is unrealistic. My most grave concern regards the institutions social structure. Adolescents either develop a sense of self-worth at the expense of those labeled inadequate. Or become inconsequential themselves.FUMA churns out a significant number of victims, used as pawns to create a kid-army. Complete with privates, corporals, sergeants, lieutenants, and commanders. Only some of the students can become successful, respectable, extroverted, confident. The rest of the students are expendable. Sensed as flawed, silenced, to be controlled with fear. This is the reality of FUMA's social structure. Mathematically labeled disrespectable failures. The equation to determine the hierarchy also determines who will feel worthy of admiration, confidence, and respect. The unwanted are reminded of their insignificance. The socially respected are enticed to be extraordinary and immune from the belief they are failures, instead they feel capability and deserving of admiration. And as an adolescent develops physically and mentally they are reminded of their statue and place in society. So the slow journey continues towards introversion or extraversion. Unfortunately ,or fortunately, depending on one's status in the hierarchy, the pre-frontal cortex and cerebellum are growing again. During the teenage years and throughout puberty the cerebellum and frontal lobe are developing the hard wiring for controlling, planning, working memory, organization, and modulating mood. During this particularly important stage of brain development what teens do or do not do can affect them for the rest of their lives. The cerebellum is also a part of the brain that changes well into adolescence, augmenting social-skills and decision-making. My personal experience at FUMA has affected me negatively. However, if your son is one of the lucky "few", he may obtain an inflated ego and believe he is deserving of superior status, deserving of respect and hence respect himself.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2015

Fork Union for me was life changing. They instill great qualities in their students that prepare them for life outside of the institution. I'm very proud to have graduated from FUMA and consider myself lucky to of had the opportunity to attend.
Submitted by other on September 15, 2015

I graduated class of 2001, I along with my younger brother attended. My brother after three years earned the position of Batallian Commander of middle school, I however had a much harder time. I would get in trouble for tobacco or other infractions, My tac. Officer Capt. Sidwell helped me in so many ways throughout my years and by my senior year I made a change in my behavior and earned the position of 1st Lt. of Bravo company. I hated Fork Union the first year and stayed on the extra duty pad, I would call home and cry to my parents and tell them how bad it was, only cause I could not get my way and actually I was only getting my behavior in check. My grades dramatically improved over the years and this school taught me a great deal of respect and responsibilities. This school saved my life. Now I am 33 years old and I look back and these were the best years of my life. I am very successful and a business owner which I started with my wife. I would never be where I am today in life if I did not attend Fork Union Military Academy. I met the best friends of my life here at F.U.M.A., My name is Brian Jones I and I am a proud alumni,,, Go F.U.M.A.Send your kids it will change there lives for the better, give them the opportunity of a life time. In my times if you were caught with tobacco you received 24 tours and a few demerits. You did not get kicked out unless you received 120 demerits. If they are kicking kids out for tobacco use then this is crazy,,, I am very outraged of this and will be writing the president
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2015

College-prep, Christian, military. The best thing about this school is that they are what they say they are. A minister once shared with his congregation that if you find the perfect church, don't join, or it won't be perfect anymore. After reading the reviews here, it is clear that some parents are upset that their sons were held accountable for behavior clearly misaligned with the school's core values of respect, integrity, faith, character, and discipline. All five, we have found, are abundant at Fork Union Military Academy. Our summer school, and normal school year experiences have been outstanding.
Submitted by parent on August 06, 2014

Send your kids some place else or international. The international option worked better for us. My wife and I learned our lesson after spending thousands of dollars on this school!! Along with other kids my son was kicked out of Fork Union for smoking tobacco. My son never smoked tobacco but he happened to make friendship with a guy who provided the tobacco. Fork Union would never listen to our explanation. Instead they dismissed my son from their school with in a few days and charged us the rest of the unpaid balance. We had no option but to pay rest of the money. I still remember that day. My husband and I had tears running out of our eyes. My son was depressed for a month or so until we send him to a better school oversee. And it was cheaper. So parents beware! This school is not what their image portrays. The education quality is ok. It's not any better than public school. Behind the closed doors it's pure business and taking away parents hard earned money. I agree with other parents here, save your money and take your kids away from here! It's sad sometimes we learn the hard way and that's why I'm sharing my story with other parents.