Why Choose SJNMA

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"Enrolling in St. John’s Northwestern was one of the best things that happened for our son. The combination of focus and discipline, a true meritocracy where doing your best really does matter, and a caring, second-to-none staff and academic faculty have created an environment in which he has flourished and succeeded. We are delighted with both the school itself and with our son, who took the opportunity in hand and ran with it."

- Brian and Cindy Dearing, parents of Sam Dearing 2012

Why should you choose St. John's Northwestern Military Academy? The answer is simple in many different ways to many different families:

To Strengthen Character | To Achieve Academic Excellence
To Be Physically and Mentally Fit | To Become a Leader

To Strengthen Character

Character is the link between ethical values and behavior. It's the ability to express ourselves in an appropriate manner as we face life's challenges. Unlike personality, character can be learned. As an integral part of campus life, cadets take part in an ongoing program to enhance character. Character traits are introduced and discussed at all levels of campus life from the barracks to the chapel. Cadets leave St. John's Northwestern with a deeper appreciation for living life with honesty, respect, acceptance and patience.

To Achieve Academic Excellence

With your first step into a classroom, you will see a difference. With an average of 12 cadets per class, your son will be getting the individualized attention he deserves. Teachers at St. John's Northwestern understand that your son is unique. With fewer students, our teachers have time to get to know him and help him discover that spark, which will motivate him to be the best student he can be. They are able to encourage academic strengths and detect problems making adjustments quickly enhancing his academic self-esteem. The single-gender environment gives your son an academic edge. Our teachers care about your son. They understand the cadet lifestyle and this understanding brings mutual respect. As a part of the St. John's Northwestern experience, teachers not only interact with cadets in the classroom, but as advisors, coaches, chaperones and mentors. When you integrate daily tutorials and supervised study halls into this unique military school culture, your son will have the resources he needs for academic success.

To Be Physically and Mentally Fit

You do not have to be an athlete to attend St. John's Northwestern, but you will participate in sports or club activities. Cadets can choose to participate in a wide range of traditional interscholastic sports teams, some of which he may not have been able to participate in at a larger public school. He can also choose among our specialty clubs such as riflery, raiders and aviation. In addition, his company competes against the other companies for the prestigious Superior Company title leading to an Honor Company distinction. Unit fitness competitions in climbing, rappelling, obstacle course, and military drill and ceremony are ongoing and provide unique challenges experienced only by a St. John's Northwestern cadet. Whatever activities your son chooses, he will be challenged physically and mentally and expected to demonstrate character and leadership skills such as teamwork, commitment, self-discipline and sportsmanship.

To Become a Leader

Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. These are the seven values of leadership (LDRSHIP). Modeled by faculty and staff, these values permeate all aspects of campus life. While at military school, your son will have the ability to move up in rank and gain additional leadership opportunities as he lives up to these values. As a part of our leadership training program, he will also participate in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), which is recognized as an "Honor Unit with Distinction" among the top 20 percent of units in the nation. Its mission is to motivate young people to be better citizens and is designed to teach leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.

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