The Gurian Center of Excellence at Army and Navy Academy

For over a century, Army and Navy Academy has offered a structured, immersive environment tailored specifically to how boys learn and grow. We are a national model for best practices in boys’ education, delivering a college-preparatory education grounded in leadership, character development, and academic excellence. Our environment helps boys redefine success through values, not just outcomes and we give them a vision for who they can become, grounded in virtue and integrity. The school embraces positive masculinity, providing boys with a path to develop identity and social-emotional intelligence.

We are honored to be recognized as a Gurian Center for Excellence. Michael Gurian has long been a leading voice in illuminating the scientific differences between male and female brain development and calling on educators to respond with purpose. This partnership affirms what we have known through decades of experience: boys thrive in environments designed with their unique learning needs in mind.

“Michael Gurian’s research puts words to what we’ve practiced for generations. Being named a Gurian Center for Excellence affirms the intentional, boy-centric approach that defines Army and Navy Academy. We are proud to join this important movement in education and to stand alongside the Gurian Institute in shaping boys into virtuous young men.”

Barry Shreiar, President, Army and Navy Academy

Decades of research confirm what we’ve always known: boys learn through movement, competition, and connection. At the Academy, every element of our program is built for boys.

Our cadets benefit from small class sizes, exceptional teachers, and a structured environment that builds discipline, responsibility, and leadership alongside academic excellence. Our instruction purposely includes group work, music, competition, graphic organizers, brain breaks, the use of routines and academic planners, and lots of opportunities for the boys to move during class time.

In a time when traditional schools often fail to meet boys where they are, Army and Navy Academy stands apart, changing the story for young men through research-based education, real-world leadership opportunities, and a commitment to character. We prepare young men for the rigors of life.

“This partnership with the Gurian Institute validates our academic framework and affirms our commitment to using brain-based strategies in the classroom. Our faculty are trained to teach in ways that recognize and respect how boys learn. This is more than pedagogy; it’s a mission to help boys succeed.”