Sainik School, Satara was founded through the visionary efforts of Shri Yashwantrao Chavan, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State. It was inaugurated by the Defence Minister of India, Shri V K Krishna Menon on 23 Jun 1961. It was the first Sainik School amongst a chain of 24 such schools established in the country with the aim of preparing boys academically, mentally and physically for entry into the National Defence Academy and other Defence Academies, who hail from financially weaker sections of the society and thereby removing the regional imbalance for such entries in the Armed Forces.

School provides public school education to the children and the pattern of this School has been moulded scrupulously in such a way that the cadets studying herein acquire confidence leading to self dependence, accommodating nature, high esteem and respect for the views of others, secular approach and an incessant longing for maintaining sound mind in sound body which would ultimately make them successful in any walks of life.