Randolph-Macon Academy Viewbook

At Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), we believe you already have what it takes to achieve your dream, whether that is to be a video game programmer, a doctor, or a pilot. It is our goal to help you develop your talents and realize your full potential--and that means helping you find and qualify for the college that’s right for you.

Our students chose R-MA to prepare for college, to learn to fly, to get a better education, and/or to experience the benefits of a positive military culture.

What they like best about R-MA is that it is a close community--they live with their friends, and they have teachers and dorm counselors who truly care about them as individuals, not just as students. They also like the feeling of independence they get from being at a boarding school.

By the time you graduate from RandolphMacon Academy, you will know how to manage your time, how to study, how to work as part of a team, how to be independent and responsible, and how to be a leader.

Knowledge, Leadership, Character…

Success.

R-MA at a Glance • Co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 6-12 and postgraduate (PG).

• Founded in 1892.

• Accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

• Located on 135 acres in Front Royal, VA, only 70 miles west of Washington, DC.

• Member of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States and The Association of Boarding Schools.

• Middle School (grades 6-8) and Upper School (grades 9-12, PG) located on separate campuses.

• Affiliated with and listed by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.

• Air Force JROTC for students in grades 9-12 • Flight Program • Military Service Academy Prep--High Flight • Falcon Foundation School

Unique

Knowledge With an average class size of 12-14 students in the Middle School and 15-17 students in the Upper School, your teachers know you as a pupil and they know and care about you as an individual. You will quickly find that they often go out of their way for you, to challenge and to help you.

Middle School students (those in grades 6-8) looking for a challenge are able to take select classes at the Upper School campus just a short walk away. Upper School students (those in grades 9-12) who are academically talented may qualify for honors, Advanced Placement, or dual-enrollment college courses. A complete course listing is available at www.rma.edu/academics, or use your smart phone on the QR code above.

One of R-MA’s unique programs is the Power English Program. Students in grades six through ten take two periods of English—one focused on literature, the other on composition and grammar—helping them build key reading and writing skills during this crucial developmental stage.

The academic day includes a tutorial period, which gives students who are struggling the opportunity to obtain assistance from their teachers; it also helps advanced students and athletes by providing a little extra time to complete projects and homework.

A Few Academic Facts • 96% of R-MA graduates attend a four-year college.

• Graduating classes are offered an average of $5 million in college scholarships each year.

• The Air Force JROTC department works closely with the College Counseling Office to guide students through the college application process.

• College acceptances include M.I.T., Princeton, Harvard, Berkeley, UVA, Virginia Tech, Penn State, William & Mary, and the Air Force Academy. Complete lists of college acceptances from the past few years can be viewed at www.rma.edu/college-counseling.

“I prefer this to any other middle school. It’s more individualized. The teachers focus on every individual, not the whole class. If you don’t understand something, you can go to the teacher and get help. Also, it’s more challenging than [my other] school.”

-Katelyn, a seventh grader from Virginia

Personal

Leadership

Leadership is an important component of the R-MA philosophy. At the Middle School level, students have the opportunity to learn the foundations of what it means to be leaders, especially through an active Student Council Association (SCA). Other opportunities for leadership are present in the dormitory and on sports teams. Some step forward to take the lead with community service projects.

At the Upper School, many of the same leadership opportunities present in the Middle School are still available, but the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) takes center stage.

“My favorite part of R-MA would have to be Air Force JROTC. The structure that it provides is the kind of structure a teenager needs for staying on task.

R-MA leadership has definitely made a positive impact on my life. The chance to lead is something few kids receive in their high school careers and this opportunity has allowed me to grow and mature as a young adult.�

--Donovan, a senior from Maryland

Air Force JROTC AFJROTC focuses on educating young men and women in leadership, teamwork, citizenship, community service, personal responsibility, positive character traits, and self-discipline. The program also teaches air and space fundamentals, financial management, stress management, and good study habits. The JROTC department works closely with the college counselor on career counseling and college applications.

Each year, the top juniors and seniors are selected as cadet leaders, called cadre. Together, they lead the cadet corps under the supervision of the AFJROTC staff, conducting the day-to-day operations of the corps in terms of drill practice, parade preparation, dormitory and classroom leadership, and the overall structure of military life on campus.

Students interested in going on to a U.S. service academy may apply for R-MA’s competitive “High Flight” program. Find out more at www.rma.edu/High-Flight-Prep-Track.

Character R-MA was founded as a United Methodist Church school and believes in the benefits of teaching positive moral values. Students attend a chapel service once each week. Upper School students are also required to take one year of religious studies during their time at R-MA, although this requirement may be waived if proof of religious studies (such as a confirmation certificate) is provided.

Character is developed through one’s actions. With this belief firmly in mind, community service is strongly encouraged at R-MA, with opportunities available on and off campus. Students may volunteer at community festivals, re-paint tables in the local town park, sell food or homemade items to raise money for various charities, or gather coats for the homeless.

The Air Force JROTC program sets a strong standard as students learn the Air Force core values: • Integrity First • Service Before Self • Excellence In All We Do

R-MA students average over 12,000 hours of community service each year!

In addition to learning the same Christian values that are taught at the Upper School, R-MA Middle School students are taught four virtues: • • • •

I take pride in myself.

Leave it better than you found it.

I am responsible for my own actions.

Anything that hurts another person is wrong.

These virtues are woven into the Middle School culture throughout the school year; helping to build vital

character traits.

R-MA students quickly learn that their futures are up

to them, and their actions every day will determine their path. Whether in the dorm, the classroom or on the athletic field, we strive to set our students on the right path to become good citizens, and to provide them with the best possible chance to achieve success.

Honor

Service

“To this day, it is still difficult to describe how much I’ve gained from my experiences at Randolph-Macon Academy. The opportunity for leadership here at R-MA is something that many of us will come to remember as a huge growing experience; I know I have.

Being, living and speaking with fellow R-MA students from all over the world has been a very positive learning experience for me as it has been for many others. I truly appreciate Randolph-Macon Academy for providing me with this opportunity and consider its diversity to be one of its many hidden strengths.”

--Margaret Strain ’10 at Class Night 2010

Find us online!

Web site: www.rma.edu Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Randolph.Macon.Academy.VA YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ RandolphMaconAcademy Blog: http://info.rma.edu Follow us on Twitter: @RandolphMaconA For more testimonials, check out our web site at http://www.rma.edu/ About-Us-Testimonials or use your smart phone to visit the page via this QR code:

Friendship

“My kids absolutely love R-MA. My son especially thrives from the smaller class sizes that allow him to reach his full potential. They adore their teachers, who are not only involved with them in the classroom, but also as team coaches and mentors. My daughter is tickled pink to learn about the different countries her friends and classmates come from. R-MA’s Middle School is a great environment for my kids to go to school. They find it nurturing while at the same time they are encouraged to be independent.”

-Debra, mother of two R-MA Middle School students

“I have friends from all over--China, Korea, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, California, New York.... The friends I have made at R-MA, whether I’ve known them for one year or seven years, they really are my second family. They’re always there for me.”

-Michael, a senior from Virginia

Mentoring R-MA students benefit from a structured mentoring program, where they are teamed up with an adult who can offer guidance and advice in key areas of life, whether that is a matter of ethics or academics. In the Middle School, mentoring groups also perform a variety of community service activities together and enjoy offcampus trips. Both schools have scheduled slots of time for mentoring each week, and mentors and students frequently search each other out for more in-depth discussions on various topics.

Mentoring Minutes • The mentor is the “go-to” person for both the student and the parents.

• Mentoring groups are usually 8-10 students.

• The Parents’ Association provides funds for mentors to take their groups off-campus once each semester.

“The academics here are astounding, but there is so much more you can do with a high school education here than you can with a typical high school education.”

-John, a senior from Virginia

“...here I stand confident in being a woman--ready for life--prepared for her future-determined in her thought--and above all, an individual. I want to thank R-MA for everything it has given me because mentally I feel ready for life. I most especially want to thank my teachers for allowing me to be who I am… and helping me explore my world and see colors in it I had never seen before.”

--Carla Williams ’11 at the Senior Luncheon in 2011 “At the beginning of the year when I first got here, I was so scared. Then they give you a schedule and you forget what you were scared of because you’re too busy. There’s never a dull moment, you’re always doing something.”

--Madeline, a sophomore from North Carolina

Confidence

Dorm Life

Independence One of the top benefits of attending a boarding school is the sense of independence. Being away from home empowers students to organize their own time and get along with others. Over and over boarding students tell us that they love the sense of independence they have here.

Boarding Life Facts: • Adults live on every hallway in both the Middle School and Upper School dorms.

• Students live two to a room.

• The Upper School girls’ dorm has a suite-style set-up, with two rooms sharing one bathroom.

Athletics

Because R-MA offers over 20 varsity sports each year, all students are encouraged to participate in a sport. Fielding over 20 teams with only 325 students in the Upper School means that there are few cuts; students have ample opportunities to play and be recognized as top athletes.

R-MA Middle School offers several sports each season. Seventh and eighth graders also qualify for many of the JV and varsity teams at the Upper School. All students are encouraged to participate in a sport, regardless of their previous experience.

R-MA’s mascot is the Yellow Jacket, affectionately called Sting. A full list of the available sports and the sports schedules can be found online at http://www.rma.edu/athletics. You can also use your smart phone on the QR code to the right.

Applying To apply, you must submit an application, two letters of recommendation, a copy of your transcripts (including grades and standardized test scores), and two essays written by the student. The SSAT is accepted and highly recommended. You may go online to www.rma.edu to request an application packet from the Admissions Office or apply online. An interview, either in-person or via live video conferencing, is required. International students must also submit records of immunization, SLEP Test scores, and a U.S. guardian agreement with their application.

Financial aid is available to families who qualify. To apply for financial aid, you must be accepted to R-MA, preferably by the priority deadline (check the web site for the exact date) and submit your financial aid application by the posted deadline.

Randolph-Macon Academy admits students of any race, sex, color, religion, national, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Randolph-Macon Academy 200 Academy Drive Front Royal, VA 22630 (800) 272-1172 www.rma.edu

Directions

From I-66, take Exit 6.

Turn onto US Rts 522/340 south, towards Front Royal.

Follow 522/340 for four miles, crossing over two concrete bridges that span the Shenandoah River.

Continue straight onto Shenandoah Ave instead of turning left as Rts 522/340 do.

Shenandoah Ave will dead-end into Kendrick Lane, and the R-MA campus will be in front of you. Turn left, then make your first right onto Villa Ave. At the end of Villa Ave, turn right onto the R-MA campus. Continue to 200 Academy Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630.

Or visit us online at www.rma.edu.

Randolph-Macon Academy More than a prep school

www.rma.edu

800-272-1172