Are military schools for girls the solution for ‘troubled teens’?

“I need to ask millennials – why are your kids so awful?”

Many educators and customer-facing workers like TikToker Alanna Dinh have expressed concerns about Gen Alpha children, citing a lack of discipline and proper education. The generation is being called disrespectful, illiterate – 67% of fourth-graders aren’t proficient in reading – and downright aggressive. Pressing, to say the least, if you’re a parent.

When traditional schools aren’t working out for troubled teenagers, especially girls, many parents are forced to look into alternatives.

And one option that stands out is military schools for girls.

While not necessarily affiliated with the military itself, military schools are named for their structured approach to daily life. They’re seen as the best at instilling discipline, “correcting” negative behaviour, and helping “difficult” students prepare for college. 

And they’re not just exclusively for boys, either. At least, not anymore.

Can a girl go to military school?

The short answer is yes, of course. 

While traditionally a male-dominated domain, more military schools for girls are popping up in recent decades. 

The first time doors opened for women at West Point, the US Naval Academy (USNA), the US Air Force Academy (USAFA), and the US Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), women weren’t that welcome just yet.

“In one class, the guys would put their feet on the tables so that I couldn’t get to a seat,” said Patricia Whitney, who was part of the second class of women at the USNA. “I had to climb over the tables.”

Whitney also recalled men constantly looking for reasons to justify why women weren’t as qualified as them, yelling at her and her friends in the hallways, calling them derogatory names and making fun of their appearances.

“In both my military and civilian careers, I definitely had to prove myself in a way most males do not,” she admitted. “It’s difficult when people feel like you’re the token female, so it was common for me to stay longer at work and push harder to ensure they saw me as capable.”

Things have changed a lot since. Now, more than ever, these institutions offer educational and professional development opportunities that were once not afforded to young girls.

Sometimes, even more than what’s offered to their male counterparts, especially if you’re attending one of the best military schools for girls.

Take Culver Academies, for example. You have male graduates holding positions in the US Air Force Academy or leadership roles across business industries, but its girls also go on to become excellent entrepreneurs, engineers, and even world-champion wrestlers.

“Culver blends leadership into every aspect of our experiences here,” says Natalia Somma Tang, a Culver graduate. “The system allows us to shine best in our own strengths and identities.”

Interested in learning more about military schools for girls? Here’s how some countries do it:

Where do military schools exist for girls?

US

It was in 1975 when former US President Gerald R Ford signed Public Law 94-106, allowing women to be admitted to all-male military colleges. A total of 119 women made history the following year, as they became the first female candidates to join the US Military Academy West Point.

Today, there are about 20 co-ed military schools in the US; eight are co-ed, none for only girls.

These include Culver Academies, TMI Episcopal, Massanutten Military Academy, New York Military Academy, Oak Ridge Military Academy, Randolph-Macon Academy, and Valley Forge Military Academy & College – all are K-12 boarding schools.

India

An all-girl military school exists in India. The Samvid Gurukulam Girls Sainik School is the country’s first female-only military academy that aims to encourage and motivate young women with ambitions to serve in the armed forces and protect the country.

Established in 2024, the all-girls military school is a key initiative of the larger effort to create 100 new Sainik Schools (a public schooling system in India established and managed under the country’s Ministry of Defence) and is set to host around 870 students.

Russia

While India is only just taking baby steps into creating a military school environment exclusively for girls, Russia is way ahead of them.

Russia opened its first all-female military school in 2004. The Moscow Girls Cadet Boarding School No. 9 is a pre-university with goals to bring back cadet education abandoned after the Soviet era.

These girls are trained for traditional domestic and military roles.

There are cooking, sewing, and other housekeeping lessons in one class, then cleaning, loading, and (even) firing AK-47s in another.

France

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces established six military high schools, also known as the lycées de la Défense in their native language, spread across the country.

These defense high schools are usually reserved for children of French nationality, with priority given to families of military personnel, employees of the armed forces, and civil servants from other ministries.

Only 15% of their intake is open to the public.

What are the benefits of military school for girls and boys?

Modern military schools are evolving to reflect a more inclusive and holistic environment, allowing children and teenagers of all genders and backgrounds to thrive.

Within a structured military environment, teenagers can participate in training, develop deep friendships, and take on leadership roles and responsibilities, becoming confident and capable cadets.

Let’s break down the top three benefits.

Building self-esteem

Leadership is a strong focus – these schools are committed to fostering a sense of empowerment in young girls and boys. Through structured training and responsibilities, students build confidence in their abilities, learning to take initiative and make decisive choices.

This is particularly important in military schools for girls, as women struggle more with self-esteem as compared to their male counterparts. These young ladies are encouraged to think for themselves, achieve their goals, and develop their self-worth.

Discipline done smarter

There is now little place for harsh discipline that simply exists to punish. You most likely won’t find concepts like detention here.

In today’s military schools for girls and boys, they take a different route. Students are encouraged to foster self-discipline through strict schedules, clear hierarchy systems, and other character-building methods. 

They learn to understand that the actions they take have consequences, and they must hold themselves accountable for their own behaviour. 

Becoming independent

Independence is always a good trait to have, especially for those preparing to graduate and go beyond for higher education or training roles in the military. 

As most military institutions are also full-time boarding schools, your child will be forced to grow, adapt, and learn to handle life outside of home. 

Your child will be required to take charge of their own schedule, managing their time for academics, physical training, and personal responsibilities without constant supervision. 

Bonus: Breaking barriers

More applicable in military schools for girls, which welcome young women who wish to develop academic, athletic, and leadership excellence.

These institutes are committed to female empowerment, providing the means for them to face obstacles, lead exercises, and have faith in their skills.

This approach has produced many ambitious women who have made groundbreaking history, such as Pat Locke, the first Black woman to become a military academy graduate.

What are the downsides of military schools for girls?

In a study comparing military students’ stress levels to that of civilian college students, it was evident that the former lack stress management skills, which often result in poorer physical, performance, and mental health.

Here are three other reasons why enrolling in a military schools for girls might not be a good idea.

Case of bullying

Bullying is an issue that often pops up in military schools.

French newspaper Libération unveiled a major report on extreme misogyny in one of the country’s most elite military schools, Lycée militaire de Saint-Cyr.

It detailed severe sexism and daily harassment against female cadets, often excusing it as hazing instead of bullying.

“I am ashamed that I wanted to go in an army which is not ready to receive women,” a second-year student in the school says. “I have learnt that to be a woman ruins a career,”

Expensive

Public military schools like West Point are funded by the state and do not charge admission.

Tuition at most military boarding schools ranges from about US$25,000 to US$50,000 per year.
That does not include uniform costs, which will have you paying between US$1,000 to US$4,000, special programmes, and military equipment you will use during lessons.

Far from home

Although most countries have military schools, most of them are for boys. Finding a co-ed military school is difficult enough, let alone military schools for girls.

If there is one, it is usually not in central cities. In most cases, these schools are located far from anything that can distract them from their training.