The academic focus of MAST Academy is maritime studies. Students choose one of three major areas of study in which a traditional U.S. high school curriculum is infused with marine-themed subjects. Some course offerings include: Oceanography, Solar Energy, Environmental Science, Sea Classics, Environmental Art, Swimming, and Water Safety. MAST is home to the only Coast Guard JROTC program in the U.S., approved by an act of Congress. It has a tradition of academic excellence, and has been ranked among Newsweek's Top 100 High Schools.
The school's mascot is the mako shark, and the main sports are water-related, such as water polo, swimming, sailing, and crew (rowing). The girls' soccer team was District Champions in 2004. MAST is very active in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl Competition and has placed as high as sixth in the nation, most recently in 2004 at Charleston, South Carolina, with team members Zachary Sherman, Christopher Rockicki, Adlai Grayson, John Kelley, and Vanessa Palacio. The Black History Brain Bowl team won the 2006 Regional Championships. Team members are Dorien Rowe, Emily Nostro, Steven Presbot, Eli Harrison, Roger Tejon, Ahmad El-Habibi and Alex Nostro.
Early in MAST's history (circa 1992 to 1998), for about a week before each April 1st, the stuffed blue-marlin that normally adorns a corridor wall used to mysteriously disappear. Each day that week, a rhyming ransom note, signed by the "The Fish Bandits," would appear in its place. Every year, on April 1st, the stuffed blue-marlin returned, unharmed. This tradition seems to have ended without ceremony.
The Fish Bandits attempted a re-surfacing in 2002, although the rhyming ransom notes were not answered, and the fish was eventually returned.
