Shortridge Academy is a year-round residential

Boarding school

A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...

 secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 in Milton, New Hampshire

Milton, New Hampshire

Milton is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,598 at the 2010 census. A manufacturing, resort and residential town, Milton includes the village of Milton Mills...

 which employs the Positive youth development

Positive youth development

Positive youth development, or PYD, refers to intentional efforts of other youth, adults, communities, government agencies, and schools to provide opportunities for youth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities into their adulthoods...

 model. Shortridge Academy is a coeducational therapeutic school for teenagers with problems such as low self-esteem

Self-esteem

Self-esteem is a term in psychology to reflect a person's overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs and emotions such as triumph, despair, pride and shame: some would distinguish how 'the self-concept is what we think about the self; self-esteem, the...

, poor decision making, sexual promiscuity, lying

Lying

Lying may refer to:* Lie — a deliberate untruth.* Lying a 2011 book by neuroscientist Sam Harris* Lying — a horizontal position* Lying — a 2006 film* Lying — a song by Australian band, Amy Meredith...

, and substance abuse

Substance abuse

A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...

.

Program

• Foundations (Phase 1) consists of students adapting to their new environment. Students have no contact with friends outside of the school, and life is quite restrictive. Typically this phase lasts six to eight months. Students also get their laptop during this time.
• Relationships (Phase 2) consists of students doing their "work" (sifting through the emotional distress they have). This phase is considered the most intense and difficult. Students may also begin contacting friends. Typically this phase lasts four months.
• Leadership (Phase 3) consists of students transitioning home, or to other locations. This is the least restrictive phase, and there are few guidelines and restrictions surrounding contact with friends/family. Students will also begin going home for five day visits. Typically this phase lasts two to four months leading up to graduation from the program.

Visit progression

1. Double On Campus (Two days spent on campus)
2. Single on, Single Off (One day spent on campus one day off campus)
3. Double Off (Two days spent off campus)
4. Single overnight (One full day and night off campus, second day off campus)
5. Double overnight (Two full days and nights spent off campus)
6. Homevisit (Prearranged amount of days at home)

Workshop progression

(Intense group therapy with a specific theme)

• Innocence Workshop (2 day) – attended between the 1st and 3rd months
• Friendship Workshop (2 days) - attended between the 4th and 5th months
• Choices and Integrity Workshop (2 days) – attended between the 7th and 8th months
• Opportunities Workshop (3 days) – attended between the 13th and 14th months

Miscellaneous

The majority of students enrolled at Shortridge Academy have attended a therapeutic wilderness program prior to enrollment. This allows for a more smooth transition, and gives the student a good idea of the things he/she will need to work on while attending Shortridge Academy.