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Boot Camps & Military Schools in South Carolina
If you feel you are out of options for disciplining your struggling teen, you may have considered enrolling them in military school or boot camp. Choosing full-time behavioral care for your child can be overwhelming, and it is important to know the details and differences between the teen help programs available so that you can make an informed choice. Help Your Teen Now is a parent advocacy group dedicated to helping parents just like you choose the facility that will most benefit your troubled teen. We offer a free phone consultation and family assessment to direct you to the resources that will be the most helpful. Call us today to get started.
Boot Camps Are Not The Best Option for Troubled Teens from South Carolina
Military schools and boot camps are often not the best solution to correct the behavior of a troubled teen. There are a variety of factors to consider before choosing a facility. Military schools employ a strict regimen and schedule, however they are designed as academic facilities for students who would like to train for officer services in the military. Troubled teens will not be accommodated if they do not accept authority. Boot camps have a similar military style schedule, however they are remedial, non-academic, non-therapeutic and short term. These programs have consistently proven unregulated and potentially unsafe without significant long-term results. At Help Your Teen Now, we encourage parents to select an option that will address the therapeutic needs of their children while keeping them on track educationally. There are a variety of alternative and therapeutic boarding schools that may be a better match for your teen’s needs. Contact us today to discuss the options and programs in your area.
South Carolina Regulatory Laws
Accreditation is optional for private facilities in South Carolina. However, as long as the school is a member school of the South Carolina Independent School Association or equal organization, accreditation is an option that will satisfy South Carolina’s compulsory attendance statute. Accredited schools are governed by their accrediting organizations and must meet specific criteria regarding teacher certification, curriculum and other areas that state law does not regulate for nonpublic schools. Students may also attend parochial, denominational, and church-related schools to satisfy the attendance requirement. S.C. Code §59-65-10(A).
The Attorney General has determined that the State Board of Education has the authority to establish standards for private school approval. 1967-68 Ops. Atty. Gen., No. 2585, p. 291. The Department of Health and Environmental Control will inspect the health and sanitation standards of nonpublic schools. 982 Op. Atty. Gen., No. 82-10, p. 12.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
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Educational Recources
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South Carolina Regulatory Laws
Accreditation is optional for private facilities in South Carolina. However, as long as the school is a member school of the South Carolina Independent School Association or equal organization, accreditation is an option that will satisfy South Carolina’s compulsory attendance statute. Accredited schools are governed by their accrediting organizations and must meet specific criteria regarding teacher certification, curriculum and other areas that state law does not regulate for nonpublic schools. Students may also attend parochial, denominational, and church-related schools to satisfy the attendance requirement. S.C. Code §59-65-10(A).
The Attorney General has determined that the State Board of Education has the authority to establish standards for private school approval. 1967-68 Ops. Atty. Gen., No. 2585, p. 291. The Department of Health and Environmental Control will inspect the health and sanitation standards of nonpublic schools. 982 Op. Atty. Gen., No. 82-10, p. 12.
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Educational Recources
Statistics for At-Risk South Carolina Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 11.1%
11.1 percent of children in South Carolina, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 9.3%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in South Carolina is 9.3 per 1,000 females in this age group, according to the World Population Review.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teen-pregnancy-rates-by-state
TEEN SUICIDE
- 12.9%
South Carolina ranks 31st with a suicide rate of 12.9 deaths per 100,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19, according to data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Files (2020–2022).
https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/teen_suicide/SC
DRUG USE
- 8.11%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In South Carolina, about 8.11% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#south-carolina
ALCOHOL USE
- 8.89%
Approximately 8.89% of teens in South Carolina suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#south-carolina
TEEN VAPING
- 21.1%
South Carolina ranks 30th among all states, with 21.1% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).
TEEN PORNOGRAPHY
- 57%
The porn industry experienced a 12.6% annual revenue increase from 2018 to 2023. Adolescent exposure to pornography has steadily risen, with the age of first exposure becoming increasingly younger. 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn monthly or more often.
TEEN BULLYING
- 46%
According to Pew Research Center, 46% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have experienced at least one of six types of cyberbullying behaviors. (Pew Research Center, 2022).
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/
Summary
We Can Help!
If you are considering military school and juvenile boot camp as an answer to your teen’s behavioral issues, we may be able to help you find a better option for your child. Call us to take the free family assessment and consultation so we can direct you toward the programs and resources that you actually need. Take the step today to put your teen on the path to better behavior and becoming a successful adult.