Trying to find a military school for teens near you? In this article, we will share specific information about what to look for in a military school, how to find the best military schools in the U.S, as well as provide a number of resources.
When looking for a military school for your kids, make sure you prioritize factors that are most important to you and your teen, such as: college prep academics, leadership development, character building, and co-curricular activities.
Academic Achievement:
- Review academics on each school’s website to ensure the military school offers the right curriculum and educational approach for your teenager to meet high school and college admission requirements, as well as enjoy learning.
- Most private military schools are college preparatory and follow rigorous requirements to provide the best chance for students to gain admission to a public or private college, university, or military academies like West Point and Annapolis.
- Some military boarding schools offer learning strategies programs for students with learning differences and also may offer ESL/ESOL to help international students improve their English skills.
Leadership and Structured Training:
- Check out the school’s approach to leadership training. Military schools in the U.S. follow the JROTC Leadership Education Training* requirements that focus on developing our youth into future leaders and good citizens.
- Students (aka “cadets”) who attend military schools are highly responsible for teamwork, mentorship, peer counseling, campus governance, honor’s council, and assisting with important campus events.
*To avoid confusion, please note that ROTC is short for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for college-level students. By contrast, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is a leadership program for middle/high school students. The JROTC program does not promote enlistment in the military and there is no service requirement.
Structure and Motivation:
- Military schools in the U.S. are typically geared for 11 year olds to 17 year olds. They offer a highly structured daily schedule to provide students with the motivation to achieve at the highest potential.
- The daily schedule is typically organized into timeframes for academics, athletics, co-curricular activities, rest and relaxation, “local liberty,” meals, personal hygiene, and dorm meetings. Weekends are often open to go home if a student lives close enough or students may stay on campus to enjoy various activity offerings.
Character Development:
- Character development is an integral aspect of attending a military school as a teenager. Every military school may have their own core mission and values, but all of them expect cadets to follow the honor code and core value system. Values may include: honor, integrity, respect, responsibility, compassion, and gratitude.
- Some military schools have an Honors Council to enforce their code of conduct and also have very specific rules and policies to gain admission and remain enrolled.
- Military schools focus on self-discipline and personal accountability for one’s behaviors and actions. Even kids in 7th and 8th grade can greatly benefit from this direction as they prepare for the military high school environment.
Campus Life and Community:
- Campus life is important at military boarding schools, so consider classrooms, dorm arrangements, athletic facilities, dining hall, recreation hall, maker spaces, enrichment centers and other facilities.
- Military schools typically offer kids time to join clubs, go on trips, as well as opportunities to make and spend time with friends.
- Location should also be a consideration as some military schools are in close proximity to village centers, urban areas, and nature. For instance, Army and Navy in Carlsbad is on a beachfront campus in the heart of a quaint village with shops, movies, and restaurants. Cadets are also allowed to go off campus during specific timeframes (aka “local liberty”).
- Access to transportation could also prove important. Proximity to airports and local transit is important for students to be able to go home on weekends and/or holidays. Military schools span the U.S. and can be found in California, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New York and Virginia. Some are near international airports (e.g. LAX, San Diego International Airport, John Wayne Airport).
Clubs and Activities:
- Military schools are geared for teens to have fun, adventure and challenges through clubs, activities and trips. Check out the current clubs offered at Army and Navy Academy to get an idea.
- Military schools generally offer robust athletic programs in a number of Junior and Varsity Sports.
- Based on location, some schools offer workout centers, surfing, equestrian, lacrosse and other physical activities beyond the sports like football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, water polo, golf, and tennis.
Accreditation and Reputation:
- Look for the military school’s accreditation on their website and/or ask about it during your campus visit.
- Also, check out educational directories and review sites like Boarding School Review, Niche, and Great Schools.
- Ask or check out the school’s college matriculation to see where graduates attend college after graduating from high school.
Admissions Requirements:
- Contact the Office of Admission to explore, understand the application process and to go over their admission criteria.
- For example, Army and Navy Academy seeks out applicants with a high commitment to attend, academic promise, and the ability to contribute to the community.
Questions to Ask:
- What are the core values at this military school? How does this school promote good etiquette, good manners, and respectfulness?
- What kinds of academic and personal life skills will my teen gain in terms of college preparation, leadership training, character development/values and personal/social/emotional development?
- What are the graduation requirements? Is this a college prep school? Where do high school graduates attend college or university? Do some cadets enlist or go to service academies vs. go to traditional colleges?
- What types of extracurricular activities are offered in terms of clubs, trips, and weekend activities? Do you offer spring trips abroad or internships?
- Do you offer JV and Varsity sports? Are there tryouts to participate? Do some graduates receive college athletic scholarships? What division is the school in and what is their track record? For instance, Army and Navy Academy has won many CIF championships in a variety of sports.
- How does the school prepare students to become more independent, resilient, self-disciplined as they prepare for college and beyond? What programs teach time management, organization, and prioritization?
- What is the cost of tuition? Day vs. Boarding? Domestic vs. international?
- Do you offer payment plans, financial assistance, merit awards, scholarships, and other programs to help offset tuition and other costs?
- Is this school all-boys or coeducational? Most military schools began as all-boys, but there are some schools that are now coed.
- How old do you need to be to attend a military school? Can you apply for just one year or a senior year only?
Resources:
- Education Websites – Boarding School Review, Private School Review, Niche, Great Schools, Boardingschool.com and AMCSUS.
- Wikipedia– List of military secondary schools and academies in the U.S.
Glossary of Terms:
Junior Boarding Schools – Boarding schools for middle schoolers
Boarding Schools – Enrollment ages may range from 11-18 Year Olds
Private Schools – Private schools encompass both day and/or boarding
Military Schools – Schools for middle school and/or high school
Military Academies – Military middle and/or high schools
Military Academies – Military service academies for the college level (USMA, USNA, USCGA, USAFA/Space Force, USMMA)
Charter Military Schools – Public schools operating as charter schools
Explore Military Schools Today: Feel free to contact us at Army and Navy Academy, located on a beachfront campus in Southern California’s Carlsbad Village. Army and Navy Academy is a college preparatory school with boarding and day options. Geared exclusively for boys in grades 7-12, we are a model school for boys in middle school and high school and are ranked in the top five boarding schools in California. If we’re not the right fit, we will make every effort to provide other information.
Army & Navy Academy Admission Office:
Phone: 888-762-2338