With every other military academy in Missouri now closed, one school remains—and a bill at the Capitol would give Missouri Military Academy in Mexico a special statewide designation.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kent Haden, R-Mexico, told Missourinet that the all-boys academy has international appeal.
“Mexico, the country’s always been a big feeder,” said Haden. “South America has always been a big feeder, and they still are. We thought it was only proper that we would recognize it as the military academy in Missouri. The ones who had closed, they all supported this.”
“Haden said at one time there was a lot of military schools across the country, and that number has really decreased.
“In Missouri, we had Wentworth and we had Kemper,” said Haden. “Now both of those have closed, and in fact, a lot of their alumni are supporting MMA. It’s a no-brainer.”
Haden told Missourinet that the designation wouldn’t mean a tax break but could help in other ways.
“For recruiting and other things, it’s a big deal for the academy,” said Haden. “They have a series of signs all along 70, and I’m sure those signs would say, the Missouri Military Academy, you know, that designation.”
Established in 1889, the Missouri Military Academy is one of the largest employers in Audrain County, with 105 full‑time and 24 part‑time employees.
The academy serves cadets from 30 states and nine countries, with enrollment averaging more than 230 students per year over the past five years.
House Bill 2307 to officially designate it as Missouri’s military academy is now advancing in the Missouri House.
https://house.mo.gov/BillContent.aspx?bill=HB2307&year=2026
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