Academy at Ivy Ridge
Encyclopedia
Academy at Ivy Ridge was an independent privately owned and operated for-profit therapeutic boarding school
in Ogdensburg, New York
.
, and the school opened later that year in affiliation with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
(WWASPS). In 2003 the New York Times reported that the school's director had previously been an administrator at Casa by the Sea
. In January 2006 Ivy Ridge announced that it had withdrawn from WWASPS in November 2005 because of the negative media attention that WWASPS was receiving. However, the Teen Help subsidiary of WWASPS still conducted marketing for the school as of March 2007.
In March 2009 it was announced that Ivy Ridge would close until fall 2009 in order to restructure. There were about 60 students enrolled at that time; they were to be sent home or transferred to similar boarding schools. In April 2009 the campus was sold to a Delaware
corporation, a spokesperson for the purchaser told news media that the school would not reopen.
, stop issuing unauthorized high school diploma
s, and refrain from advertising that it is an accredited
school. In addition, it was required to make partial refunds to former students. On December 1, 2006 the New York State Department of Education denied Ivy Ridge's application for authorization to issue high school diplomas. The department's letter to Ivy Ridge stated that the institution had been determined to be principally a behavior modification
program, not a school. Following this ruling, the school's enrollment dropped from about 500 to less than 100 students.
In connection with the incident, the Idaho-based Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
, which had accredited Ivy Ridge, was criticized for accrediting a school outside of its service area and for violating its own procedures by not requiring a state license as a prerequisite to accreditation.
In April 2009 a judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit related to the diploma issue.
Therapeutic boarding school
A therapeutic boarding school , alternatively known as an emotional growth boarding school, is a boarding school based on the therapeutic community model that offers an educational program together with specialized structure and supervision for students with emotional and behavioral problems,...
in Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
.
Ownership and affiliation
The institution was owned by the business partnership of the Jason G. Finlinson Corporation and the Joseph and Alyn Mitchell Corporation. The property on which the school stood was purchased in 2001 by Robert Browning Lichfield Family Limited of Toquerville, UtahToquerville, Utah
Toquerville is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 910 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Toquerville is located at ....
, and the school opened later that year in affiliation with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
The World Wide Association Of Specialty Programs and Schools is an organization based in Utah, in the United States. WWASPS was founded by Robert Lichfield and was incorporated in 1998...
(WWASPS). In 2003 the New York Times reported that the school's director had previously been an administrator at Casa by the Sea
Casa by the Sea
Casa by the Sea was a private residential school/residential treatment center located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. It was operated by the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools and primarily enrolled teenagers from the United States who had behavioral issues...
. In January 2006 Ivy Ridge announced that it had withdrawn from WWASPS in November 2005 because of the negative media attention that WWASPS was receiving. However, the Teen Help subsidiary of WWASPS still conducted marketing for the school as of March 2007.
Location
Academy at Ivy Ridge sits on 237 acre (0.95910582 km²) of land located close to the St. Lawrence River. The facility, the former home of Mater Dei College, has over 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) of building space which houses classrooms, dorms, recreational areas, computer centers, science labs, food services, and offices. School promotional materials state that the facility boasts cross-country ski trails, nature trails, tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball area, baseball, football and soccer fields, all located within a wooded setting.History
The institution began admitting students in 2001. As of spring 2005 there were 460 students enrolled.In March 2009 it was announced that Ivy Ridge would close until fall 2009 in order to restructure. There were about 60 students enrolled at that time; they were to be sent home or transferred to similar boarding schools. In April 2009 the campus was sold to a Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
corporation, a spokesperson for the purchaser told news media that the school would not reopen.
Legal status as a school
On August 17, 2005 Ivy Ridge was ordered to pay civil penalties of $250,000 to the New York State Attorney GeneralNew York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
, stop issuing unauthorized high school diploma
High school diploma
A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED.-Past diploma styles:...
s, and refrain from advertising that it is an accredited
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
school. In addition, it was required to make partial refunds to former students. On December 1, 2006 the New York State Department of Education denied Ivy Ridge's application for authorization to issue high school diplomas. The department's letter to Ivy Ridge stated that the institution had been determined to be principally a behavior modification
Behavior modification
Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of...
program, not a school. Following this ruling, the school's enrollment dropped from about 500 to less than 100 students.
In connection with the incident, the Idaho-based Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
The Northwest Accreditation Commission , formerly named the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, is an organization based in Boise, Idaho which accredits a variety of schools, including K-12, elementary, middle, and high schools; schools offering distance education; non-degree-granting...
, which had accredited Ivy Ridge, was criticized for accrediting a school outside of its service area and for violating its own procedures by not requiring a state license as a prerequisite to accreditation.
In April 2009 a judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit related to the diploma issue.