Academy Dreams
Aerial view of the Naval Academy grounds and the Severn River in Annapolis

USNA · High school roadmap

Sophomore year: U.S. Naval Academy10th grade · Build the foundation

Your 10th grade checklist for USNA, built from the official pages we track.

The Naval Academy and the Severn River from the air, October 2012. Photo: U.S. Navy (National Museum of the U.S. Navy) via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (U.S. government work).

Why this year matters

This is the year to build the grades, fitness and leadership the academies look for. The checklist below lists what the official pages say.

Checklist for sophomore year

Courses and grades

The academies' recommended courses overlap a lot. Plan your 11th- and 12th-grade schedules now so you don't come up short.

  • Honors, AP, IB, and dual-enrollment courses are valued12.

Sports and fitness

  • Compete in team sports and individual endurance sports, run regularly ("two-mile runs are recommended"), and do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups3.
  • Learn the CFA events now. USNA, West Point, and USAFA use the same six events: basketball throw, pull-ups (or flexed-arm hang for women), shuttle run, crunches/modified sit-ups, push-ups, and 1-mile run452.

Leadership and service

  • Examples the academies list include team captain, student government, Eagle Scout/Gold Award, Boys/Girls State, club leadership, community service, and JROTC63.

Key deadlines

Summer after 10th grade

  • USNA Summer STEM 2027 (rising 9th–11th graders): June 7–12, June 14–19, and June 21–25, 20277. Application dates: not yet published.

Dates change. Always confirm on the official USNA admissions site and your congressional offices’ pages.

USNA-specific notes

USNA recommends:

  • English: 4 years, emphasis on writing1
  • Math: 4 years incl. geometry, algebra, trigonometry; pre-calc and calculus "highly encouraged"1
  • Science: 1 year each of chemistry and physics, with lab if possible1
  • Foreign language: At least 2 years1
  • History / social studies: 1 year U.S. history; world or European history where possible1
  • Computer science: Recommended1
  • Take the PSAT in 10th grade1. USNA accepts PSAT scores for its preliminary application, but not as final admissions criteria8.

Eligibility basics8

  • Age: 17 to not past 23rd birthday on July 1 of the entry year
  • Other basics: U.S. citizen by July 1; unmarried; not pregnant; no dependents

Sources

  1. USNA (usna.edu)
  2. USAFA Requirements (usafa.edu)
  3. West Point: Middle & High School (westpoint.edu)
  4. USNA CFA (usna.edu)
  5. West Point CFA (westpoint.edu)
  6. West Point Steps (westpoint.edu)
  7. USNA Summer Programs (usna.edu)
  8. USNA Apply (usna.edu)

Keep every USNA date on your calendar.

Coming soon: reminder emails before applications open, nomination deadlines close and summer program windows shut.

Reminders coming soonAll deadlines