Why Choose a Military School?

The words "military school" evoke a wide variety of feelings and images among parents. For many parents, military school is a time-honored tradition that represents discipline, respect, and a "leg up" in getting accepted into a top college. For others, the military option is seen as severe, employing heavy-handed scare tactics and a harsh punishment and reward system.

Military schools are known for their structure and emphasis on discipline, self-control, and personal responsibility. The military experience can teach children how to follow a schedule, prioritize tasks, and to act respectably toward adults and authority figures. Students also are expected to engage in a range of sports and physical activities to build physical strength and endurance. If your teen is underachieving, highly resistant to authority, or unmotivated academically or physically, military school may help.

In addition, young men and women interested in careers in the Armed Forces are ideal candidates for military school. Modeled after the United States military-based colleges and universities, some military schools have proud histories of academic success, with many graduates receiving appointments to prestigious service academies like West Point, Annapolis, and others.

If your teen is interested in a military career or rebels against rules, schedules, or authority, military school may be a valid option. Students will be responsible for their own studies and schoolwork, will obey a strict code of conduct, and will participate in athletic programs and physical conditioning. Most military school students are self-motivated, obedient, focused on academic success, and interested in careers in the military. Every school is different, and some have reputations for being exceedingly regimented and cruel, so be sure to fully investigate your options before making a commitment.

Fast Facts About Adolescents

Nearly a quarter of high school students in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. The younger you are when you start smoking, the more problems it can cause. For example, people who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting. About 30 percent of young smokers will continue smoking and die early from a smoking-related disease. Teen smokers are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs and to have panic attacks, anxiety disorders and depression.