Spring Ridge Academy
Address
13690 S Burton Rd

Mayer
,
Yavapai County
,
Arizona
86333

United States
Information
School typeFor-profit program, Behavioral Health Residential Facility
Founded1996 (1996)
FoundersJean (Jeannie) Courtney
Statusclosed
ClosedFebruary 2023
NCES District ID42
CEEB code030422
NCES School IDA0900156[1]
PrincipalJustin Zych
Teaching staff11 (on an FTE basis)[1]
GenderGirls
Age range13-17
Number of students48
 • Grade 93
 • Grade 1011
 • Grade 1116
 • Grade 1218
Student to teacher ratio4.4[1]
Hours in school day5.8
AccreditationsCognia (education)[2]
Tuition$126,000 to $162,000[3]
Websitespringridgeacademy.com ndrising.com

34°35′46″N 112°28′05″W / 34.5959797°N 112.4681734°W / 34.5959797; -112.4681734 Spring Ridge Academy, is a behavioral health residential facility for female adolescents 13-17 years old. In 2023, Spring Ridge Academy announced on their website they had permanently closed.[4]

Background

The campus was originally a house with a barn attached and only had one student.[5] It is now capable of housing up to 76 girls with a facility that includes classrooms, medical areas, labs, and athletic fields and courts.[5] Spring Ridge Academy is currently operated by Suzanne Courtney (Executive Director).[6]

Programming

Spring Ridge Academy describes itself as a "clinical therapeutic program with a college preparatory academic curriculum".[7]

The program includes four phases that each student is expected to complete at their own pace.[7] The program's average length of stay is 14 to 18 months.[7]


Parents or guardians who have their child admitted to Spring Ridge pay tuition and fees. Medical insurance may cover part of the costs.

Extracurricular activities

  • Life skills
  • Self-defense
  • Digital photography
  • Horseback riding
  • Choral and instrumental music
  • Cooking
  • Ceramics
  • Jewelry making
  • Skiing
  • Hiking
  • Indoor rock climbing
  • Kayaking and paddleboarding
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Mountain biking

Controversy

In 2021, the parent of a former resident filed a lawsuit against Spring Ridge Academy, alleging causes of action for negligence and fraud, amongst other things.[8][3][9] The mother claims that the troubled teen program used non-evidence-based treatment practices on her daughter and misrepresented the tactics the program used before she enrolled her child there.[8][3] In a large group awareness training workshop, for example, girls at Spring Ridge Academy were allegedly instructed to beat their chairs with rolled-up towels containing their anger while other students screamed at them.[3]

Other former students have claimed that the workshops at the center of the lawsuit are "abusive" and "shame-based."[9] Former students say they had to participate in attack therapy as well.[9]

Spring Ridge Academy has also been accused of using conversion therapy.[10]

Other alumni have come forward alleging abuse as part of the Breaking Code Silence movement, describing the academy as a cult and as being exploitative of families.[11] One Spring Ridge Academy alumnus was also featured in a Lifetime movie special Beyond the Headlines: Cruel Instruction, talking about the allegations of abuse in the troubled teen industry and the PTSD and anxiety that many survivors continue to live with.[12] Spring Ridge Academy issued several in response to the lifeline movie.[13][14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Public Schools - Spring Ridge Academy (A0900156)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Cognia – Institution Summary". advanc-ed.org/. Cognia. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sweidy v. Spring Ridge Academy et al (United States District Court, Arizona January 21, 2021), Text.
  4. ↑ "Spring Ridge Academy - Learn, Heal, Grow, Connect". Spring Ridge Academy. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  5. 1 2 "Spring Ridge Academy". usboardingschools.com. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Our Team". Spring Ridge Academy.
  7. 1 2 3 "Enrollment Terms and Agreement" (PDF). Spring Ridge Academy. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Lawsuit Complaint Against Spring Ridge Academy For Negligence, Fraud, and RICO Violations | PDF | Evidence Based Medicine | Schools". Scribd. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  9. 1 2 3 Gulino, Elizabeth (June 29, 2021). ""I Was Forced To Sculpt My Rape": What Is Happening Inside The Troubled Teen Industry?". REFINERY29. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  10. ↑ Sugiuchi, Deirdre (December 17, 2020). ""Conversion Therapy" is Abuse". Dame Magazine. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Jennifer. "Jennifer's Story -- Breaking Code Silence". breakingcodesilence.net. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. ↑ Cain, Brooke (March 12, 2022). "What to Watch Saturday: Lifetime movie has ripped-from-the-headlines story of abuse". The News&Observer. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Smith, Erin (2022-03-25). "Cruel Instruction: The Problem with Comparing Programs". Spring Ridge Academy. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  14. ↑ Smith, Erin (2022-04-02). "7 Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction". Spring Ridge Academy. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  15. ↑ Smith, Erin (2022-04-06). "7 More Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction". Spring Ridge Academy. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
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