Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/chicagos-military-academies-raise-education-debate Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Elizabeth Brackett reports on a controversial program that has some of Chicago's public schools following the model of military academies, and the debate over whether it is an effective way to boost student performance in tough urban neighborhoods. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JUDY WOODRUFF: Now, using public school military academies to teach leadership and boost test scores in low-income urban neighborhoods. NewsHour correspondent Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago has our report. ELIZABETH BRACKETT, NewsHour Correspondent: The cadets at the Marine Military Academy in Chicago listen up as commands are given. One hundred and twenty eight students attend the new school, the fifth in the Chicago public school system to adopt a military model.The program is led by Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rick Mills. RICK MILLS, Chicago Public Schools: The purpose of the military academy programs is to offer our cadets and parents an educational choice among many choices in Chicago public schools and to provide an educational experience that has a college prep curriculum, combined with a military curriculum. ELIZABETH BRACKETT: Over 10,000 Chicago high school students now wear a military uniform to class.The program began in 1999, when the Chicago Military Academy opened in conjunction with the Army Junior ROTC. It was the first military model public school in the nation.That was followed by two more Army military academies, then the Rickover Naval Academy. In addition, four other public schools have Army military academies within them. Plus, there are three dozen traditional Junior ROTC high school programs and 20 middle school programs.Marine Academy principal and former Army officer Paul Stroh says the schools have a clear mission. PAUL STROH, Marine Military Academy: We're trying to produce a student that is prepared for post-secondary education and that eventually will become a leader in their community, on the city or the state or even at the national level. ELIZABETH BRACKETT: Parents and students at the Marine Military Academy thought the school would give them a leg up. PATRICK NGUYEN, Marine Military Academy Parent: I think it's a great opportunity for her to learn things that you don't learn in a regular school, such as leadership and citizenship. You get to do things such as lead a class. You get to do some of the other things that aren't really specifically military-based, but things that you can apply in your life afterwards. JESSIKA NGUYEN, Marine Military Academy: I really like that you have a chance to be a leader. And they said that every — by the time you graduate, every student will have the chance to take a leadership position. And I thought that was really interesting. JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ, Marine Military Academy Parent: Basically the structure of discipline, if they are going to be disciplined in the manner of the military school. ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, Marine Military Academy: I like the physical training, and I like that we could become leaders and we know every student. No bullies, none of that, so it's real cool.