Maritime Academy, Panama City | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t believe the 1 ? reviews. They are a gross misrepresentation.

The truth is very far from what they are saying.

AMI is indeed the founder of the school.
The administration was given a school to run, however, did not stick to the guidelines and then they stepped in to ensure that the school be run as it was intended.

There has been a lot of politics and drama involved…. but AMI took the high road and stood aside, while current administration and staff finished out their one year contract.
They were not fired. They were given summer pay and the opportunity to reapply.

Maritime Academy is not going to be an “at risk” school.
That is blatant untruth. Go to the source if you want truth!!
Maritime is not the same as the old PCMI, they do NOT have any contracts with the DOJ (no school does)
They are not “targeting” any one particular group.
They are accepting all applications for enrollment. Many students are staying. Many are leaving, for all kinds of reasons…

Some parents have decided to band together and destroy the school’s reputation because they are blinded by things that are simply just not true.
They are aligned to a cause that they just are not educated enough in ….

If you are interested in this incredible school that offers amazing opportunities, that IS accredited and that will actually teach what they say they will… Then I encourage you to call and speak to Ron Boyce for a tour.

My son has been attending since it opened.
It was incredible for the first year…for the most part, aside from me having to fight for approval for FLVS geometry.
Things did changed in the last year…but not quite at all how other reviewers are saying.

Please do your own research and go straight to the source if you are interested in sending your child to Maritime Academy…
Do not believe those 1 star reviews. They are just bitter because they are deluded…
Don’t just blindly trust their review, or mine for that matter…but DO go to the school and request an audience with Ron.

MARITIME ACADEMY iS AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL.

Since January, when AMIKids came in and fired the local boards who managed the property and the school, this school has deteriorated significantly.

AMIKids had a meeting with the parents in February. We were told to find alternate arrangements for school for the 24 – 25 school year because they were not sure if they were going to be open. It would depend on the decisions of the new board members who are currently not local members.

We were told that the reason for this huge change was because the school was not following the mission of AMIKids which is to serve and rehabilitate ‘at risk’ youth.

Truth be told, depending on what the definition of ‘at risk’ is, we had many students who could be considered at risk. For example, some students had not succeeded at other schools but were excelling here. Some had been bullied at other schools, some living below the poverty line, some in single parent homes, some on the spectrum, some with mental health issues and some with a combination of all of the above – all of them finding their niche and succeeding at this school. When asked why these kids were not considered at risk we were told, “…yes your kids have problems but these are not the kids we are talking about”.

When we asked them to define ‘at risk’ they were not willing or able to give us a firm definition.

Most of us figured that they wanted to go back to their roots – PCMI – which serves at risk department of juvenile justice kids.

As it stands now, they are staying open. They say that juvenile justice students or kids with significant behavioral problems are not the at risk populations they are looking to serve. However, they have yet to define what ‘at risk’ means.

Because of all these changes the faculty and administrative staff do not trust them. All of the staff that made this school so awesome are leaving. Not one teacher that taught this past year is staying. There is no way I would let my kid go to school here. We are leaving.

Maritime Academy year 2023-2024 was outstanding. My daughter learned a lot and made a lot of friends. She did sailing, she did seacadets, and she enjoyed her Environmental club. Due to change of hands the staff is being replaced. I can only review what we experienced this past year. I do know that the new staff and control promises to provide similar things. I wish my daughter got to do her lifeguard training like the other students. The staff that was there for 2023-2024 due to changes and other reasons. But over all we enjoyed the school year. The staff was very supportive and kind to my child. A new company is taking over and so we cannot speak on the new staff and administration. I cannot speak on AMIkids and what is to come. I am rating our experience last year a four out of five. But this goes with what we enjoyed. 24-25 will be the first year AMIkids will be in control of the school. Anyone reviewing it from this day on, has no idea what it will be until the year plays out. We keep an open heart and mind to all opportunities in life and that is what we hope for all. I am leaving a review so parents know the changes. Call and ask to see it and speak with them. That is the only way this point forward you will know if it fits. If it doesn’t research other charters/stem schools in the area. Thanks 2023-2024 Maritime! Best wishes to all.