Spring Ridge Academy
{{Short description|Behavioral health residential facility}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Spring Ridge Academy
| free_label1 = Owner
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| address = 13690 S Burton Rd
| region =
| city = Mayer
| state = Arizona
| province =
| county = Yavapai County
| zipcode = 86333
| country = United States
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| schooltype = Behavioral Health Residential Facility
| fundingtype = For-profit program
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| founded = {{start date and age|1996|p=1}}
| opened =
| founders = Jean (Jeannie) Courtney
| status = closed
| closed = February 2023
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| us_nces_district_id = 42
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| ceeb = 030422
| us_nces_school_id = {{NCES Private School ID|A0900156|school_name=Spring Ridge Academy |access_date=February 18, 2023|ref_name=NCES}}
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| principal = Justin Zych
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| gender = Girls
| age_range = 13-17
| students = 48
| grade9 = 3
| grade10 = 11
| grade11 = 16
| grade12 = 18
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| hours_in_day = 5.8
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| accreditations = Cognia (education){{cite web |title=Cognia – Institution Summary |url=http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=52242 |website=advanc-ed.org/ |publisher=Cognia |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127223821/http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=52242 |url-status=live }}
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| website = {{URL|https://springridgeacademy.com/}}
{{URL|https://ndrising.com/}}
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Spring Ridge Academy, was 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.{{Cite web |title=Spring Ridge Academy - Learn, Heal, Grow, Connect |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=Spring Ridge Academy |language=en-US |archive-date=February 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228213251/https://springridgeacademy.com/ |url-status=live }}
Background
The campus was originally a house with a barn attached and only had one student.{{cite web |title=Spring Ridge Academy |url=https://usboardingschools.com/arizona/spring-ridge-academy/ |website=usboardingschools.com |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414044555/https://usboardingschools.com/arizona/spring-ridge-academy/ |url-status=live }} By the end, it was capable of housing up to 76 girls with a facility that included classrooms, medical areas, labs, and athletic fields and courts. Spring Ridge Academy was operated by Suzanne Courtney (Executive Director) at its time of closure.{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/team/ |website=Spring Ridge Academy |access-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627185022/https://springridgeacademy.com/team/ |url-status=live }}
Programming
{{more citations needed|section|date=July 2021}}
Spring Ridge Academy described itself as a "clinical therapeutic program with a college preparatory academic curriculum".{{cite web |title=Enrollment Terms and Agreement |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ENROLL-FRMS-May-2020.pdf |access-date=April 14, 2021 |publisher=Spring Ridge Academy |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414041659/https://springridgeacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ENROLL-FRMS-May-2020.pdf |url-status=live }}
The program included four phases that each student completed at their own pace. The program's average length of stay was 14 to 18 months.
Parents or guardians who had their child admitted to Spring Ridge paid tuition and fees. Medical insurance may have covered part of the costs.
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.{{Cite web |title=Lawsuit Complaint Against Spring Ridge Academy For Negligence, Fraud, and RICO Violations {{!}} PDF {{!}} Evidence Based Medicine {{!}} Schools |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/491778233/Lawsuit-Complaint-Against-Spring-Ridge-Academy-for-Negligence-Fraud-and-RICO-Violations |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Scribd |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Gulino |first1=Elizabeth |title="I Was Forced To Sculpt My Rape": What Is Happening Inside The Troubled Teen Industry? |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10401693/troubled-teens-programs-industry-problem |access-date=June 13, 2022 |publisher=REFINERY29 |date=June 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623202420/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10401693/troubled-teens-programs-industry-problem |url-status=live }} 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. 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.
In 2024, Spring Ridge Academy lost the fraud court case in Phoenix federal court, with the Jury awarding $2.5 million in punitive damages.{{Cite web |last=MacDonald-Evoy |first=Jerod |date=2024-07-15 |title='It was a cult': Traumatizing troubled teens |url=https://azmirror.com/2024/07/15/it-was-a-cult-traumatizing-troubled-teens-spring-ridge-academy/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Arizona Mirror |language=en-US |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815045928/https://azmirror.com/2024/07/15/it-was-a-cult-traumatizing-troubled-teens-spring-ridge-academy/ |url-status=live }}
Other former students have claimed that the workshops at the center of the lawsuit are "abusive" and "shame-based." Former students say they had to participate in attack therapy as well.
Spring Ridge Academy has also been accused of using conversion therapy.{{cite news |last1=Sugiuchi |first1=Deirdre |title="Conversion Therapy" is Abuse |url=https://www.damemagazine.com/2020/12/17/conversion-therapy-is-abuse/ |access-date=April 14, 2021 |publisher=Dame Magazine |date=December 17, 2020}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Jennifer |title=Jennifer's Story -- Breaking Code Silence |url=https://www.breakingcodesilence.net/testimonial/jennifersstorysra |website=breakingcodesilence.net |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414045144/https://www.breakingcodesilence.net/testimonial/jennifersstorysra |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite news |last1=Cain |first1=Brooke |title=What to Watch Saturday: Lifetime movie has ripped-from-the-headlines story of abuse |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/warm-tv-blog/article259282454.html |access-date=June 13, 2022 |publisher=The News&Observer |date=March 12, 2022}}{{failed verification|date=June 2022}} Spring Ridge Academy issued several in response to the lifeline movie.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Erin |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Cruel Instruction: The Problem with Comparing Programs |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/cruel-instruction-comparing-programs/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=Spring Ridge Academy |language=en-US |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208203014/https://springridgeacademy.com/cruel-instruction-comparing-programs/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Erin |date=April 2, 2022 |title=7 Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/7-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=Spring Ridge Academy |language=en-US |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209102336/https://springridgeacademy.com/7-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Erin |date=April 6, 2022 |title=7 More Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction |url=https://springridgeacademy.com/7-more-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=Spring Ridge Academy |language=en-US |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209082733/https://springridgeacademy.com/7-more-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.springridgeacademy.com}} (Spring Ridge Academy)
- [https://ndrising.com/ Official website] (New Day Rising)
- [https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&State=04&Zip=86333&ID=A0900156 NCES website]
{{Education in Yavapai County, Arizona}}
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Category:Schools in Yavapai County, Arizona
Category:Boarding schools in Arizona
Category:Girls' schools in Arizona
Category:Alternative schools in the United States
Category:1997 establishments in Arizona
Category:Private high schools in Arizona
Category:Residential treatment centers