Spring Ridge Academy

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Spring Ridge Academy
Location
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13690 S Burton Rd

Mayer
,
Yavapai County
,
Arizona
86333

United States
Information
School typeFor-profit program, Behavioral Health Residential Facility
Founded1996 (30 years ago) (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

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.[4]

Background

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The campus was originally a house with a barn attached and only had one student.[5] 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.[5] Spring Ridge Academy was operated by Suzanne Courtney (Executive Director) at its time of closure.[6]

Programming

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

The program included four phases that each student completed at their own pace.[7] The program's average length of stay was 14 to 18 months.[7]

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

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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]

In 2024, Spring Ridge Academy lost the fraud court case in Phoenix federal court, with the Jury awarding $2.5 million in punitive damages.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13][failed verification] Spring Ridge Academy issued several in response to the lifeline movie.[14][15][16]

References

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  3. ^ a b c d Sweidy v. Spring Ridge Academy et al (United States District Court, Arizona Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).), Text, archived from the original.
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