Academy at Ivy Ridge

Academy at Ivy Ridge is an independent privately owned and operated for-profit boarding school in Ogdensburg, New York.

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The institution is owned by the business partnership of the Jason G. Finlinson Corporation and the Joseph and Alyn Mitchell Corporation.^[1]. It opened in affiliation with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS). In January 2006 Ivy Ridge announced that it had withdrawn from WWASPS in November 2005 because of the negative media attention that WWASPS was receiving.^[2] However, the Teen Help subsidiary of WWASPS still conducts marketing for the school (as of March 2007).^[3]

The institution began admitting students in 2001. As of spring 2005 there were 460 students enrolled.^[1]

Most of the students enrolled by Ivy Ridge are teenagers with a history of bad behavior. According to school promotional materials, the character development component of Academy at Ivy Ridge's program is designed to help these teens with emotional growth and self confidence through personal achievements.^[4]

Academy at Ivy Ridge sits on 237 acres of land located close to the St. Lawrence River. The facility has over 200,000 square feet (20,000 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.

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 General, stop issuing unauthorized high school diplomas, and refrain from advertising that it is an accredited school. In addition, it was required to make partial refunds to former students^[5]. 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} In the Matter of the Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15, Attorney General of the State of New York, Watertown Office, August 17, 2005
2. ^ Academy at Ivy Ridge Withdraws From World Wide Association of Specialty Programs & Schools, PRNewsWire
3. ^ Teen Help Specialty Boarding Schools website (accessed March 1, 2007)
4. ^ http://www.academyivyridge.com/
5. ^ See In the Matter of the Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15, Attorney General of the State of New York, Watertown Office, August 17, 2005, and School for Troubled Youth to Issue Tuition Refunds, Office of the State Attorney General, press release, Albany, NY, August 18, 2005.
6. ^ Ivy Ridge Academy accreditation rejected, News Watch 50 WWTI TV
7. ^ Boise accreditation firm questioned by Ami Joi Bryson, Deseret Morning News, April 27, 2005.