Admissions & Residency Rules
Geographic Requirements
CGSC serves active duty military officers selected by their services—it is not open to the public. Kansas families seeking K-12 military education must look out of state.
Professional Military Education in Kansas
Kansas's military institution is the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth—the Army's senior tactical school since 1881. It educates mid-career officers, not K-12 students.
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
The Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth is the intellectual center of the U.S. Army:
- Founded: 1881 by General William Tecumseh Sherman
- Type: Graduate-level professional military education
- Enrollment: ~1,200 resident students annually
- Degrees: Master of Military Art and Science (MMAS), Master of Operational Studies
- Accreditation: HLC
CGSC's alumni roster is extraordinary: five five-star generals (Eisenhower, Marshall, Bradley, MacArthur, Arnold), Generals Patton, Powell, Schwarzkopf, and Petraeus, plus 27 international graduates who became heads of state.
No K-12 Options in Kansas
Kansas has no military boarding schools, public military academies, or Youth Challenge programs for K-12 students. Families seeking military education must look to neighboring states.
Worth the Drive
Kansas families considering military schools typically look to:
- Missouri Military Academy — 2 hours from Kansas City, all-boys boarding, grades 7-12 plus post-graduate
- New Mexico Military Institute — 6 hours from Wichita, state-supported boarding at ~$24,700 total (2026-27) for out-of-state cadets
- Colorado Military Academy — 5 hours from Wichita, tuition-free public charter (day school only)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any military schools in Kansas for K-12 students?
No. Kansas has no K-12 military schools. The only military institution is the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, which serves active duty military officers pursuing graduate education.
What is the closest military boarding school to Kansas?
Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, MO is about 2 hours from Kansas City. It's an all-boys boarding school serving grades 7-12 plus a post-graduate year. New Mexico Military Institute is about 6 hours from Wichita, with a state-supported total cost of about $24,700 (2026-27) for out-of-state boarders.
What is the Command and General Staff College?
CGSC is the Army's senior tactical school, educating mid-career officers (majors and lieutenant colonels) in tactics, operations, and leadership. Founded in 1881, its alumni include Eisenhower, Patton, Marshall, Powell, and 27 heads of state from allied nations.
Does Kansas have a Youth Challenge program?
No. Kansas does not have a National Guard Youth Challenge program. Families with at-risk teens should consider Oklahoma's Thunderbird Challenge or other nearby state programs.