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Boot Camps & Military Schools in Vermont
As a parent, it’s frustrating to watch your teenager make choices that could harm himself, others or his future. It’s your job to provide guidance on how he can get his life back on track, but where can you turn for solid advice? HelpYourTeenNow is a parent advocate group dedicated to consolidating quality information about the teen help industry and passing on resources for reputable programs, enrollment advice, funding details and more. We’ve been in your shoes—as parents of at-risk teens, our network of experts can guide you on the pros and cons of each program and make recommendations that best fit your family’s needs. Call HelpYourTeenNow to sign up for your free telephone consultation.
Military Schools and Boot Camps Aren’t the Best Option for Troubled Teens
Many parents falsely believe that military schools and wilderness boot camps are the only option when it comes to fixing what’s wrong with troubled teenagers. However, real military schools are elite learning institutions with a focus on college prep, and boot camps are short-term, highly regimented outdoor programs designed to force kids to bend to authority rather than resolve deep-seated issues. Most experts agree that neither of these programs are the right place for troubled teens, so don’t enroll your child in a military school or boot camp—instead, look at other options.
Vermont Regulatory Laws
All residential treatment facilities and 24-hour care programs must comply with licensing requirements set out by the Vermont Department for Children and Families through the Family Services Division.
Vermont has few requirements for private schools to operate, including no accreditation, registration or licensing. The Vermont State Board of Education can approve private schools that apply (16 VSA §828) and these schools must meet the Board of Education’s requirements for curriculum (16 VSA §166(b). Private school teachers in Vermont do not have to be state certified (State Board Manual of Rules and Practices 2228.3.2).
(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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Vermont Regulatory Laws
All residential treatment facilities and 24-hour care programs must comply with licensing requirements set out by the Vermont Department for Children and Families through the Family Services Division.
Vermont has few requirements for private schools to operate, including no accreditation, registration or licensing. The Vermont State Board of Education can approve private schools that apply (16 VSA §828) and these schools must meet the Board of Education’s requirements for curriculum (16 VSA §166(b). Private school teachers in Vermont do not have to be state certified (State Board Manual of Rules and Practices 2228.3.2).
(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 Vermont Teens
ADD/ADHD
- 9.1%
9.1 percent of children in Vermont, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).
TEEN PREGNANCY
- 7%
The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Vermont 7 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
- 13.5%
Vermont ranks 29th with a suicide rate of 13.5 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/VT
DRUG USE
- 14.65%
In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Vermont, about 14.65% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.
ALCOHOL USE
- 14.65%
Approximately 14.65% of teens in Vermont suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).
TEEN VAPING
- 26.4%
Vermont ranks 16th among all states, with 26.4% 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!
The best advice and input you can get about placing your teen in a residential therapy facility is from other parents who have gone through the same experience. At HelpYourTeenNow, you can access the information we’ve gathered over the years and apply it to your situation. We aren’t affiliated with any teen therapy program or school—we just want to help families like ours get answer, get help and get healed. Call HelpYourTeenNow for a free consultation about military schools and boot camps, and why they may not be the best choice for your at-risk teen. We’ll help you work through the issues and arrive at a solution that will benefit your whole family.