Sarasota Military Academy, Sarasota | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

My 5 star opinion, is based strictly as a substitute teacher. I taught as a long term substitute for 8 weeks and then worked as a sub in random classes. As a substitute, I was made to feel very comfortable at SMA by the faculty and administrators. I felt appreciated. Anything I needed or any questions I had, someone was there to help.
The biggest complaints I heard from students were the dress code regulations.
My only complaint has nothing to do with the school but with parents.
Parents, Not Teachers, are responsible for how much rest your child gets. They come to school with a few hours of sleep and don’t want to do learn.
Parents, Not Teachers, are responsible for your children being taught to respect authority figures. When your child talks back rudely to a teacher and they are sent to ISS dont complain about the teacher. Teach Your Child RESPECT. If you as a parent respect the regulations and support the school, your children will too.
Teachers can do a much better job if they don’t have to do your job.
I recommend SMA but only do so if stricter regulations don’t bother you or your child. It’s a great school!

I graduated class of 2014 and through the time I went there it started to decline. When they added the IB program is when it really went down hill. My sister graduated last year and it seemed as if the IB students were the only ones that mattered. If you were just a student not in the IB track you didn’t matter regardless of if you were in regular classes, honors, AP, or duel enrollment. I still know people that attend the school and many are glad to be getting out, and even several who just left and went somewhere else because they felt as if they didn’t matter. When I went all the staff and faculty treated the students at individuals and invested time into helping them. The teachers worked with the students to help them improve and would spend extra time if needed. Many of the teachers and staff that were there when I was do not appear to be there any more. I am very sad to have to give this rating and review, but with all the issues that are coming up and what I have seen my friends going through I only thought it was fair to let people know. I hope that one day the school can get back to its former glory.

I never thought I would attend a military academy due to wearing an army uniform but I have no regrets. I graduated last year and feel that SMA saved my high school experience, prepared me for college, and gave me a good foundation. I gain friends for life. The teachers really cared for students and the new administration is the best I have ever known because they were always available to students and visible on campus. I went to Lakewood Ranch high school before attending SMA and what a difference it made in my life. SMA is by far the best kept secret for high schools in Sarasota/Manatee County. It’s for students that want to learn and be challenged, that’s why we use uniforms and there’s more discipline and structure, but is not for students who don’t know how to behave. So if you want a great school for your kids, SMA is the answer. If your kid don’t respect authority, they won’t last in this school. Teaching respect is the parents job. Thank you mom!