Forty-two teenage men and women, all wearing camouflage Army uniforms, standing in columns with their platoons, as the American flag is being raised. Many of their uniforms displayed medals for outstanding achievement. All of them proud of what they represented - the Alder Grove Academy.

They came from most of Placer County's high schools and junior high. Even though they each had their own story, they were either arrested and placed on probation and/or suspended or expelled and sent to the Academy as their last shot at turning their lives around. Most of these at-risk students hated...