Historic military academy and junior college in Missouri, serving cadets from 1880 to 2017.
Wentworth Military Academy was founded in 1880 as Wentworth Male Academy by Stephen G. Wentworth, becoming a military school in 1882 under the leadership of Sandford Sellers. The institution added a junior college program in 1923 and became one of only six military junior colleges in the United States. Throughout the 20th century, it maintained a strong military tradition, including an Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program and participation in the Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation Scholarship program. The school remained boys-only until 1993, when female cadets were admitted for the first time.
Wentworth offered a military-focused curriculum for high school students (grades 6–12) and a two-year junior college program. The college was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, though it was placed on probation in late 2015 due to concerns about financial integrity and resources. The high school was accredited by AdvancED. Notable programs included the Army's two-year Early Commissioning Program and the Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation Scholarship program, which began in 1971.
The 43-acre campus in Lexington featured military barracks, academic buildings, and recreational facilities including the 65,000-square-foot Wikoff Field House (opened 1966) with three basketball courts, an indoor track, racquetball court, weight room, wrestling room, and pool. The campus was listed as a National Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, encompassing seven contributing buildings erected between approximately 1830 and 1920. Following closure in 2017, the campus was purchased by Jubilee University in June 2020.
Wentworth produced distinguished alumni across military, politics, business, arts, and athletics. Notable graduates include U.S. Congressman Ike Skelton, Academy Award–winning director Robert Altman, Walmart co-founder James 'Bud' Walton, General Mark A. Welsh (20th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force), Medal of Honor recipients William E. Adams and George B. Turner, and zoologist Marlin Perkins. The school's annual Thanksgiving Day football rivalry with Kemper Military School was known as the 'Little Army-Navy Game' and received front-page coverage in Kansas City and St. Louis newspapers.
On April 7, 2017, the Board of Trustees announced the school's closure effective May 31, 2017, citing declining enrollment, an aging campus, and insufficient financial support. The 43-acre campus and buildings were sold to Jubilee University. Historic monuments and artifacts were auctioned, with many pieces purchased by alumni and donated to the Wentworth Museum in downtown Lexington.