Carlbrook School
{{Short description|Private school in Halifax, Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
|name = Carlbrook School
| established = 2002
| closed = 2015
| type = Co-ed, Private, Boarding
| ceeb = 472108
| head_name = Academic Dean
| head = Chris Soto, Ed.D.
| city = Halifax
| state = Virginia
| country = United States
| campus = {{convert|200|acre|km2}}
| enrollment = 80
| grades = 9-12, PG
| faculty = 56 (80% post-baccalaureate)
| class = 8 students
| ratio = 6:1
| free_label = Admission
| free_text = Rolling (year-round)
| athletics = Intramural
| colors = {{color box|gold}}{{color box|navy}} Gold, Navy Blue
| accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
| homepage = {{URL|carlbrook.org}}
}}
{{Portal | school}}
Carlbrook School was a private, coeducational, college preparatory boarding school located on {{convert|200|acre|km2}} in Halifax, Virginia. It was non-sectarian and covered grades 9 through 12.{{cite web |url=http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=A0503546&ID=A0503546 |title=Search for Private Schools - School Detail for Carlbrook School |publisher=Nces.ed.gov |date= |access-date=2011-01-31 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629122519/http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=A0503546&ID=A0503546 |url-status=dead }} As of 2014, it reported an enrollment of 80 students.{{cite web |url=http://www.carlbrook.org/about |title=About Carlbrook School |publisher=Carlbrook School |access-date=2014-09-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129075519/http://www.carlbrook.org/about |archive-date=2013-01-29 }} (archived) The school closed permanently in December 2015. At that time, it had graduated almost 700 alumni.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/carlbrook-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy/article_18f85560-d671-11e5-ab9f-27ef153211fd.html|title=Carlbrook Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|first=|last=|date=February 18, 2016|publisher=The Gazette-Virginian}} Carlbrook's mission statement was to help students discover, internalize and effectively utilize the intellectual and personal resources necessary to succeed in college and in life.{{cite web|url=http://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/carlbrook-school-closes-students-asked-to-be-out-by-sunday/article_f4d5db0c-a025-11e5-b1b6-e35abd00b911.html|title=Carlbrook School Closes; Students Asked To Be Out By Sunday|first=|last=|date=December 11, 2015|publisher=The Gazette-Virginian}}
History
Carlbrook was founded in early 2002 by Cascade School graduates Robert "Grant" Price, Jr. and Justin J. Merritt.{{cite web |url=http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/SnHOct01_011001.shtml |title=Seen N' Heard: Carlbrook School Announces Opening |first= |last= |date=October 1, 2001 |publisher=Struggling Teens |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502063301/http://www.strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/SnHOct01_011001.shtml |archive-date=2 May 2017 |url-status=dead}} Within the first week of their opening, there were seven students enrolled.{{citation |url=http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2002/2/visit02.html |title=Schools and Program Visits: Carlbrook School |last=Bozak |first=Steve |work=Woodbury Reports |number=90 |date=February 2002 }} By June 2003, it had grown to 89 students. All new students were required to complete a wilderness therapy program before enrolling.{{citation |last=Eberle |first=Loi |url=http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives/2003/11/carlbrook1103vr.html |title=Visit Reports: The Carlbrook School |work=Woodbury Reports |date=October 27, 2003}} In 2003, a school official explained that wilderness programs help prepare students for success in the school program and function as a "filter," meaning that students who successfully complete these programs are more likely to succeed at Carlbrook. Grant hired several former CEDU staff to implement a similar emotional growth program.{{cite web|url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/2000/3/news04.html|title=News & Views: Tim Brace Eying New Opportunities|first=|last=|date=March 2000|publisher=Woodbury Reports, issue #67}}{{cite web|url=https://strugglingteens.com/archives/2003/11/carlbrook1103vr.html|title=The Carlbrook School|first=Loi|last=Eberle|date=October 27, 2003|publisher=Woodbury Reports}}{{cite web |url=https://strugglingteens.com/artman/publish/printer_CarlbrookSchoolBN_120814.shtml |title=Breaking News: Bender Retires from Carlbrook School|first=|last=|date=August 10, 2012|publisher=Woodbury Reports}}
On December 4, 2010, student Forest Ferguson was reported missing and his missing person case is still open in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Forest Ferguson – The Charley Project |url=https://charleyproject.org/case/forest-ferguson |access-date=2024-03-07 |language=en}}
Admissions
Admission to Carlbrook was selective, focusing on students of high aptitude and potential who had struggled academically or socially in previous educational environments.{{cite web|url=http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=426 |title=Carlbrook School - How To Apply |publisher=Carlbrook School |access-date=2011-01-31 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231235959/http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=426 |archive-date=2014-12-31 }} (archived) Carlbrook was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools{{cite web |url=http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=12587 |title=Institution Summary |publisher=AdvancED |date= |access-date=2011-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718081426/http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=12587 |archive-date=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead }} and the Virginia Council for Private Education,{{cite web |url=http://www.vcpe.org/ |title=Home |website=vcpe.org}} and was a member of the Secondary School Admission Test Board,{{cite web |url=http://search.ssat.org/search/schools.html |title=SSAT School Search |access-date=2010-05-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329012802/http://search.ssat.org/search/schools.html |archive-date=2010-03-29 }} the Small Boarding Schools Association,{{cite web|url=http://www.smallboardingschools.org/pages/school_info.cfm?id=620 |title=SBSA | Find a School or Consultant |publisher=Smallboardingschools.org |access-date=2011-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728032219/http://www.smallboardingschools.org/pages/school_info.cfm?id=620 |archive-date=2011-07-28 }} and the Educational Records Bureau.{{cite web |url=http://www.erbtest.org/members |title=ERB :: Membership Directory |access-date=2010-05-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231040431/http://www.erbtest.org/members |archive-date=2009-12-31 }}
Academics
The school followed a quarter-based academic calendar and awarded high school diplomas in accordance with Virginia Department of Education guidelines.{{cite web |url= http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/standard.shtml |title= Standard Diploma: Minimum Course & Credit Requirements |publisher= Virginia Department of Education |date= February 5, 2002 |access-date= 2011-01-31 |archive-date= 2011-01-05 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110105181146/http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/standard.shtml |url-status= dead }} There were multiple Advanced Placement courses and several advanced and dual-enrollment offerings;{{cite web|url=http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=43 |title=Curriculum |publisher=Carlbrook School |access-date=2011-01-31 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106021554/http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=43 |archive-date=2010-11-06 }} (archived) in addition to the school's academic requirements, graduating students were required to demonstrate leadership and character through extracurricular involvement and/or community service. Carlbrook reported that over the school's first decade, its graduates were accepted to over 500 colleges and universities.{{cite web|url=http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=66 |title=College Acceptances |publisher=Carlbrook School |access-date=2011-01-31 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106021554/http://www.carlbrook.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=66 |archive-date=2010-11-06 }} (archived)
Carlbrook's Program
Carlbrook was a 15-month program which consisted of five workshops (Integritas,{{cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Integritas-Workshop|title=Integritas Workshop Script}} Amicitia,{{cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Amicitia-Workshop|title=Amicitia Workshop Script}} Animus,{{cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Animus-Workshop|title=Animus Workshop Script}} Teneo,{{cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Teneo-Workshop|title=Teneo Workshop Script}} and Veneratio{{cite web|url=https://lathroplybrook.com/Veneratio-Workshop|title=Veneratio Workshop Script}}) which took place roughly every three months depending on the child's arrival at the school. Elizabeth Gilpin, who is a graduate of Carlbrook School, makes the following claim in Stolen,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Memoir-Elizabeth-Gilpin-ebook/dp/B08MZT413D|title=Stolen: A Memoir|first=Elizabeth|last=Gilpin|date=July 20, 2021|publisher=Grand Central Publishing}} a memoir about her time there:
{{blockquote|At CEDU they weren't called workshops, they were "propheets." In their very first form, they were "trips," a word chosen for its association with psychedelics. Chuck Dederich wanted to induce an altered state of consciousness. An acid trip without the acid. Because there could be no drug use in Synanon, he created a mocktail from ingredients like sleep deprivation, repetitive music, and group hypnosis.
In the hands of Mel Wasserman, they became even more insidious. His plan? Add another cult! Many of the workshop exercises were taken straight from the large-group awareness trainings that were a controversial part of the Human Potential Movement. Programs like est and Lifespring—which themselves developed from Dianetics—would bring groups of people together for several days of intense personal growth work. Techniques included hypnosis, guided meditation, and referring to people as "asshole"—an est specialty that fit in nicely with the CEDU model.}}
Closure
The school closed in December 2015 after giving notice a few days before end of the fall semester.{{cite web|url=https://www.sovanow.com/articles/enrollment_on_the_wane_carlbrook_school_to_close|title=Enrollment on the Wane, Carlbrook School will Close|first=Tom|last=McClaughlin|date=December 10, 2015|publisher=News & Record}}{{cite web|url=https://wset.com/news/local/carlbrook-school-permanently-closes-gives-students-and-staff-short-notice|title=Carlbrook School Permanently Closes; Gives Students and Staff Short Notice|first=Valerie|last=Bragg|date=December 11, 2015|publisher=ABC 13 News}} The email announcement attributed the closure to declining enrollments.Email sent to alumni on December 10, 2015: "We regret to inform you all that due to continued declining enrollments, Carlbrook School will be closing this week after almost 14 years of work with students and their families."
In the news
- December 4, 2010: 16-year-old Forest Ferguson disappeared from Carlbrook School's campus in South Boston, Virginia. He was never found.{{cite web|url=http://www.missingin.org/reg6720/forest_ferguson.htm#selection-8949.0-8951.55|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211126192457/http://www.missingin.org/reg6720/forest_ferguson.htm#selection-8949.0-8951.55|url-status=dead|archive-date=2021-11-26|title=Forest Ferguson|first=|last=|date=December 4, 2010|publisher=National Missing Person Directory}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sovanow.com/articles/carlbrook_runaway_on_missing_list|title=Carlbrook Runaway on Missing List|first=|last=|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=News & Record}}
- April 2017: Life Boat,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdagKUkmATQ|title=Life Boat|first=Lorraine|last=Nicholson|website=YouTube|date=2017|publisher=}} a short film based on the exercise used in Animus, Carlbrook's third workshop, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://tribecafilm.com/festival/archive/life-boat-2017|title=Life Boat|first=Lorraine|last=Nicholson|date=2017|publisher=Tribeca Film Festival}} It was directed by Jack Nicholson's daughter, Lorraine Nicholson,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/life-boat-stephen-dorff-lorraine-nicholson-tribeca-interview-news-1202075709/|title='Life Boat' Director Lorraine Nicholson on Guiding Stephen Dorff Through his First Short Film Experience — Tribeca Studio|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=April 26, 2017|publisher=Deadline}}{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a20875014/lorraine-nicholsons-short-film-life-boat|title=Watch Lorraine Nicholson's Short Film Life Boat|first=Liz|last=Cantrell|date=May 24, 2018|publisher=Town and Country}} and stars Carlbrook graduate and author of Stolen, Elizabeth Gilpin.
- July 20, 2021: Stolen, a memoir by Elizabeth Gilpin about the time she spent in the wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains and then at Carlbrook School was published.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/07/19/stolen-elizabeth-gilpin-memoir-exposes-abusive-boarding-schools/7956897002/|title='Stolen': Harrowing Memoir Exposes Abusive Boarding School Industry for 'Troubled Teens'|first=Emily Gray|last=Tedrowe|date=July 19, 2021|publisher=USA Today}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101106021554/http://www.carlbrook.org/ Carlbrook School website (archived)]
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Category:Boarding schools in Virginia
Category:Private high schools in Virginia
Category:Schools in Halifax County, Virginia
Category:Therapeutic boarding schools in the United States
Category:Special schools in Virginia
Category:2002 establishments in Virginia
Category:2015 disestablishments in Virginia
Category:Educational institutions established in 2002