Each year, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy combined spend tens of millions of dollars to operate preparatory schools that provide an alternative avenue for about 700 students annually to gain admission to the service academies. The Department of Defense (DOD) requested that the General Accounting Office (GAO) review the 3 service academies and specifically assess the following: (1) the adequacy of their current mission statements; (2) the effectiveness of these schools in accomplishing their missions; and (3) the effectiveness of DOD oversight of these schools. The GAO found that the schools' current mission statements do not clearly articulate the purpose for which the schools are being used by their respective service academies; that it is difficult to evaluate how effective the schools have been in accomplishing their missions because performance goals have not been established; and the effectiveness of oversight is limited because the existing oversight framework does not include performance goals and measures. The GAO recommends that the DOD align the preparatory schools' mission statements with DOD guidance and the academies' expectations; establish quantified performance goals and measures for the schools; and enhance the existing oversight framework for assessing the schools' performance. (Contains 9 appendices, 3 tables, and 30 figures.) (MO)