Was there in 2002. Looks like (from viewing the website) a lot has changed. Its possible this review may not be helpful/relevant. They appear to be a lot more organized, equipped with more resources, and accredited staff.On one hand, they were not as developed and had a very small staff. The program was new to Utah (originally in Idaho). The owners at that time were Rob/Sherrie; Scott was the only therapist, Mark was the P.D. Seems like all these people are no longer involved with this program.I recall that some abuse had occurred with a couple male students; it strongly felt like they tried to cover this up due to Business/P.R. reasons. Also, they screened at least one of my email/letters from my parents (which they would later deny). I had a difficult time trusting them after that.On the other hand, I did learn about perspectives and making choices and taking accountability for my actions.

The school is very good for my child. She will be home in February. She is changed her life wanting more her family. She wants now to attend college having nice grades and friends.

They do not deal with insurance and are very expensive. Why do these places take advantage of youth that need help for them to profit? For the prices do you really think they care about your kid or only about emptying savings accounts and bankrupting people so they can grow rich?

As a member of the community in which Diamond Ranch Academy is located, I have appreciated the community service that these kids participate in. I know they have spent hundreds of hours helping people in the local community. Diamond Ranch Academy is blessing the lives of these kids and giving them valuable skills for the future.

Diamond Ranch Academy serves local communityA big shout out to Diamond Ranch Academy and their positive involvement in the local community! Hurricane has benefitted greatly from local business Diamond Ranch Academy. Their staff and students are always quick to volunteer to assist with community service and local events including: Peach Days, Ironman Triathlon, assisting the local elementary schools, involvement in local sports programs, and community clean up efforts. Their students are always well-behaved, respectful, and happy to help. Diamond Ranch Academy also donates financially to the community and is a generous sponsor of local community events and activities. We have a lot of amazing businesses in the Hurricane Valley and we are proud to have Diamond Ranch Academy as one of them.Bryce KingPast President Hurricane Valley Chamber of Commerce

I attended this program several years ago.It was a very terrible experience and it saddens me that they have become this successful.After I tired to run away when I first arrived they made me perform “energy release” where they forced me to exercise until I couldn’t move anymore.My legs were so sore afterwards that I couldn’t bend them at all for 3 weeks.Then they strip searched me every hour 24 hours a day for a week and then every 2 hours for an other week. When they strip searched me at night they would do it with the door open in a dorm room with 3 other students who could see me. I was also on “shower searches” were they’d watch me shower for 2 weeks afterwards I ran.If I could give zero stars I would

Great program, lots of communication (phone, email, text, web, live streaming, etc) never felt like we werent involved in every step. A very transparent program. Very happy with the results.

Went there in 2010. Here are some quick hits.- Forced to smile in pictures- No touching allowed- Forced papsmear upon arrival done by a ~60 year old MALE which felt incredibly invasive and uncomfortable as a 16/17 year old.- Required to write in journals but only positive thoughts which gave me no outlet to express any frustration or sadness I was feeling- Phone calls to parents are monitored and only positive stories are allowed to be told to the parents (I tried to tell them something inappropriate a teacher said to me and my therapist hung up the phone call mid sentence)- You are not allowed to tell other students you love them- The program is incredibly hard to graduate in 8 months. I signed myself out once I turned 18 after a year of being there and no graduation date in sight.I am a 24 year old college grad and working professional and looking back I would still never send my child there, and the emotional trauma far outweighed any benefits I may have gained.

Many of these five star reviews are clearly planted. The associated accounts all either have no image or info on their account or they have a random photo that is titled me.jpg or me1.jpg...They have several 5 star reviews, all in the same places, some are even the same businesses.

We found them through our therapist when she returned from a national conference and found out about them. We had reached a stale mate in our therapy and our daughter decided not to participate any more. We could do no more in our home, so we called DRA for help. We too were impressed by the amount and quality of the references and our therapists evaluation of their holistic environment.

DRA is a good school for troubled teens. More of a boarding school than a therapeutic school. They rely on sports mostly to teach lessons. We had a call once a week after a while with our son, but the activities were nice and they show them on the facebook.

DRA will create structure and enforce boundaries for your troubled teen and I can highly recommend it for a family in crisis. Your child will receive good therapy and be able to continue high school at his own pace. I believe that the greatest downfall of the residential program is that it doesnt adequately address the family dynamics and issues at home, so the child doesnt have a safe place to return to upon completion. Parents need therapy and a 12-step program even more than their children, so if you combine DRA with a program for yourself, the chances of success are greater. DRA is not a one-stop shop that will fix your child. You have to find a program for yourself and work really hard at it.

I gotta say this place help me a lot ...... i realize that i should take a better path and always push myself.

We were worried about the religious nature of the people of Utah since we are not of their faith we wanted our son to practice our own. They invite the local synagogue (and other faiths) to minister to the people of their own faith on their sabbath

Diamond Ranch Academy changed my life for the absolute best and I will never forget a moment I spent there.A million thanks to the staff, therapists, ydcs, teachers, and mentors.

I was impressed with the teachers , counselors, and the facilty. The mission statement is spot on. My niece attended DRA. She came home and was great for a few months. Had a slight relapse, but that didnt last. The tools she was taught at DRA has made her strong. She graduated from high school and currently has a great job. Her future is bright and no longer do I wait for a devistating phone call that something has happened to her. Parents, look no further, DRA is the best facilty to let your child be a child , engage in regular activities , attend schoo, and receive the help they need.

Don’t believe the pictures they force you to smile to take photos and send it to your families ... they lie about food before you sign someone In they got no kosher no halal ... they cheat you when you call all calls monitors this place the state should close it for sure

There have been several instances of sexual harassment involving the staff and students. Students residing there have proven to be extremely depressed due to the conditions they live in

I went to DRA for thirteen months because I was turned down for advancement for no specific reasons and sometimes my breakdowns some I have to admit were my fault but that does not excuse the fact that it was supposed to be a 7.5 month program that I tried extremely hard to graduate after getting in trouble for trying to find a better school that would treat and teach me betterDras education system was extremely limited and did not comply with my written i.e.p. nor did I have enough help from teachers yet I still passed because all their test are multiple choice and must be redone if you get lower than 80%.Frankly I feel I was held there longer because it was during wrestling season and until my mom was gonna pull me out they were gonna keep me. Thats my opinion but I was asked to stay extra long to wrestle which I declined respectfully to rejoin my home team for my final year.I spent two New Years and two Christmases crying and I will never forget this terrible school with good intentions. I still have nightmares of being there trapped again and wake up thanking that Im not there. I learned more about drugs and how to use and make them there then I would have ever known in my life.I truly believe that this place is not for children and my prayers go out to those who are crying themselves to sleep or simply cant anymore because they changed. I could probably write a book of why not to send your loved ones here it could ruin your family. My appendix almost burst there I had to ask the staff over 40 times though out the course of about 30 hours to call the nurse which he only did a few times. I almost died. Jake. That this the staffs first name and I wont put his second one. But seriously begging for help puking constantly turning colors it was actuality other students helping me that is why I lived they helped me keep bugging the staff.So please unless you want your kid to be bullied at a bad school that has good athletes because they recruit kids by all means but I will never forget or let my kids go to such a miserable scaring place that hurts me to remember.

My son was sent to DRA for 10 months. He finished the program and graduated high school at DRA. This program has helped my son in a positive way. He graduated the program 2 years ago. I am so proud of all of his accomplishments and achievements. He stills says he did not like it there but knows it was the best thing that happened to him. It was an emotionally difficult time during his stay at DRA and I would do it again to have the relationship we have today. Thank you DRA!

Please read if your thinking about sending your kid to this place.I was sent to this program when i was 11 years old.This was a very traumatic experience for me.The staff there are very abusive to the kids.I was repeatedly givin what they call energy release this consisted of the staff putting both my arms behind my back and making me do frog leaps.They had me on what called a special diet which consisted of rice and lentals only for 60 days.Dont make the mistake of putting your kid thru this.Thank you.

They are doing great work for those children that need it. I really appreciate their work.

My son came home 11 months ago, next month we celebrate the happiest year we can remember since he was a kid. he got right back into school to finish his senior year and was accepted to TCU next fall and wants to study psychology! hes also going back to DRA for the grand opening of the new high school in August to give a speech to the other students! our whole faimily is so proud.

My son attended DRA 4 years ago. He was living on the razors edge and this was a last stop. DRA removes the noise, no phone, tv computer and worked to help our son find purpose. We saw incremental improvements throughout the entire program. We believe it saved our son as he completed the program and today hes thriving at a California University as a sophomore w/a 3.25 GPA. He has passion and purpose and wants to make a dent in the universe. (thats a Steve Jobs quote for those of you who might think it meant something else)

I was at DRA 2 years ago. Like the last review on this account I have heard similar things about DRA being a lot tougher years ago. From what I understand they have evolved a lot into more of a boarding school experience rather than a reform school. My experience was definitely not a negative one. I was able to finish school (something I would have never been able to do at home), learn valuable life skills, make friends for life with other students and staff, and I got clean. Would I have rather been at home??? OF COURSE! But I needed to be there. That is something that I didnt realize when I first got there. I wish I never had to go to DRA, not because it was terrible there, but because I wish I had never made the mistakes that brought me to DRA. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me through all the tough times!

This place is absolutely horrible. The program is driven towards making rob diaz lots of money. I was there in 2005-06 and it did no good for me. I had a 3.0 gpa and was on track to graduate, after dra i had a higher gpa but was behind on my school. They put 7th through 12th graders in the same classes and the teachers just hand out packets. Rob diaz jr. (Robby) seemed to like to restrain kids to much. It includes bending there arms the wrong way and makes it difficult to breath. All in all waist of my parents money and left me behind. Thanks dra.

My son finally lived up to his full potential at DRA. I m sendind him back for his senior year. Great staff and all facilites are of the highest standards. Would reccomend the academy to all that are considering a boarding school .

Before we decided on Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA), we were desperate parents. Our son was on a downward spiral, and we had to make a quick decision. We took a leap of faith, and decided on DRA having only spoken with staff. It was difficult, but we are certainly thankful for our conversation with Dan, and the ultimate decision we made to send him to the school.We cannot say enough about our teens experience at Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA). From the transport to the campus, to the graduation celebration 11 months later, the experience was beyond what we had expected. While there are many, many aspects of DRA that are worthy of discussion, the one aspect of the Academy that underlies all the others is the quality of the staff. The moment our son entered DRA he was greeted by and thereafter interacted daily with individuals who were one-hundred percent committed to his success. The therapeutic experience at DRA is second to none. But, equally important is the availability of extracurricular activities in which the students are encouraged to participate. Many teens, our son included, would have never been able to enhance their self-esteem through theater or athletics in a regular high school setting. However, DRA makes available to students a wide variety of activities that allows them to grow in strength and character. It is only up to the students to decide where and how they would want to participate. Watching our son compete in wrestling, perform a solo, and have a key role in a play, may have been the proudest moments of our lives. His achieving these milestones were only brought about through the dedicated work of the staff in building his self-esteem and his confidence. For that we will be ever grateful.For those considering a therapeutic boarding school for their teen, we would highly recommend Diamond Ranch Academy. We believe in the program, and more importantly, we believe in the staff. They are second to none.

Do not trick these parents. You are known for hard labor and punishment. You let a boy die from the flu! Even prisoners get acess to medical care.

The program was the only option we had since there isnt anything like it on the East coast except for short term programs - nothing like what diamond ranch offered. What sold us was talking to other parents and the way they did the high school experienc

This place looks nice on the outside, but thats just how they manipulate parents into sending their kids to this hell hole.

Would’ve rather been burnt at the stake then go here for 10 months.

Cant say enough positive things about this program for our son and our family!

Awful