Spring Ridge Academy

Spring Ridge Academy
Location
13690 S Burton Rd

Mayer
,
Yavapai County
,
Arizona
86333

United States
Information
School typeFor-profit program, Therapeutic boarding school
Opened1997
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
Enrollment48
Capacity76[2]
 • Grade 93
 • Grade 1011
 • Grade 1116
 • Grade 1218
Student to teacher ratio4.4[1]
Hours in school day5.8
AccreditationsCognia (education)[3]
Tuition$126,000 to $162,000[4] springridgeacademy.com

Spring Ridge Academy, was a Therapeutic boarding school for female adolescents 13–17 years old located in Mayer, Arizona, United States.[5] It was founded 1996 and continued to operate until its permanent closure in 2023.[6]

Background

The campus was originally a house with a barn attached and only had one student.[7] 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.[7] Spring Ridge Academy was operated by Suzanne Courtney (Executive Director) at its time of closure.[8]

Programming

Spring Ridge Academy described itself as a "clinical therapeutic program with a college preparatory academic curriculum".[9]

The program included four phases that each student completed at their own pace.[9] The program's average length of stay was 14 to 18 months.[9]

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.[10][4][11] 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.[10][4] 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.[4]

In 2024, Spring Ridge Academy lost the fraud court case in Phoenix federal court, with the Jury awarding $2.5 million in punitive damages.[12]

Other former students have claimed that the workshops at the center of the lawsuit are "abusive" and "shame-based."[11] Former students say they had to participate in attack therapy as well.[11]

Spring Ridge Academy has also been accused of using conversion therapy.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15] Spring Ridge Academy issued several in response to the Lifetime movie.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Spring Ridge Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Murdock, Sebastian; Mitchell, Taiyler. "From 'Troubled Teens' To Traumatized Adults". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  3. ^ "Cognia – Institution Summary". advanc-ed.org/. Cognia. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Sweidy v. Spring Ridge Academy et al (United States District Court, Arizona January 21, 2021), Text, archived from the original.
  5. ^ "'They tried everything ... to break me': Boarding school students describe harsh treatment". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2026. marketing itself as a therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens
  6. ^ "Spring Ridge Academy - Learn, Heal, Grow, Connect". Spring Ridge Academy. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Spring Ridge Academy". usboardingschools.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Our Team". Spring Ridge Academy. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Enrollment Terms and Agreement" (PDF). Spring Ridge Academy. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Lawsuit Complaint Against Spring Ridge Academy For Negligence, Fraud, and RICO Violations | PDF | Evidence Based Medicine | Schools". Scribd. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Gulino, Elizabeth (June 29, 2021). ""I Was Forced To Sculpt My Rape": What Is Happening Inside The Troubled Teen Industry?". REFINERY29. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  12. ^ MacDonald-Evoy, Jerod (July 15, 2024). "'It was a cult': Traumatizing troubled teens". Arizona Mirror. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Sugiuchi, Deirdre (December 17, 2020). ""Conversion Therapy" is Abuse". Dame Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  14. ^ Jennifer. "Jennifer's Story -- Breaking Code Silence". breakingcodesilence.net. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  15. ^ Cain, Brooke (March 12, 2022). "What to Watch Saturday: Lifetime movie has ripped-from-the-headlines story of abuse". The News&Observer. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  16. ^ Smith, Erin (March 25, 2022). "Cruel Instruction: The Problem with Comparing Programs". Spring Ridge Academy. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Smith, Erin (April 2, 2022). "7 Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction". Spring Ridge Academy. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Smith, Erin (April 6, 2022). "7 More Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction". Spring Ridge Academy. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
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