The academy is part of a growing trend, in Philadelphia and other cities, of military schools that are part of the public school system, most of them in low-income areas with black and Hispanic residents. Two more public military academies are scheduled to open in Philadelphia in the next two school years, and student interest is already overwhelming. According to Col. Russell Gallagher, director of Philadelphia's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, some 2,000 applicants have applied for 125 spots for September in the city military academies.
Chicago now has three public Army-oriented high schools with more than 1,600 students, and officials plan to open a public naval academy in September. The city also has eight military academies within regular high schools.
"I'm the biggest fan of small schools everywhere, and the military academy option is very attractive," said Arne Duncan, chief executive officer of the Chicago public schools. "It helps to define a culture, and many students thrive in that culture."
In recent years public and charter military academies have also opened in California, Minnesota, Maryland and Florida, and officials say there is interest elsewhere.
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