Welcome to The Culver Academies and Culver Summer Schools

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The Culver Academies are independent college preparatory boarding schools comprised of Culver Military Academy and Culver Girls Academy. Henry Harrison Culver founded Culver Military Academy in 1894 "for the purpose of thoroughly preparing young men for the best colleges, scientific schools and businesses of America."

In 1896, a fire at Missouri Military Academy brought about its consolidation with Culver, and with it came Missouri's headmaster, Col. Alexander Fleet, under whose guidance the Academy made rapid progress. By 1939, under the leadership of Gen. Leigh Gignilliat, Culver had achieved national and international prominence. Steady growth has continued throughout Culver's history.

Culver Girls Academy was founded in 1971, for the purpose of encouraging young women to attain the highest degree of self-development.

Culver Academy is more than an outstanding college preparatory school for boys in an ideal setting, with unparalleled facilities, and one of the most extensive academic and activity offerings available at the high-school level -- not to mention one of the finest athletic programs in the country.

With a focus on leadership training, Culver prepares you for college and the greater world beyond by encouraging you to develop your unique interests and talents, while helping you to move beyond self-imposed limitations. Our academic program is built on a thorough preparation for college. Outstanding teachers give you more individualized attention in a coeducational learning environment where student-teacher ratios rarely exceed 7:1, and class sizes range from 12 to 15 students.

Extensive academic, athletic, and extracurricular offerings allow you to explore options and advance according to your individual achievement and attitude, as well as find additional support in challenging areas. You may take advanced placement courses or pursue an independent study involving special papers and projects, recitals and art exhibits. Qualified students may enjoy the distinction of graduation with honors in a subject area of special competence.

Over 99% of Culver graduates go on to colleges and universities, some of them at the world's leading institutions such as Dartmouth, Princeton, Colorado-Boulder, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Yale, Northwestern, and Indiana University. Once there, they compete successfully for placement in advanced professional programs, athletics, and other constructive activities.

At Culver, you can do the things most young people will only dream about. You are encouraged to try new things, to test yourself. If you fail, there is no ridicule, only support to get up and try again until you get it right. Whether you want to participate in crew, fencing, theater, or ride in the renowned Black Horse Troop, Culver can help you develop the discipline, the skill, the confidence to do whatever you want to do. If you apply yourself, you will leave here with a clearer direction and confidence about your life goals than you ever thought possible. You'll find that discipline truly is freedom, and that the choices you make will take on a deeper, more satisfying meaning.