Evaluating Schools

Why Consider a Military School? (2025 Update)

Military boarding schools offer more than uniforms and drills—they combine academic rigor with structure, leadership training, and a strong values-based education. For families considering this option in 2025, here’s what has changed, what remains timeless, and why these schools continue to prepare students for college and beyond.

Academics, Structure, and Character

Today’s military schools are college-preparatory institutions first and foremost. Students follow rigorous academic schedules that include Advanced Placement courses, SAT/ACT preparation, and leadership-oriented curricula such as JROTC.

The Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the U.S. emphasizes that military schools prioritize honor, integrity, discipline, and duty—values intentionally built into daily routines, from morning formations to academic study halls (AMCSUS).

This structured environment fosters resilience and accountability, qualities that many parents find increasingly valuable in today’s less-structured educational landscape.

Updated Outcomes and Student Success

Military schools consistently demonstrate strong outcomes for graduates.

• Surveys show 87% of military boarding school students feel academically prepared for college, compared to lower percentages at public and private day schools (Military School USA).

• 78% report being well-prepared for non-academic demands, such as time management, independence, and leadership—skills often overlooked in traditional schools.

This combination of academic rigor and real-world readiness makes military schools attractive for families who want balanced preparation.

Who Benefits Most?

Military schools are particularly effective for students who thrive under structure or need consistency amid frequent change.

Children of active-duty service members, for

A Glimpse into Boarding School Life at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy

Introduction

Nestled amid Hawai‘i Island’s unique landscapes, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) offers boarding and day students a blend of rigorous academics, real-world learning, and vibrant community living. As of 2025, here’s a refreshed look into life at HPA—for parents evaluating a transformative educational setting for their child.

School Overview & Enrollment

Founded in 1949, HPA serves students from kindergarten through grade 12, including a postgraduate year. It spans two campuses—the Village Campus for lower and middle school, and the Upper Campus set against the Kohala Mountains. Accreditations include NAIS, WASC, and HAIS Wikipediahais.us.

Enrollment stands near 600 students. Approximately 45% are boarding, with the balance attending as day students. Roughly 40% of financial aid recipients receive support through awards averaging 39% of tuition Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy+2

The Gifted Student

Oxford Languages defines gifted as "having exceptional talent or natural ability." You've been aware for a long time that your child is gifted. She reads several grade levels above her grade and is passionate about robotics. She socializes well, and is liked by her teachers and classmates. The problem is that your local public school doesn't have the resources to stretch her and allow her to achieve her full potential. So, you are looking at boarding schools as an option for expanding her intellectual horizons.

Signs of Giftedness in Children Include:

• an extreme need for constant mental stimulation
• an ability to learn and process complex information rapidly
• a need to explore subjects in surprising depth
• an insatiable curiosity, as demonstrated by endless questions and inquiries
• ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers
• surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age
• enthusiastic about unique interests and topics
• quirky or mature sense of humor
• creative problem solving and imaginative expression
• absorbs information quickly with few repetitions needed
• self-aware, socially aware, and aware of global issues

Source: Davidson Institute

So, I can tell you as a parent of two gifted daughters, boarding school is an excellent option. We lived in rural Litchfield County, Connecticut. The local regional school system was very good but had limited resources. There was no internet in those days. So, we encouraged reading lots of books and added enrichment activities. But, again, we soon exhausted those scarce resources. Boarding school ended up being

Will your child be going to high school in a few years? Are you considering the academic options available in your local public and private schools? If so, then I recommend that you take this IB quiz. It will help you decide which is the best college prep approach for your child.

In education, one size does not fit all because children learn differently. Some children do well in a school offering a curriculum centered around Advanced Placement courses and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation. Others thrive in the non-traditional educational experience that progressive schools offer. Some children find that the International Baccalaureate program's substantial academic experience is the right option for them. Your answers to the following questions will help you make the right decisions about your child's academic future and preparation for college.

Why should I consider a boarding school that offers the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme?

You should consider sending your child to a boarding school that offers the International Baccalaureate® Programme or IB as it is affectionately called. First of all, you have decided that you want your child to learn how to do serious academic work in high school so that she is well-prepared for the rigors of tertiary-level academic work. Secondly, you are uncomfortable with the idea of her only learning how to do well on tests. Thirdly, you want her to develop superior writing and research skills.

Where is the IB Diploma Programme offered?

Most American public and private high

New York Times columnist Frank Bruni has written a very useful book about college admissions entitled Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. As you can see from the title, Bruni's audience is parents and possibly students who are considering and applying to college. Yet, as I read the book, I began to see many similarities between private K-12 school admissions and college admissions. I suggest that you read this book, which will clarify your thinking as you go through the process of selecting a private school for your child. Bruni's insights will also prepare you for the months and years ahead when you and your child will be dealing with the mysteries of college admissions. In the meantime, let's look at some of the things about college admissions that Frank Bruni points out, which are remarkably similar to what we will find in private school admissions.

Treatment of legacies

Affirmative Action for the Rich: Legacy Preferences in College Admissions by Richard D. Kahlenberg and The Price of Admission by Daniel Golden are two additional books about legacy admissions. These authors go into great detail and cite many sources to support their arguments.

What is a legacy? A legacy is an applicant to a school who has a relative or relatives who attended the same school. You will find legacies in both private K-12 schools as well as at the college level. Kahlenberg and Golden