Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville will soon offer the sixth grade as an education level.
The military boarding school for boys in Gainesville currently educates cadets as young as the seventh grade and through graduation. According to a press release from the school, they will open their doors to sixth graders for the Fall 2021 semester.
This is part of the academy's strategic plan to create a middle school, which is grades six through eight, that mirrors the academic, student life, athletic programs and military model of leadership the academy is already utilizing.
“By creating a distinct middle school environment we have the opportunity to educate, mentor, and lead younger students in ways geared to their physical, mental, and emotional development,” said Dr. Cathy Moore, dean of academics. “This has been RMA’s vision for some time, but implementation was delayed a year because of the pandemic.”
Middle school enrollment for the fall is projected to be 75 to 90 students and will not require the construction of new facilities. RMA's total enrollment is 360, the release stated, and should grow by April 1 to 400. 33 students are international. All courses are currently taught in person and on campus.
The sixth grade level will be offered both as boarding or in the day program.
