Military families face a unique education crisis: PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves every 2-3 years disrupt schooling, fragment transcripts, and cost students credits. The average military child attends 6-9 schools before graduating. At Forest Trail Academy, none of that matters.
FTA’s 100% online, self-paced curriculum travels with your family from Fort Bragg to Ramstein, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord to Camp Humphreys. Enrollment stays active through every PCS. Transcripts are maintained by one accredited institution from K through 12th grade — no more lost credits, no more catching up at a new school.
- No geographic restriction — works at CONUS and OCONUS installations worldwide
- Year-round open enrollment — enroll between PCS orders, not just in September
- One consistent curriculum from K-12, regardless of duty station
- Cognia accreditation recognized by all state-funded universities and DODEA
- Self-paced learning accommodates deployment disruptions to family schedules
- Online proctoring from base housing, BOQ, or any internet connection worldwide
Deployments and Family Separations: When the active-duty parent deploys, the remaining parent needs flexibility. FTA’s asynchronous model means students can work at 5am or 10pm — whatever fits the military household’s schedule during that demanding period.
SCRA and Military Benefits: FTA is not a Title IV institution and does not participate in GI Bill, MYCAA, or other military education benefits for K-12. However, our tuition ($255-$355/month) is a fraction of DoDEA-area private school costs ($15,000-$25,000/year).
Bases We Serve: Fort Liberty (NC), Fort Campbell (KY), Fort Hood (TX), Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA), Langley AFB (VA), Ramstein AB (Germany), Yokota AB (Japan), Camp Humphreys (South Korea), Naval Station Norfolk (VA), Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (CA), and all CONUS and OCONUS installations.
Enrollment Process for Military Families:
1. Contact FTA admissions at 800-890-6269 with your current duty station
2. Provide previous school transcripts (FTA handles credit evaluation)
3. Enroll — no waiting for a school year start
4. Your child begins learning within days
5. When PCS orders arrive, nothing changes in their coursework
- Does FTA accept mid-year enrollments between PCS moves? Yes — open enrollment year-round, start any week
- Will FTA’s diploma be accepted at schools near our next duty station? Cognia-accredited diplomas are recognized by all public and private universities in all 50 states
- How does proctoring work during TDY or deployment? Remote proctoring via webcam from any location worldwide
- Can we enroll at an OCONUS base like Germany or Japan? Yes — FTA has students at OCONUS installations in 30+ countries
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Enroll at Forest Trail Academy Today
Founded in 2007, Forest Trail Academy has served over 10,000 students with a Cognia-accredited K-12 program. Open enrollment year-round. Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online. Our admissions team is ready to help your family get started immediately.
Guides for families who move or travel: moving abroad with school-age children, moving back to the US and school re-entry, moving during the school year, PCS moves and school transfers, online school across time zones, school options for a family travel year, online school for Foreign Service families and online school for missionary families.
Online school for military families: the Interstate Compact in brief
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children sets shared rules for records, class placement and graduation when children of eligible military families change schools. According to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), all 50 states and the District of Columbia are members. The MIC3 parent guide states that the Compact applies to public schools and Department of Defense schools, so a private online school sets its own credit and graduation policies. The full explanation, with a checklist, is in our guide to PCS move school transfers.
School liaison officers: a first call after orders
Every installation has a School Liaison Program office. Military OneSource says the program provides a wide range of support for geographically dispersed families. Its Compact page describes liaisons as the main contact between families, local schools and the installation command, and says they help with credit transfer and class registration.
Contact the liaison at your current installation and at the gaining installation. Use the installation search to find each office. Good questions to bring:
- Which documents does the gaining district expect at enrollment?
- Does the state allow virtual or online options for a child who arrives midyear?
- Which credits and tests does the district count from the previous school?
- Is my child eligible for a DoDEA school at the next station?
Keeping one transcript across duty stations
Each school keeps its own transcript. A student who attends a different school at each station finishes with several records that a counselor combines. A student who stays with one school keeps a single record that grows with each course. The sample below is an example, not a real family. Public school at each station is a common path, and the Compact exists to support it.
| Sample student | Local school at each station | One online school throughout |
|---|---|---|
| Station 1, grades 6 and 7 | Transcript from school A | Transcript begins |
| Station 2, grades 8 and 9 | Transcript from school B, plus a request for school A records | Same transcript, new courses added |
| Station 3, grades 10 to 12 | Transcript from school C, plus requests for A and B | Same transcript, new courses added |
| Diploma issued by | The last school attended, using credits from all three | The one online school |
Whichever path you choose, keep your own file: copies of orders, an unofficial transcript, course descriptions, state test reports and immunization records. Request a transcript copy at the end of each school year. Forest Trail Academy families can use the transcript request form.
Overseas postings
DoDEA runs schools at many overseas installations. For students who live overseas where no DoDEA school is available, the DoDEA Virtual High School describes a Non-DoD Schools Program on its eligibility page. Ask the liaison which option applies at your assignment, and ask about host-country rules for your location.
An online school needs a steady internet connection and no school building. Self-paced courses do not depend on local class times, which helps when you are many hours ahead of the school’s home state. Read more in our guides to online school across time zones and moving abroad with school-age children.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Interstate Compact apply to online private schools?
The MIC3 parent guide says the Compact applies to public schools and Department of Defense schools. A private online school sets its own policies, so ask how it counts credits and what its diploma requires.
What does a school liaison officer do?
A liaison is the main contact for military families, local school systems and the installation command. Liaisons help with transitions around a PCS, including credit transfer and class registration.
Can my child stay in the same online school through an overseas PCS?
A private online school is not tied to a duty station, so enrollment can continue after a move if the family has internet access. Confirm the details with admissions, and confirm local rules with your liaison.
Does Forest Trail Academy offer a military discount?
Forest Trail Academy lists a discount for military families, with its qualifications, on its sibling and military discount page. Admissions can confirm whether your family qualifies.
