Schools for Troubled Teens
"Schools for Troubled Teens" Review--
Welcome to our school resource center where parents find the right school for
their troubled teen. If you are searching for a troubled teen school or
program, we can help with your selection.
Types of schools and programs include:
1. Boarding Schools
2. Christian Schools
3. Military Schools
4. Wilderness Programs
5. Residential Treatment Centers
6. Boot Camps
We will look at some of the pros and cons of these schools for troubled teens,
and we will make some recommendations that may be helpful in your
decision-making.
1. Boarding Schools—
Boarding schools are independent, college preparatory schools that provide
housing facilities for students and faculty. Boarding schools are sometimes
referred to as "intentional communities" because the faculty and staff at
boarding schools work very hard to create an environment for students that
is safe, academically challenging, active, and fun.
Boarding schools are well known for their academic excellence. With small
class sizes, diverse curricula, and individual attention from teachers and
advisors, the boarding school experience gives students many distinct
advantages. Boarding school students acquire the abilities that help ensure
success in college and in life.
During the academic year, boarding schools become extended families where
teachers and students live and learn together. The 24-hour community of a
boarding school environment allows the faculty to seize every teachable
moment whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or in the dormitory.
While boarding schools differ among these broad types, they also differ in
their philosophy and mission. Because no two boarding schools are alike,
matching a student with an appropriate boarding school is a big step toward
ensuring future success. We see boarding schools as a good option for
troubled teens.
2. Christian Schools—
Christian Schools Can Have a Great Influence on a Teenager. At Christian
boarding schools, your distressed teen will be able to receive proper
education and behavior modification. In addition to such training, religion will
also play a major role in your child's life. Your child won't miss out on anything
Boarding schools have been known to work wonders. Boarding schools that
focus on Christianity aren't any different. Rest assured, at Christian boarding
schools, you child will be in the best of hands.
A Typical Christian School is not to be confused with a Sunday School, or with
any other institution that exists to give children instruction in the Bible. The
Christian School is an institution, which has the function of instructing
children in the various departments of knowledge (e.g., reading, history,
science, math, and the other subjects). It does this seven hours a day, five
days a week, throughout the school year. Christian schools are a good option.
3. Military Schools—
In the past decade, our country's military has become much more selective
as to whom they will or will not accept. This trend has become even more
apparent in private military schools. In most cases a troubled teen will have
a very difficult time making it into and staying in any military school.
A recent survey of 30 traditional military schools found that only one military
school would take a student that was not willing to be there. Most military
schools will expel students that break rules. If the school has a non-
refundable tuition policy, that can be very expensive for you. Thus, we do not
recommend Military Schools for troubled teens. Military schools are simply
not a good option for teens with emotional and behavioral problems.
4. Wilderness Programs—
Wilderness programs are usually short term. They seem to have a definite
impact on the troubled teen. Typically the teen, while in the program,
sincerely feels the need to change and may even admit that he or she needs
to change their behaviors. In most cases, education consultants will
recommend a wilderness program to prepare a teen for a long-term
placement. Usually the wilderness placement alone is not long enough to
make lasting changes in the teen’s life.
Short term is a great place to start but usually needs to be followed up by
something longer in length. Some programs include a wilderness component
into their regular program. Some have more rustic type living for teens that
first come into a program, and then with appropriate choices they move into
nicer living conditions.
Wilderness programs are usually not academically accredited, because of
their short duration. There are usually some credits available that would
correspond to time in spent out in nature, but it is not a given that they will
be accepted. For this reason timing is an important factor involved with this
type of placement. If you are taking a troubled teen out of school and sending
him to a Wilderness Program, he will fall further behind in school. In most
cases, the troubled teen is not making an effort in school anyway, so this is
not a huge factor. But in the case where the troubled teen is still doing well in
school, this should be taken into consideration.
5. Residential Treatment Centers—
Some insurance companies will pay for placement in a Residential Treatment
Centers. If they do, they usually must be accredited with the Joint Hospital
Accreditation Committee or J.H.A.C.O. To be J.H.A.C.O. approved there are
more requirements that need to be met than just being licensed as a
Residential Treatment Center facility. Usually an insurance company will pay
for around 30 or 60 days in this type facility. This sometimes is more like a
vacation for the teen. The other drawback is the fact that it is short term.
Short term is typically not adequate to help make lasting changes in a teen’s
life. Also, Residential Treatment Centers are typically more of a medical type
placement rather than a boarding school placement.
There are long-term Residential Treatment Centers that will in some cases
qualify for insurance coverage if the insurance company will work with you.
Residential Treatment Centers vary in price as well as typical length of stay.
Sometimes a program will have two different price structures. They will have
one program price for insured families and one program for non-insured
families. The program is in essence giving a discount to the family for bearing
the total financial burden of their teens care. It is good to find out if and what
your insurance plan will cover before you begin the process of searching for a
Residential Treatment Center.
6. Boot Camps—
Boot camps are military-style institutions for defiant and disrespectful teens
who have a problem with authority. They learn discipline and structure
through military exercises, and rigorous physical training.
The theory of boot camp is that a swift "kick in the pants" will turn around a
child who has probably been acting out for years. But in a lot of cases, just a
short-term boot camp will not be enough for a teen to turn his or her life
around. Boot camps work great if they are followed by a boarding school or
other longer-term program.
Privately owned boot camps seem to have a greater affect on teenagers.
Surprisingly, the recidivism rate of juveniles who attend state-run boot
camps has been said to be as high as 94%, while overall privately owned boot
camps have a much lower rate. Boot camps can also be long term (military
based boarding schools) or short boot camps (summer boot camps).
Overall, boot camps usually have a definite impact on a teen especially the
defiant and disrespectful ones. However, for a lasting change to take place, a
boot camp usually needs to be followed by a longer-term program such as a
boarding school.
Welcome to our school resource center where parents find the right school for
their troubled teen. If you are searching for a troubled teen school or
program, we can help with your selection.
Types of schools and programs include:
1. Boarding Schools
2. Christian Schools
3. Military Schools
4. Wilderness Programs
5. Residential Treatment Centers
6. Boot Camps
We will look at some of the pros and cons of these schools for troubled teens,
and we will make some recommendations that may be helpful in your
decision-making.
1. Boarding Schools—
Boarding schools are independent, college preparatory schools that provide
housing facilities for students and faculty. Boarding schools are sometimes
referred to as "intentional communities" because the faculty and staff at
boarding schools work very hard to create an environment for students that
is safe, academically challenging, active, and fun.
Boarding schools are well known for their academic excellence. With small
class sizes, diverse curricula, and individual attention from teachers and
advisors, the boarding school experience gives students many distinct
advantages. Boarding school students acquire the abilities that help ensure
success in college and in life.
During the academic year, boarding schools become extended families where
teachers and students live and learn together. The 24-hour community of a
boarding school environment allows the faculty to seize every teachable
moment whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or in the dormitory.
While boarding schools differ among these broad types, they also differ in
their philosophy and mission. Because no two boarding schools are alike,
matching a student with an appropriate boarding school is a big step toward
ensuring future success. We see boarding schools as a good option for
troubled teens.
2. Christian Schools—
Christian Schools Can Have a Great Influence on a Teenager. At Christian
boarding schools, your distressed teen will be able to receive proper
education and behavior modification. In addition to such training, religion will
also play a major role in your child's life. Your child won't miss out on anything
Boarding schools have been known to work wonders. Boarding schools that
focus on Christianity aren't any different. Rest assured, at Christian boarding
schools, you child will be in the best of hands.
A Typical Christian School is not to be confused with a Sunday School, or with
any other institution that exists to give children instruction in the Bible. The
Christian School is an institution, which has the function of instructing
children in the various departments of knowledge (e.g., reading, history,
science, math, and the other subjects). It does this seven hours a day, five
days a week, throughout the school year. Christian schools are a good option.
3. Military Schools—
In the past decade, our country's military has become much more selective
as to whom they will or will not accept. This trend has become even more
apparent in private military schools. In most cases a troubled teen will have
a very difficult time making it into and staying in any military school.
A recent survey of 30 traditional military schools found that only one military
school would take a student that was not willing to be there. Most military
schools will expel students that break rules. If the school has a non-
refundable tuition policy, that can be very expensive for you. Thus, we do not
recommend Military Schools for troubled teens. Military schools are simply
not a good option for teens with emotional and behavioral problems.
4. Wilderness Programs—
Wilderness programs are usually short term. They seem to have a definite
impact on the troubled teen. Typically the teen, while in the program,
sincerely feels the need to change and may even admit that he or she needs
to change their behaviors. In most cases, education consultants will
recommend a wilderness program to prepare a teen for a long-term
placement. Usually the wilderness placement alone is not long enough to
make lasting changes in the teen’s life.
Short term is a great place to start but usually needs to be followed up by
something longer in length. Some programs include a wilderness component
into their regular program. Some have more rustic type living for teens that
first come into a program, and then with appropriate choices they move into
nicer living conditions.
Wilderness programs are usually not academically accredited, because of
their short duration. There are usually some credits available that would
correspond to time in spent out in nature, but it is not a given that they will
be accepted. For this reason timing is an important factor involved with this
type of placement. If you are taking a troubled teen out of school and sending
him to a Wilderness Program, he will fall further behind in school. In most
cases, the troubled teen is not making an effort in school anyway, so this is
not a huge factor. But in the case where the troubled teen is still doing well in
school, this should be taken into consideration.
5. Residential Treatment Centers—
Some insurance companies will pay for placement in a Residential Treatment
Centers. If they do, they usually must be accredited with the Joint Hospital
Accreditation Committee or J.H.A.C.O. To be J.H.A.C.O. approved there are
more requirements that need to be met than just being licensed as a
Residential Treatment Center facility. Usually an insurance company will pay
for around 30 or 60 days in this type facility. This sometimes is more like a
vacation for the teen. The other drawback is the fact that it is short term.
Short term is typically not adequate to help make lasting changes in a teen’s
life. Also, Residential Treatment Centers are typically more of a medical type
placement rather than a boarding school placement.
There are long-term Residential Treatment Centers that will in some cases
qualify for insurance coverage if the insurance company will work with you.
Residential Treatment Centers vary in price as well as typical length of stay.
Sometimes a program will have two different price structures. They will have
one program price for insured families and one program for non-insured
families. The program is in essence giving a discount to the family for bearing
the total financial burden of their teens care. It is good to find out if and what
your insurance plan will cover before you begin the process of searching for a
Residential Treatment Center.
6. Boot Camps—
Boot camps are military-style institutions for defiant and disrespectful teens
who have a problem with authority. They learn discipline and structure
through military exercises, and rigorous physical training.
The theory of boot camp is that a swift "kick in the pants" will turn around a
child who has probably been acting out for years. But in a lot of cases, just a
short-term boot camp will not be enough for a teen to turn his or her life
around. Boot camps work great if they are followed by a boarding school or
other longer-term program.
Privately owned boot camps seem to have a greater affect on teenagers.
Surprisingly, the recidivism rate of juveniles who attend state-run boot
camps has been said to be as high as 94%, while overall privately owned boot
camps have a much lower rate. Boot camps can also be long term (military
based boarding schools) or short boot camps (summer boot camps).
Overall, boot camps usually have a definite impact on a teen especially the
defiant and disrespectful ones. However, for a lasting change to take place, a
boot camp usually needs to be followed by a longer-term program such as a
boarding school.
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