Choosing a Military School for your Teens

Here are several things you should know if you are thinking about sending your child to a military school:

1. Some take students at a very young age - grade 4 or even lower - while some are only for students of high school age.
2. They are not all the same certainly in size and programs. Some military schools are very large while some are quite small.
3. Some are only a boarding school while some have a mix of boarders and day pupils.
4. Some are single sex schools and some teach both boys and girls.
5. Some have a large extra-curricula program involving outdoor activities [apart from traditional sports] and artistic clubs such a music, drama and dance.

There are many public schools which offer an excellent academic program but few if any offer the exceptional discipline program at a military school. But, there are two things for which every military school is renowned - academic standards and discipline. If you want an extensive, solid and college-entry academic program, a military school is certainly a strong possible school for your son or daughter. Just like the armed services or a military college, discipline is vitally important.

Students at a military school wear uniforms, are given a rank, are expected to study in class and work hard after class, are supervised in almost everything they do and are punished for breaking the school rules. Serious misbehavior can result in expulsion. Discipline is a vital and ever-present ingredient at every military school.

You might believe your child could or should join the armed services after they complete their secondary education and/or college. If so, find out which military schools have the best record in passing students into those areas.

If your child has a particular interest in one aspect of the military such as the air force, then look for a military school which offers instruction in the science of aerodynamics and other related topics.


If you wish your child to develop life skills, self-discipline, respect for authority, pride in their appearance and achievements, then choose a military school. And as every military school heavily promotes these qualities, it will come down to you deciding which best suits the needs of your child.

If you wish your child to pursue a liberal arts education including the performing arts, then look for a military school which has music and/or drama as a major component of its curriculum.

If your child is a boarder and after grade 7 almost all students are boarders, then you need to consider travel time for your child and the family when moving from school to home and vice versa.There might be a military tradition in your family and maintaining that tradition could help sway you in your choice of school. The thing to note is that all military schools welcome approaches from parents of prospective students. You can visit them in person or online.