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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Diamond Ranch Academy
Diamond Ranch Academy was a therapeutic boarding school just outside the town of Hurricane, Utah, United States. It admitted adolescents, 12–18, with various issues, including anger management issues and major depressive disorder. Diamond Ranch Academy was founded in Idaho Falls in 1999 by Rob Dias and later moved to southern Utah, where it occupied a 200-acre (81 ha) ranch. It closed in August 2023 after a decision by Utah officials not to renew the school's license.

Its education programs were accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission, The Joint Commission, and its courses generally lasted between ten and twelve months. Activities included various sports, including interscholastic competition, as well as caring for farm animals.

Diamond Ranch Academy charged a tuition fee of $12,000 per month. Some students who required special education services had their tuition fees covered by school districts in California and Washington.

In 2022 a student died at the school after a period of illness, and the Utah Department of Health subsequently issued an extreme level citation to Diamond Ranch Academy for failure to provide and seek necessary medical care for a client.

History

When Diamond Ranch Academy first opened in 1999, it was a working ranch in Idaho. Students were expected to take part in a cattle drive. During the first 2–6 weeks at Diamond Ranch Academy there was no educational component. Students would take part in a wilderness component to the program. Afterwards the student would receive "continuing education packets" that had been developed by Brigham Young University. Enrollees aged 12 to 17 were housed in groups based on age and gender on four separate areas of the ranch. Students who had reached the age of 18 before completing the program were housed in a fifth area.

Diamond Ranch Academy had three locations where they ran their programs: Timber Creek Ranch, near the town of Salmon, Idaho; the Swan Valley Ranch near Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and the Pitchfork Ranch in Southern Idaho.

In 2001, they moved to a campus outside of the town of Hurricane, Utah. In 2012, a new campus was opened at a site about 5 miles (8.0 km) from Hurricane.

In December 2022 a 17-year-old girl, Taylor Goodridge, collapsed and died from sepsis caused by acute peritonitis while attending the school, which resulted in media attention. The State of Utah Department of Human Services found in a subsequent investigation that she had been ill since October 2022, reporting back pain, difficulty breathing, and difficulty sleeping because of the pain. Goodridge was found to have vomited at least 14 times in the 12-day period prior to her death.

Goodridge's parents have since filed a civil lawsuit against the school, claiming that she "begged for help" multiple times before she died without being provided medical care. Between December 2022 and March 2023, Diamond Ranch Academy was suspended from taking on new students by the State of Utah Department of Human Services while the student's death was investigated.

In February 2023 Sky News published an article discussing Goodridge's death. It included claims by a previous client who alleged that she had suffered partial facial paralysis after being restrained by staff on the campus. Goodridge's death was the third recorded fatality of a student at Diamond Ranch Academy.

On July 11, 2023, the Utah Department of Human Services declined Diamond Ranch Academy's request for license renewal in the capacity of a Residential Treatment Center and Therapeutic Boarding School. Diamond Ranch Academy officially closed on August 14, 2023.

In 2024, staff members and administrators from Diamond Ranch Academy were listed on a license application for RAFA Academy, a boarding school at the old Diamond Ranch Academy campus.

School structure

Diamond Ranch Academy used a token economy system as part of its program. Students earn credits by completing school work, the reward being extra benefits and activities.

Notable staff

  • Chad Ryan Huntsman

Former headteachers

  • Cory Henwood
  • Bo Iverson

Oversight

References

  1. ^ "History of Diamond Ranch Academy | Program for Troubled Teens". Diamond Ranch Academy. Archived from the original on 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  2. ^ Hogsten, Leah (July 14, 2023). "Utah officials shut down Diamond Ranch Academy teen treatment center after deaths". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Diamond Ranch Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  4. ^ "DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY, INC". opencorporates.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy Review". Idaho Falls Spokesperson. 2017-07-31. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  6. ^ DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY New Perspectives Archived 2010-03-02 at the Wayback Machine, Woodbury Reports website, July 30, 2004
  7. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy Tuition, Financing & Tax Deductions". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  8. ^ Judith E. Bessette, Visit Report: Diamond Ranch Academy Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine, Woodbury Reports website, April 28, 2010
  9. ^ Kingkade, Tyler (March 10, 2023). "After the teen's death, schools rethink sending children out of state to Diamond Ranch Academy". NBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Utah Department of Health & Human Services. "DIAMOND RANCH ACADEMY (F22-93407)". ccl.utah.gov/. Utah Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  11. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy – Helping Troubled Teens". 2000-08-23. Archived from the original on 2000-08-23. Retrieved 2023-02-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy – Helping Troubled Teens". 6 December 2000. Archived from the original on 6 December 2000. Retrieved 11 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy Online". 2001-04-05. Archived from the original on 2001-04-05. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  14. ^ "Diamond Ranch Academy Online". 2001-08-05. Archived from the original on 2001-08-05. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  15. ^ Morgan, Alexa (November 28, 2012). "Diamond Ranch Academy teen treatment facility opens new Hurricane campus". St George News. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  16. ^ Kingkade, Tyler. (April 22, 2023) "Teen vomited on multiple days before dying of infection at Utah boarding school, state finds Archived 2023-04-22 at the Wayback Machine", NBC News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  17. ^ Arias, Pilar (January 5, 2023) "Father suing Utah boarding school for alleged malpractice after daughter's death Archived 2023-01-06 at the Wayback Machine", Fox News, Accessed January 6, 2023
  18. ^ Tan, Chin Tung (December 21, 2022) "17-year-old girl collapses and dies at Hurricane treatment facility Archived 2022-12-25 at the Wayback Machine", Southern Utah News. Accessed December 25, 2022.
  19. ^ Miller, Jordan (April 22, 2023). "Girl died of 'easily treated' infection at Utah teen treatment center, had 'begged' for help, lawyer says". The Salt Lake Tribune. ISSN 0746-3502. OCLC 137343114. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  20. ^ Kelner, Martha. "'Snatched from their beds by strangers': Inside the multibillion-dollar 'troubled teen' industry". Sky News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  21. ^ Curtis, Larry D. (2023-07-14). "After 3 deaths, state denies Diamond Ranch Academy license for youth treatment". KSLTV. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
  22. ^ "Notices of Agency Action | Division of Licensing and Background Checks". dlbc.utah.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  23. ^ Guzman, Alejandra (March 6, 2024). "Diamond Ranch Academy resurfaces amid WA teen death". FOX13 News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Real Life Transition Program". Diamond Ranch Academy. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  25. ^ Burkitt, Bree (February 7, 2017). "Former teacher sentenced to 22 years for federal child porn charge". The Spectrum. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  26. ^ "Utah Military School Alternatives | Diamond Ranch Academy". 2017-03-26. Archived from the original on 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2023-02-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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