Spring Ridge Academy Explained

Spring Ridge Academy
Free Label1:Owner
Address:13690 S Burton Rd
State:Arizona
County:Yavapai County
Zipcode:86333
Country:United States
Schooltype:Behavioral Health Residential Facility
Fundingtype:For-profit program
Founders:Jean (Jeannie) Courtney
Status:closed
Closed:February 2023
Us Nces District Id:42
Ceeb:030422
Principal:Justin Zych
Teaching Staff:11
Gender:Girls
Age Range:13-17
Students:48
Grade9:3
Grade10:11
Grade11:16
Grade12:18
Ratio:4.4
Hours In Day:5.8
Accreditations:Cognia (education)[1]
Tuition:$126,000 to $162,000[2]

34.596°N -112.4682°WSpring 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.[3]

Background

The campus was originally a house with a barn attached and only had one student.[4] 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.[4] Spring Ridge Academy was operated by Suzanne Courtney (Executive Director) at its time of closure.[5]

Programming

Spring Ridge Academy described itself as a "clinical therapeutic program with a college preparatory academic curriculum".[6]

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.[7] [2] [8] 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.[2] 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.[2]

In 2024, Spring ridge academy lost the fraud court case in Phoenix federal court, with the Jury awarding $2.5 million in punitive damages.[9]

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.[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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cognia – Institution Summary . advanc-ed.org/ . Cognia . January 18, 2021 . January 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127223821/http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=52242 . live .
  2. Sweidy v. Spring Ridge Academy et al . 3:21cv8013 . United States District Court, Arizona . January 21, 2021 . https://www.scribd.com/document/491778233/Lawsuit-Complaint-Against-Spring-Ridge-Academy-for-Negligence-Fraud-and-RICO-Violations . https://web.archive.org/web/20210521225749/https://www.scribd.com/document/491778233/Lawsuit-Complaint-Against-Spring-Ridge-Academy-for-Negligence-Fraud-and-RICO-Violations . live .
  3. Web site: Spring Ridge Academy - Learn, Heal, Grow, Connect . February 28, 2023 . Spring Ridge Academy . en-US . February 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228213251/https://springridgeacademy.com/ . live .
  4. Web site: Spring Ridge Academy . usboardingschools.com . April 14, 2021 . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414044555/https://usboardingschools.com/arizona/spring-ridge-academy/ . live .
  5. Web site: Our Team . Spring Ridge Academy . June 27, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627185022/https://springridgeacademy.com/team/ . live .
  6. Web site: Enrollment Terms and Agreement . April 14, 2021 . Spring Ridge Academy . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414041659/https://springridgeacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ENROLL-FRMS-May-2020.pdf . live .
  7. Web site: Lawsuit Complaint Against Spring Ridge Academy For Negligence, Fraud, and RICO Violations PDF Evidence Based Medicine Schools . June 28, 2022 . Scribd . en.
  8. News: Gulino . Elizabeth . "I Was Forced To Sculpt My Rape": What Is Happening Inside The Troubled Teen Industry? . June 13, 2022 . REFINERY29 . June 29, 2021 . June 23, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220623202420/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/06/10401693/troubled-teens-programs-industry-problem . live .
  9. Web site: MacDonald-Evoy . Jerod . 2024-07-15 . 'It was a cult': Traumatizing troubled teens . 2024-08-15 . Arizona Mirror . en-US . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815045928/https://azmirror.com/2024/07/15/it-was-a-cult-traumatizing-troubled-teens-spring-ridge-academy/ . live .
  10. News: Sugiuchi . Deirdre . "Conversion Therapy" is Abuse . April 14, 2021 . Dame Magazine . December 17, 2020.
  11. Web site: Jennifer . Jennifer's Story -- Breaking Code Silence . breakingcodesilence.net . April 14, 2021 . April 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414045144/https://www.breakingcodesilence.net/testimonial/jennifersstorysra . live .
  12. News: Cain . Brooke . What to Watch Saturday: Lifetime movie has ripped-from-the-headlines story of abuse . June 13, 2022 . The News&Observer . March 12, 2022.
  13. Web site: Smith . Erin . March 25, 2022 . Cruel Instruction: The Problem with Comparing Programs . February 8, 2023 . Spring Ridge Academy . en-US . February 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230208203014/https://springridgeacademy.com/cruel-instruction-comparing-programs/ . live .
  14. Web site: Smith . Erin . April 2, 2022 . 7 Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction . February 8, 2023 . Spring Ridge Academy . en-US . February 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209102336/https://springridgeacademy.com/7-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ . live .
  15. Web site: Smith . Erin . April 6, 2022 . 7 More Ways Spring Ridge Is Nothing Like Cruel Instruction . February 8, 2023 . Spring Ridge Academy . en-US . February 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230209082733/https://springridgeacademy.com/7-more-ways-spring-ridge-is-nothing-like-cruel-instruction/ . live .

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