Founded in 1879 by Waynesboro Native
and Washington College Graduate,
Professor James A. Fishburne, Fishburne
Military School is woven into the very
fabric of Waynesboro and Shenandoah
Valley History. For 138 years, FMS has
been preparing young men for lives of
leadership and service.
At the school’s inception, Fishburne
wrote: “It is my purpose to have here an
institution which shall rank as first class
in everything that constitutes true worth,
and from which shall go forth loyal,
earnest, industrious boys and young
men, well-equipped for the duties and
responsibilities of life, and above all else,
to maintain a high standard of honor and
integrity in the Corps of Cadets.”
Today, Fishburne Military School is a
leader in the United States Army JROTC
Cadet Command’s Fourth Brigade and,
as an Honor Unit with Distinction, holds
the privilege of nominating qualified
cadets to any of the United States Service
Academies.
As an all-male college preparatory
school and leadership training program,
Fishburne Military School’s modern
mission statement is to provide each cadet
with a sound academic foundation, a
healthy mental and physical environment,
and leadership training for a better
understanding of the obligations of honor,
citizenship, and self-discipline.
Famous Alumni of Fishburne Military
School include former Virginia Governor
Gerald Baliles and Pulitzer Prize winner
Eugene Payne.
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