Boys homes, group homes and boarding schools
Looking for a boys home? Here is how to choose the right place for your son.
Parents searching for a boys home usually want the same thing: a safe, structured place where a struggling son can be raised up by godly men. But "boys home" covers very different kinds of programs. Future Men is a private Christian boarding school near Branson, Missouri, where boys and young men 14 to 20 learn to take ownership and become men. Every student is discipled by Christian men, earns high school credits and learns a trade. Knowing the difference will help you choose well.
The short answer
What is the difference between a boys home and a boarding school?
A boys home is usually a long-term residential home for boys who cannot live with their families, often placed there by the state or a court. A private Christian boarding school like Future Men is a school parents apply to for a son who is struggling. The family stays involved, and life on campus is built on Christian discipleship, accredited academics and a trade apprenticeship.
The words get used loosely, so it helps to ask two questions of any program: who places the boy there, and what is the program built to do?
| Type | Who places the boy | Typical focus |
|---|---|---|
| Boys home or children’s home | Often the state, a court or a guardian | Long-term care for boys who cannot live at home |
| Group home | Usually state child welfare or juvenile systems | Licensed placement for youth in state custody |
| Boys ranch | Varies: parents, the state or courts | Residential care built around ranch work |
| Therapeutic boarding school | Parents | Clinical therapy plus academics |
| Christian boarding school (Future Men) | Parents or guardians apply directly | Christian discipleship, accredited academics and a real trade for every student |
Why Future Men is different
Faith, school and a trade.
Every week, all three.
A good home raises a boy in faith, sends him to school and teaches him to work. Few programs bring all three together. Future Men does all three, with Christian men who expect your son to take responsibility for his actions and ownership over his life.
- Pillar 01
Christian discipleship
Christian men live on campus and walk through each day with your son. Bible studies, vulnerable one-on-one conversations and consistent accountability are the minimum standards at Future Men.
Learn more - Pillar 02
Accredited academics
Coursework accredited by Cognia and prescribed for each student, with staff alongside students every day, helping them catch up to where they need to be, earn high school credits and graduate with a diploma in hand.
Learn more - Pillar 03
Trades & apprenticeships
Every Tuesday and Thursday, every student works at a local business learning a real trade. Students graduate not only knowing the theory of becoming a man, but with the experience of working a real job with genuine responsibilities.
Learn more
What parents are really looking for
The structure of a home.
Men who set the standard.
- A home’s daily structure. Chores, shared meals, work projects, school, Bible study and rest, in a lodge with a kitchen and a living room full of couches and bookshelves.
- Christian men who live on campus. The men who mentor your son eat with the students, work beside them, go to church with them every Sunday and hold them accountable every day.
- You stay his parent. A call with staff every other week from the start, a weekly family call with your son after the three-week settling-in period, and you are encouraged to visit. How families stay connected.
- School gets back on track. Academics accredited by Cognia, prescribed for him, with staff alongside him every day. He earns high school credits, makes up what he missed and works toward a diploma in hand.
- He learns to work. Every Tuesday and Thursday, he works at a local business learning a trade. He learns to show up on time, take direction from a boss and see every job through to the end.
The right fit
When a different kind of home is the right answer.
Future Men is a private Christian boarding school that parents and guardians apply to directly. If you are looking for foster care, or a placement through the state or the courts, that is a different system. Your local children’s services office is the place to start. Our admissions team reviews every situation individually.
Often a good fit when
- You are a parent or guardian looking for a Christian, home-like setting for a son 14 to 20.
- He is defiant, drifting or behind in school, and needs structure and hard work.
- He has not had a consistent, strong man in his daily life.
- You want to stay involved while Christian men disciple him.
Not the right place when
- He needs medical detox, hospital-level psychiatric care, or a licensed treatment facility.
- He is in immediate danger of harming himself or someone else.
- Your family wants a secular, non-religious program.
Future Men is Christian mentoring and discipleship. We do not provide licensed therapy or psychiatric care. Not every mental-health need can be safely served here. If your son is in crisis right now, call or text 988 or call 911.
In a parent’s words
What a parent says
“Our experience having our son there was beyond our expectations. Every employee is invested in the lives of young men and helping them become a responsible adult in a Christian atmosphere with biblical teaching.”
Is Future Men a boys home?
Future Men has the daily structure of a home: shared meals, chores and Christian men who live on campus. But it is a private Christian boarding school that parents and guardians apply to for their son. It is not a foster care agency or a state-licensed group home.
Can a parent place a son in a boys home?
Many boys homes and group homes take placements through the state or the courts. A private school like Future Men is chosen by parents or legal guardians, who apply directly.
Is there a Christian boys home near me?
Families come to Future Men from across the country. The right place for your son matters more than the closest one. Our campus is near Branson, Missouri, and families fly into Springfield-Branson National Airport. See travel information.
What ages do boys homes serve?
It varies. Future Men serves boys and young men ages 14 to 20, with 18 to 20 students at any given time.
Does Future Men charge tuition?
Yes. Future Men is a private school. Tuition at Future Men is $6,300 per month. There is a one-time $2,000 nonrefundable admission charge that is not credited toward tuition. Emergency placement is an option when placement within 24 to 48 hours is a requirement, for an additional $1,500. Acceptance is still determined by our admissions team and bed availability. Families may withdraw at any time without notice. Tuition and fees are not refunded. Tuition details.