Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy 
Established in 1909

Since 1909, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy has provided Southern Maryland with graduates who have become leaders in the military, business, and communities across the US. The Xaverian Brothers opened the doors of Leonard Hall to parochial students on September 19, 1909. The school was established on the Loker Estate that had been purchased by the Jesuit Fathers. The Brothers purchased the building and grounds from them in December 1910. Leonard Hall, named in honor of Leonard Calvert, became the first Catholic school for boys in the original Calvert proprietary. Leonard Hall was primarily an agricultural school at that time, however the small number of local students led to resident students from other counties being accepted, and a liberal arts course was introduced. The agricultural course was officially dropped in 1928, and all students took a college preparatory curriculum. When a fire destroyed the original school building in 1920, a large main building was erected. The new three-story building contained offices, student clubs, and dormitory accommodations.

During the Depression Leonard Hall fought for its existence. The school dropped the college preparatory courses and initiated an elementary school curriculum in 1932. The military program was adopted in 1941, and Leonard Hall became a Junior Naval Academy. It is the only military academy in the state of Maryland. Over the next few decades Leonard Hall grew and flourished with a new drill hall constructed in 1960. Seven years later the new school building, our current location, was built At full capacity there were over 200 students enrolled in 1968 – all but 40 were boarding students. The next several years saw a decline in the enrollment of resident students in addition to a steady increase in the costs of operating a boarding school. As a result, the Xaverian Brothers closed Leonard Hall School in June 1972. With that announcement, a group of day students’ parents met to discuss ways to continue Leonard Hall. These parents formed a corporation, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy, Inc., and leased the school buildings and property from the Xaverian brothers. Leonard Hall opened as a day school in September 1972, with an enrollment of 80 students from throughout the tri-county area. The following year, the Xaverian Brothers sold the school property to St. Mary’s County. A new lease was agreed upon between Leonard Hall’s Board of Trustees and the county government, which allowed Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy to remain open – and that agreement continues to this date.

Today, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy is flourishing. With a non-denominational Christian, co-educational, military, college-preparatory program and an enrollment of approximately 48 students in grades 6 through 12, the school continues to provide a focused and disciplined environment. Still serving Southern Maryland, Leonard Hall proudly maintains high academic standards and instills the discipline, respect for authority, self-confidence, and leadership, which the Xaverian Brothers initiated over 112 years ago.