The educational institution of Starfleet, based in San Francisco.
Starfleet Academy is the training institution for Starfleet officers, where young cadets from across the Federation prepare for a career in space. It is based in San Francisco, near Starfleet Headquarters, and its campus is known for its grounds and its famous buildings. Its cadets study science, command, engineering and diplomacy.
The Academy is a place with a strong sense of tradition, and it has produced many of Starfleet's most famous officers. Its curriculum includes simulations such as the Kobayashi Maru, a test of character in a no-win scenario. Its students are encouraged to think independently and to uphold the values of the Federation.
The Academy appears in many Star Trek stories, including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which Spock and Kirk deal with cadets on a training cruise, and the Next Generation episodes Coming of Age and The First Duty, in which Wesley Crusher and his classmates face a crisis. Kirk's own history with the Kobayashi Maru is a famous part of the Academy's legend.