Money must be spent but it needs to be more wisely spent. The government is not the place to get money wisely spent.
The military base school issue should be apparent. The child is from a family that is disciplined and professional.
One may enter the military from the ghetto or from a gated community. They will at least be exposed to sanitation, responsibility, behavioral standards. Some fail to learn enough and don't make it through boot camp. The rest go on to expect things from their children just as the military expect things from them.
Sure there are problem kids there too. But there are fewer due to parental involvement and expectation.
Which, obviously, is part of the reason I suggested it as something worthy of a look.
But, I think you dismiss the idea too quickly. Looking at base schools, or similar successful institutions, does have the virtue of a long track record of success which can be evaluated and maybe applied elsewhere. The idea is to concentrate on what might work with the children.
The military person is generally disciplined and profession. Military families, however, face the same problems and challenges as any other family, plus a few not encountered by the civilian community.