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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Tennessee
HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group that guides other parents in gathering information about teen therapy programs, including military schools and boot camps. We offer resources to parents of at-risk teens about all kinds of therapeutic and behavioral rehabilitation programs via a free consultation by phone. HelpYourTeenNow has resources from parents who have enrolled their children in various programs and have experience in which programs have a better track record of success.
Military Schools and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Option for Troubled Teens
When your teenager starts engaging in risky, harmful, violent and destructive behavior, you may feel like your only option is to find the nearest military school or boot camp and enroll your children right away. Help for your teen needs to happen over the long term, by certified professionals in a residential and therapeutic setting, not in a military-style academic institution or a private outdoor boot camp. There are many other options for at-risk teens besides military schools and book camps.
Tennessee Regulatory Laws
The Tennessee Department of Health, a part of the Division of Health Care Facilities, regulates and licenses residential care facilities for children and teens.
Private schools in Tennessee do not have to become accredited but do need to be registered to operate in the state. If a private school is church-sponsored, it must be accredited by a verifiable Christian school association (TCA 49-50-801). Tennessee private schools are placed into categories set up by the Board of Education—these categories are I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII (TCA 49-50-801 and TCA 49-50-801). A school that is Category I and VII must only hire teachers that meet state licensing and certification standards. Schools that are Category II and II must hire teachers that simply meet the standards set forth by the individual school. Schools that are Category IV and V must only hire teachers with bachelor’s degrees. Category I, II and VII schools are obliged to meet the state’s graduation requirements (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2). Each category of school must comply with a certain set of testing standards (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2) and (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2).
(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
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Educational Recources
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Tennessee Regulatory Laws
The Tennessee Department of Health, a part of the Division of Health Care Facilities, regulates and licenses residential care facilities for children and teens.
Private schools in Tennessee do not have to become accredited but do need to be registered to operate in the state. If a private school is church-sponsored, it must be accredited by a verifiable Christian school association (TCA 49-50-801). Tennessee private schools are placed into categories set up by the Board of Education—these categories are I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII (TCA 49-50-801 and TCA 49-50-801). A school that is Category I and VII must only hire teachers that meet state licensing and certification standards. Schools that are Category II and II must hire teachers that simply meet the standards set forth by the individual school. Schools that are Category IV and V must only hire teachers with bachelor’s degrees. Category I, II and VII schools are obliged to meet the state’s graduation requirements (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2). Each category of school must comply with a certain set of testing standards (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2) and (State Board of Education Rule No. 0520-7-2).
(U.S. Department of Education, State Regulation of Private Schools, 2009)
Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf
Educational Recources
Statistics for At-Risk Tennessee Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 10.4%
10.4 percent of children in Tennessee, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 23.3%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Tennessee is 23.3 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
- 11.2%
Tennessee ranks 20th with a suicide rate of 11.2 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/TN
DRUG USE
- 6.78%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Tennessee, about 6.78% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 9.10%
Approximately 9.10% of teens in Tennessee suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
TEEN VAPING
- 22.1%
Tennessee ranks 26th among all states, with 22.1% 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!
HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group that wants to help parents across the country in dealing with their at-risk teen. We work with you over the phone to analyze the differences between the teen help programs, from military schools and boot camps to alternative high schools and therapeutic boarding schools. HelpYourTeenNow will help match your family with a program that is best for you and meets your family’s needs. The right treatment plan can help your teen make better choices, turn away from destructive behavior and learn to face life’s challenges in a healthy, appropriate way.