Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy
Los Alamitos, CA
"Dream. Believe. Achieve."
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Free Intervention Program for At-Risk Youth Ages 16-18
At a Glance
Established
2008
Program Type
Youth Challenge
Administered By
National Guard
State
California
Accreditations
The Verdict
Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy represents a second chance for Southern California teens who have fallen behind. Unlike programs that only offer GED credentials, Sunburst cadets can earn an actual high school diploma—up to 65 credits in just 5.5 months, equivalent to a full year of traditional high school.
With a 90% positive placement rate post-graduation and a transformative academic track record (cadets typically enter with 1.3-2.0 GPAs and graduate with 3.7-4.0), Sunburst has become one of California's most successful intervention programs. The 17.5-month total commitment includes 12 months of post-residential mentorship, ensuring graduates don't just complete the program—they succeed afterward.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy is a tuition-free, 5.5-month residential military-style high school operated by the California National Guard in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education. Located on Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, the program serves at-risk youth ages 16-18 who are behind in credits, helping them earn up to 65 high school credits while developing leadership, discipline, and life skills. Since 2008, over 5,000 students have graduated from the program.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
developmental
Key Requirements
- Must volunteer for the program (no court-ordered placements)
- Must be 16-18 years old (16 by first day, cannot turn 19 before program start)
- Must be a legal resident of the United States and California
- Must be at-risk of dropping out or credit deficient
- Must be free from serious involvement with the law
- No felony charges or pending court proceedings
- Must be drug-free and pass physical examination
- Must have parent/guardian consent if under 18
Location
Program Details
Eligible Ages
16-18 years old
Residential Phase
22 weeks
Mentorship Phase
12 months
Cost
FREE
Annual Enrollment
228
Gender
coed
Eligibility
State Resident
Participation
Voluntary
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Highly structured military-style day begins at 5:15 AM and ends at 8:00 PM lights out. The schedule includes reveille, physical training, breakfast, classroom instruction, lunch, continued academics, life skills training, dinner, and evening activities. Cadets have no access to social media, television, or contact with the outside world during the 5.5-month residential phase. The environment promotes complete focus on personal development and academic achievement.
Discipline Model
Military-style quasi-boot camp environment with rank advancement system. Cadets begin in gray uniforms and earn advancement through academic and personal achievement. Living quarters are gender-separated platoons. The structured environment emphasizes discipline, accountability, and peer leadership. The program is not punitive—it's a voluntary intervention focused on building self-discipline and positive habits.
Program Outcomes
Success Metrics
90% positive placement rate (employment, education, volunteering, or military service totaling 30+ hours weekly)
Post-Program Pathways
Program focuses on GED/high school diploma completion; graduates pursue diverse paths including military enlistment, community college, and workforce entry
Note: Youth Challenge programs focus on GED completion, credit recovery, and life skills development—not traditional college prep metrics.
Physical Training
Physical Fitness Program
Daily physical training is a core component of the program. Cadets participate in morning PT sessions, team-building exercises, and challenging activities like the high ropes course. Physical fitness is one of the eight core components of the Youth Challenge curriculum, designed to build endurance, discipline, and confidence.
Physical Activities
Facilities
Located on Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, cadets have access to military-grade training facilities. The campus includes the Congresswoman Grace Napolitano Outdoor Learning Center (dedicated May 2025), a $500,000 outdoor learning space with permanent shade coverings and hardscaped surfaces. Additional facilities include barracks housing, classrooms, physical training areas, and access to base amenities.
Note: Youth Challenge programs emphasize physical fitness as one of the Eight Core Components, focusing on building endurance, strength, and healthy habits rather than varsity athletics.
Related Schools
Discovery Challenge Academy
Lathrop, CA
The mission of the Discovery Challenge Academy National Guard Challenge Program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of teens, ages 16-18, at risk of not graduating on time, through programs that develop life skills, values, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Grizzly Youth Academy
San Luis Obispo, CA
Grizzly Youth Academy is a partnership between the California National Guard and the Grizzly Challenge Charter School. The mission of the program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old students at risk of dropping out, providing them with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens.
Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy
Carlin, NV
The mission of the Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy is to reclaim the potential of qualified and resilient youth through education, training, and service to the community.
Oregon Youth Challenge High School
Bend, OR
The Oregon Youth Challenge Program (OYCP) is a 17-month National Guard intervention program established in 1999 to help Oregon teens aged 15-18 who have dropped out or fallen behind academically. The program combines a rigorous 22-week residential phase with 24 months of post-residential mentoring, providing a highly structured quasi-military environment where cadets can recover credits, earn high school diplomas or GEDs, and develop the values, life skills, and self-discipline necessary to become productive citizens.
Alaska Military Youth Academy
JBER, AK
The Alaska Military Youth Academy is a National Guard Youth Challenge Program that helps at-risk youth develop self-confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and life-coping skills.
Appalachian Challenge Academy
Grays Knob, KY
To intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16 - 18 year old Kentuckians and produce program graduates with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in society.
Guides & Resources
California's Public Military Schools: The Tuition-Free Alternative
California has a unique concentration of tuition-free public military academies and charter schools. How to navigate the lottery system and find the right free option.
National Guard Youth Challenge Academies: What to Expect
A parent's guide to Youth Challenge programs—free residential programs for at-risk teens ages 16-18 run by the National Guard.
Free Military Schools: Your Complete Guide to No-Tuition Options
Yes, free military schools exist. Public academies, charter schools, service academies, and Youth Challenge programs offer tuition-free military education—each with different requirements and trade-offs.
Military School vs. Therapeutic Boarding: Knowing the Difference
A critical guide for parents of struggling teens. We clarify the stark difference between the discipline-based structure of a military school and the clinical intervention of a therapeutic program.
The Service Academy & ROTC Roadmap
The complete guide to winning appointments and scholarships. Congressional nominations, DoDMERB medical exams, ROTC scholarship timelines—everything you need for the military officer path.
Military Schools for Boys
A complete list of all-boys military schools in the United States, including private boarding academies, day schools, and elementary options.