Oak Ridge Military Academy facts for kids

Oak Ridge Military Academy Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Oak Ridge Military Academy, September 2013
Location in North Carolina Show map of North Carolina Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	NC 150 and NC 68, Oak Ridge, North Carolina
Area	96 acres
Built	1851
Architect	Milburn, Frank P.; Armfield, Will G.
Architectural style	Queen Anne, Mission/spanish Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	83001887
Added to NRHP	March 17, 1983

The Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA) is a special school in North Carolina. It helps students get ready for college. It's also a military school, which means it teaches leadership and discipline.

ORMA is the oldest military academy for middle and high school students in the United States. It was also the first military boarding school to let girls attend. The school is in the town of Oak Ridge, North Carolina.

The academy is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Its US Army Junior ROTC program is highly rated. This program teaches students about being leaders and good citizens.

History of ORMA

How the School Started (1852–1914)

Oak Ridge Military Academy began in 1852. Local families wanted to create a good school for their community. They raised money to build a schoolhouse.

The school first opened on March 3, 1853. It was called Oak Ridge Institute. Students learned many subjects, including classical studies. At first, it had 63 students from North Carolina and Virginia.

The school closed during the American Civil War from 1862 to 1866. Many students joined the Southern army. After the war, the main school building burned down. But the school reopened in 1866.

From 1875 to 1914, two brothers, J. Allen Holt and Martin Holt, led the school. Under their leadership, Oak Ridge Institute became one of the best prep schools in North Carolina. It had clubs for debating and sports teams. These teams even played against big colleges like Wake Forest University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Becoming a Military Academy (1914–1981)

This sign shows the history of Oak Ridge Institute.

In 1914, Professor Thomas E. Whitaker took over as leader. A fire destroyed the main schoolhouse and the Chapel that year. But the school did not close. Classes were held in private homes.

Professor Whitaker rebuilt Oak Ridge as a military academy. During World War I, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (JROTC) started at the school. In 1929, Oak Ridge became an all-male military school. Its name changed to Oak Ridge Military Institute.

In 1972, Oak Ridge made history again. It became the first military high school in the United States to admit girls. Because of this, the name changed to Oak Ridge Academy. By 1981, all students, both boys and girls, had to join JROTC. The school's name then became Oak Ridge Military Academy.

As of 2014, Oak Ridge was the oldest military high school still open in the U.S.

ORMA Today (1981–Present)

Since 1972, Oak Ridge has been a private school that prepares students for college. It is a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. Most students live at the school, but some local students attend during the day.

The Oak Ridge Military Academy Historic District was added to a special list in 1983. This list recognizes important historical places. The academy has a middle school for grades 7-8 and a high school for grades 9-12.

In 1991, North Carolina officially named Oak Ridge as its military school. The school is part of several important education groups. It is also the only active military school to win the National High School Drill Team Championship in 1996.

In 2006, the academy started a project to fix and improve its buildings. They raised money for new roofs, repairs, and new additions.

School Campus

A postcard showing Alumni Hall at Oak Ridge Military Academy.

The Oak Ridge Military Academy campus has 21 important buildings. These include Oakhurst, built in 1897, and Maple Glade from 1905. There is also the old Donnell and Holt Store, now called Cottrell Hall.

Other buildings include the Alumni Building and the Chapel, both built in 1914. There are also Whitaker Dormitory, Holt Dormitory, King Gymnasium, and the Infirmary.

The campus is located in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. It is close to the Piedmont Triad International Airport. It is also about eight miles northwest of Greensboro, a large city in North Carolina.

Alumni Hall is a two-story building on campus. It was built in 1914 and has many uses. The academy also has a small chapel on its grounds.

What Students Learn

Student Enrollment

For the 2024–2025 school year, about one hundred students were enrolled at Oak Ridge. The school has a good student-to-teacher ratio, which means there are many teachers for the number of students. This allows for more personal attention.

About 98 percent of the academy's students are accepted into colleges.

Classes and Programs

Oak Ridge offers classes in four main areas: English, Math, Science, and History. The academy has 11 honors classes. These classes are more challenging for students who want to learn more. It also offers 3 AP (Advanced Placement) courses. These courses can give students college credit.

Fun Activities

Oak Ridge holds a "Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge" camp every year. This camp lasts five days. It includes physical activities, leadership training, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) training.

The academy also publishes a magazine called Oak Leaf twice a year. This magazine shares news about the campus, school events, and stories about former students.

Famous Former Students

• Zeb Alley, a lawyer and public speaker
• Dale Earnhardt Jr., a famous stock car racing driver
• Ray Hayworth, a baseball player and manager
• Red Hayworth, a baseball player and coach
• Jessica Hernandez, a singer
• Alvin Paul Kitchin, a public official
• George Parrott, a naval officer
• George Stephens, a college football player