Military School: Different Types, the Cost and Other Considerations

Military schools have gained in popularity as a tool for parents to use with their troubled teens. The discipline that military schools offer exceeds discipline that usually can be used in a home setting. Military schools also teach teenagers to work as a team, which can foster a change in a teen's attitude.

Types

Military schools come in three types: schools that accept troubled teens; boot camps; and schools that do not take troubled teens. If your child has special needs, or abuses drugs, you will have to seek an alternative school such as a boarding school. The military schools that do not take troubled teens focus on academics. The schools that do take troubled teens are prepared for them and will focus more on skills than academic. Boot camps are military schools that are only open for a designated amount of time. The purpose of these short-term military camps is not academic. It is to get the children to turn around their lives and start living with purpose. This is done through a lot of physical activities.

Considerations

Military schools run for the standard nine months and usually cost between $25,000 and $30,000 per year. If a parent cannot afford to pay the whole amount upfront, an additional fee of about $600 is added, and the entire amount is broken into monthly payments. This can mean a monthly total of at least $3,000 per month. You must also consider that this figure is for room and board only. There will be textbook fees and uniform fees. Add in personal items and a parent can expect to pay another $2,000 beyond the cost of tuition.

Benefits

Each of the three types of military schools will provide benefits to both the parents and the teenagers. The teenager will graduate with the ability to contribute to society as a responsible adult. The teenager will have learned respect for authority and will therefore begin to participate in a better relationship with their parents. This is a huge benefit to parents as they get a second chance to have a better relationship with their child. The parents also benefit by not having to worry about their teenager getting in to trouble.

Time Frame

It is suggested that you don't wait in applying for a military school, as they often have waiting lists. Take at least two weeks to research possible schools before sending in your application. Each military school begins at its designated grade level. Some military schools accept 9th- to 12th-graders, while others accept students as young as 5th grade. There is a list of military schools and the grade levels they accept below. You may choose for your child to spend one year at military school to see how it goes, or you may choose for them to remain until graduation.

Potential

Military schools offer students a potential career in the military. Students will already be accustomed to military lingo and rituals. They will be in physical shape and will have developed the habits to stay that way. They will also be able to explore types of military careers while in school so that they will be ready to go right from school to working for the military upon graduation. Students of military schools excel in the military as they are already mentally prepared for it. They are the most likely to work their way up the ranks and earn a great salary.

Significance

Since the costs of military schools is significant, most schools offer some form of financial aid. This may be up to 25 percent off the tuition price. If the military school's tuition is $20,000 for the school year and you qualified for financial aid, you would still be left with $15,000 to pay. In order to get the scholarship, the applying family must show financial need. This includes submitting copies of the previous year's tax statements. To find out whether the military school you are applying to has financial aid, call the admissions office. There are no grants for attending a military school, so parents will need to seek financial help in the form of a private loan.