Wentworth Military Academy and College dates back to 1880, but will not date to 2018
Administrators say a 137-year-old Missouri military academy and college will close after next month because of declining enrollment, rising costs and aging facilities.
Wentworth Military Academy and College’s board chairman and president announced the closure, effective May 31, in letters Friday to cadets, students, parents and alumni.
The letter to alumni says the site in Lexington about 50 miles east of Kansas City will pay its debts and liquidate its assets as part of “an orderly closure.”
APRIL 7, 2017 – The Board of Trustees of Wentworth Military Academy and College announces that the school will cease all educational and related operations at its campus located in Lexington, Missouri, and its learning site in Cameron, Missouri, at the end of this academic year, which falls on May 31, 2017. Key educational and school-related activities – including the Military Ball, commencement ceremonies, and the commissioning of new officers – will proceed as previously scheduled.
The closing of the school and the winding down of its operations will take place in an orderly manner, and Wentworth will make every effort to assist students and their parents in effecting the students’ smooth transition to other educational institutions.
The Board has directed the officers of the school to take all necessary and proper actions to cease all educational and related operations at the school’s Lexington campus, as well as to initiate the process of dissolving the school corporation and liquidating all corporate assets in accordance with the Bylaws of the corporation and Missouri legal requirements. The school has retained the law firm of Husch Blackwell LLP to provide legal advice and counsel with respect to the cessation of operations and pending dissolution.
There are no plans at present for the school’s facilities at the Lexington campus.
