Academic Excellence at Hargrave
Our motto, mens sana in corpore sano (“a sound mind in a sound body”), reflects our holistic approach to developing young men through faith, academics, athletics, and character.
With over a decade of 100% college acceptance for graduating seniors, our academic program is tailored to provide students with the skills, abilities, and support to gain admission to best-fit colleges, universities, and United States Service Academies.
Meeting Each Cadet Where He Is
We begin by honestly assessing a young man’s starting point and collaboratively charting his path forward. Whether he’s struggled academically or excelled, we provide individualized support.
For Cadets Needing Additional Support
- Math and Reading resource courses with learning specialists
- Academic Learning Center with supportive staff for remediation
- Five-week marking periods providing fresh starts rather than semester-long struggles
- Study hall support and explicit instruction in organization and time management
For Cadets Ready to Push Further
- Honors course placement, even mid-year when faculty identify untapped potential
- A dozen AP and college-credit courses with close faculty mentorship
- Career exploration courses for deeper dives into professional interests
For All Cadets
- Explicit study skills instruction
- A consistent daily schedule tailored to different academic activities
- Timely grade feedback
- Weekly mentoring from academic advisors
Building Lifelong Success Skills
Our alumni report that they succeed not because of advanced coursework, but because of fundamental habits often missing in their peers: understanding professors and supervisors, retaining knowledge, goal-setting, and time management. We explicitly teach and reinforce these skills across all four pillars of the Hargrave experience.
Academic advisors mentor cadets weekly, helping them progress from short-term goals to long-term vision. Our college counselor guides juniors and seniors through career exploration and the college search process.
Preparing for the Next Journey
We don’t just prepare cadets for college admission—we equip them with the habits needed to thrive once they arrive. Cadets progressively move from others setting standards to embracing their own expectations for excellence. Through meaningful group projects, daily accountability, and increasing ownership of their academic standards, cadets learn that sustained effort produces results.
We teach cadets to take care of daily tasks to reduce stress on larger ones, recognize wasted time, and strive for efficiency. They learn to give their best effort even when coursework is daunting or uninteresting—the discipline and grit that ensures success long after they leave Hargrave.
Academic Programs by Grade Level
Middle School (Grades 6-9)
Our Middle School Program caters to sixth through ninth-grade students, taking an integrated approach to holistic development. With an emphasis on active participation and purposeful instruction, the Middle School faculty and staff aim to equip young men with the necessary skills to navigate the complexities of high school, college, and beyond.
Upper School (Grades 10-12)
Our Upper School academic program is meticulously tailored to prepare tenth through twelfth-grade students for college, taking into account their unique academic strengths, interests, and needs. The daily schedule includes six subjects, alternate-day homework assignments, and mandatory study halls, providing a productive atmosphere for focused learning and personalized instruction.
Post Graduate Year
Hargrave welcomes families considering Post Graduate options, including aspiring athletes, future Service Academy students, and academically inclined individuals seeking additional preparation before embarking on a four-year university journey. Starting with a comprehensive assessment of the student’s knowledge and confidence, we craft a customized schedule tailored to their current and future needs.
Example Academic Schedules
9th Grade
- Language Arts 9
- Science 9
- Cultural Studies 9
- Algebra 1
- Foreign Language or Elective
- Elective
10th Grade
- English 10 or American Literature
- Biology or Biology Honors
- Geography or AP World History or AP Geography
- Geometry or Geometry Honors
- Foreign Language or Elective
- Elective
11th Grade
- English 11 or British Literature Honors
- Chemistry or AP Chemistry
- US History or AP US History
- Algebra 2 or Advanced Algebra 2
- Foreign Language or Elective
- Elective
12th Grade
- English 12 or Critical Reading/Writing Honors
- AP Physics or AP Environmental Science
- US Government or AP Government
- Precalculus Honors or AP Calculus
- Foreign Language or Elective
- Elective
Hargrave Diplomas
Advanced Studies Diploma
- English — 4 credits
- Math (Algebra I, II, Geometry or higher) — 4 credits
- Science (Biology & Chemistry required) — 4 credits
- Social Studies (World Studies, US History & Government required) — 4 credits
- Foreign Language (3 of 1 or 2 of 2) — 3 credits
- Fine Arts — .5 credits
- Bible — .5 credits
- Electives — 3 credits
- Military (Senior year) — 1 credit
Total: 24 credits
Standard Diploma
- English — 4 credits
- Mathematics (Alg. I or above) — 3 credits
- Science (Biology required) — 3 credits
- Social Studies (World Studies, US History & Government required) — 3 credits
- Fine Arts — .5 credits
- Bible — .5 credits
- Electives — 7 credits
- Military (Senior year) — 1 credit
Total: 22 credits
Dual Enrollment and AP Courses
On-site Dual Enrollment
Hargrave Military Academy is partnered with Richard Bland College of William and Mary and Liberty University for its Dual Enrollment and Independent Study programs. These partnerships allow upperclassmen and postgraduates to take college-level courses for simultaneous college and high school credits.
On-site Dual enrollment courses are taught by Hargrave faculty members who are qualified as adjunct faculty at partner institutions. Students pre-qualify for the Dual Enrollment option by their demonstrated academic performance and by the recommendation of their instructor.
Available Dual Enrollment Courses:
- ENGL 101 — Writing and Research, 3 credit hours
- ENGL 102 — Introduction to Literary Genres, 3 credit hours
- CHEM 101/L — General Chemistry I with Lab, 4 credit hours
- CHEM 102/L — General Chemistry II with Lab, 4 credit hours
Additional on-site DE courses are offered based on demand and availability (Introduction to Business, Introduction to Sports Management, Philosophy of Religion, Introduction to Christian Apologetics, etc.)
Independent Study
Independent Study courses are remote-learning formatted courses taught by faculty at partner institutions. Hargrave provides scheduled time in the academic day under the direct supervision of a faculty member to assist the student in time management and content-specific challenges. Sample courses include Calculus, Principles of Accounting I, Beginning Japanese I, Principles of Sociology, Statistical Reasoning, Religions of the World, Survey of Western Culture, and Music Appreciation.
Advanced Placement
AP courses give students the experience of taking college-level courses while earning high school credit. Successful completion of the AP Exam may result in the awarding of college credits.
Current AP Course Offerings:
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics I
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Human Geography
- AP World History
- AP United States History
- AP United States Government and Politics
We build young men into leaders of character prepared for lifelong success.