Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy (1999-present) Cedar City, UT
Therapeutic Boarding School
History and Background Information
Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy is a CERTS program that opened in 1999. It was originally founded under the name the Academy at Cedar Mountain, until is was purchased by CERTS in 2004 and the name was changed to Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy. It is marketed as a “structured co-ed boarding school that specializes in transition”, meaning it is a program specifically designed for students transitioning from a higher-level of care. It accepts teenager boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18.
The program is located at 1454 S Campus Dr, Cedar City, UT 84720.
Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy is an Affiliated Member of NATSAP.
Founders and Notable Staff
Program Structure
Abuse Allegations
Survivor/Parent Testimonials
February 2020: (SURVIVOR) “As a kid who went to mountain springs preparatory school myself, I could say without a doubt that every student who I saw that had come into the program either graduated or was pulled from this academy with a lost sense of self. I came into the program with a sense of positivity and optimism. I had heard great things. Once I arrived it was apparent that basically every student was very depressed if not suicidal. This was the third program I had been to, after both a wilderness program and an RTC. The drug/alcohol problem here had only increased during my stay (which I had no participation in, in fear of not being able to return home) there principal spoke of bringing in “drug dogs” into the students dorms. They never followed through. Basically this is just a different version of an RTC that tricks you into believing that this is an opportunity for your child to gain trust through independence at this program. I know that not only would I have been much more successful returning home after my second program, but I would like to stress the fact that sending your child to this program greatly increases the chance of lost motivation and a loss of whatever mental work they had achieved in previous programs, as I saw happen with many other students there.” – Mira (Google Reviews)
