Military School(s) in Illinois

The military schools in Illinois can number into the hundreds if the list includes the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs for each branch of the United States Military.

The few selected for inclusion demonstrate the standards, ethics and prestige these junior programs can offer students throughout the state.

In addition to the schools for primary and secondary grades, a short sampling of colleges with outstanding ROTC programs and one non-standard program is also noted.

JROTC Program Sample List

Of the dozens of JROTC programs available for Illinois youth, one of the better-known is that included in the Oak Ridge Military Academy, a boarding school for both boys and girls in south Chicago. This co-educational school that serves middle- to high school-aged kids is one of the few uniformed schools in Illinois.

Phoenix Military Academy became a Silver Ribbon winner and a Level 1 school in 2012, a very prestigious recognition and award. Additional schools that require wearing of uniforms include Carver Military Academy, Rickover Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy High School, Marine Math and Science Academy, the Marmion Academy and several others.

Military Colleges and Universities

While there are training schools for active military in Illinois, there is no active college or university that is specifically aimed at a military environment. Instead, ROTC programs enable students to be exposed to military-like life while earning financial aid that defrays much of the cost of higher education.

Illinois universities and colleges that have ROTC programs include Aurora University, the University of Chicago, DePaul University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Judson University, Lewis and Clark Community College, Illinois State University and Chicago State University.

Non-Standard Military Academy

The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program is unlike any other military environment-based learning program. While it is neither a secondary school or an undergraduate school, this is a national program that targets “at risk” youth and young adults who are primarily between 16 and 18 years of age.

Administered at state-level, the Illinois program, called Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy, is one of the most successful in the nation. Part of the graduation requirements is to complete a military skills test called the ASVAB or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. While there is no requirement to join the military upon completion of the 22-week program, almost 10 percent of graduates actually do.

The primary goal is to obtain a General Education Diploma or increase the incoming grade level by at least one step. Core ideals include academic excellence, job skills, physical fitness, leadership/“followership,” health, sex education and nutrition, responsible citizenship and community service.

Once the 22-week module is completed, involvement in the Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy doesn’t end. Each student is assigned a mentor from the school and must have regular contact for a year. This mandatory follow-up step gives stability and continuity for the young adult.