Chino Hills city feature
About this landmark
A century-old residential school for at-risk youth
Boys Republic occupies 200 acres on Boys Republic Drive in Chino Hills. The facility serves grades 9–12 with an enrollment of 47 students and operates as a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian therapeutic residential school. It is CARF accredited and includes a WASC-accredited high school alongside ROP-certified vocational training programs. The school's motto, displayed on official materials, is "Nothing Without Labor — Since 1907." The organization is funded primarily through private donations.
Founding and relocation
Boys Republic was founded in 1907 by Margaret Fowler. The organization was modeled after the George Junior Republic in Pennsylvania. In 1909, Boys Republic relocated to land and buildings on Rancho Santa Ana del Chino, which later became part of Chino Hills. Students reside in cottages housing 16 residents or houses with 6 residents. The organization has continually expanded its programs to include an Independent Living STRTP (short-term residential therapeutic program) operated through two 6-bed houses for additional student placements.
Since its founding, Boys Republic reports having guided more than 33,000 at-risk teenage boys and girls. Beyond its central Chino Hills campus, the organization operates residential and day treatment centers in other communities and runs a companion program called Girls Republic. The City of Chino Hills official history notes Boys Republic "continues to provide important contributions to the lives of young people" and is known for distributing Della Robbia wreaths during the holidays.
Athletics and community
The main campus at 1907 Boys Republic Drive operates athletic teams that compete in the CIF Southern Section, Arrowhead League. Actor Steve McQueen attended Boys Republic as an adolescent and later donated razors and jeans to support the school. The organization's stated mission is to empower at-risk youth facing behavioral, emotional, and educational challenges. The campus includes 200 acres used for both educational programs and recreational activities for residents.
Boys Republic describes itself as a therapeutic community where students participate in academic coursework and hands-on vocational training on the campus grounds. The organization remains committed to its founding philosophy, as reflected in its motto: "Nothing Without Labor — Since 1907." The facility has maintained its role within the Chino Hills community as a long-term institution dedicated to supporting young people in residential care and treatment. The school operates year-round as both an educational institution and a therapeutic residential program.
Insurance connection: Wildfire preparedness
Standard homeowners policies cover fire and lightning, but not flood or earthquake. After wildfires, many dwellings were underinsured, leaving owners to face increased construction costs and code compliance expenses. Some replacement cost policies lack building code upgrade coverage, meaning structural changes required by updated codes may not be paid for. The appropriate dwelling coverage limit should equal full replacement cost of your home, not its market value, since homeowners policies do not cover land value. Eligibility and limits depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: Boys Republic official site, Wikipedia entry, and City of Chino Hills history page.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.