205:, has over 200,000 square feet (20,000 m) 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. However, students were not permitted to look out windows at lower levels. A student could reach upper level status in as little as 8 months and earn the privilege to look outside, and occasionally be taken outside to play during a monthly upper level activity.
293:, a Netflix docuseries released in 2024. They also kidnapped many teens and children as parents were not made aware of the circumstances of their training. Students and parents were widely unaware of the abuses and due to censorship of letters when students write home, no meaningful communication about it could be transmitted in any way whatsoever.
288:
The facility has been sued by various past students for widespread abuses. When the location was abandoned in 2009, alumni found extensive records of abuse filed and recorded. Various lawsuits against Ivy Ridge, including testimony from students, are documented in
244:
In March 2009, it was announced that Ivy Ridge would close until fall 2009 in order to restructure. There were about 60 students enrolled at that time; they were to be sent home or transferred to similar boarding schools. In April 2009, the campus was sold to a
189:. In January 2006, Ivy Ridge announced that it had withdrawn from WWASPS in November 2005 because of the negative media attention that WWASPS was receiving. However, the Teen Help subsidiary of WWASPS still conducted marketing for the school as of March 2007.
526:
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Calls for the investigation and prosecution of former resident overseer, Amy
Ritchie, began making their rounds on the internet following the documentary on Netflix in addition to former employee George Tulip and founder
336:, 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.
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172:
The institution was owned by the business partnership of the Jason G. Finlinson
Corporation and the Joseph and Alyn Mitchell Corporation. The property on which the school stood was purchased in 2001 by
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226:
they stated that the
Academy at Ivy Ridge had become overcrowded with people even sleeping on mattresses in the hallway. This was due to a large group of new arrivals who came from another
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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
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The students started a riot on May 16, 2005, resulting in at least 4 dozen expulsions and 12 arrests. About 35 sheriff's deputies, state troopers, city police officers and
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Allegations of abuse include poor living conditions, unauthorized medical procedures, psychological torture, sexual abuse, and physical abuse.
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256:, the St. Lawrence County district attorney Gary Pasqua announced the launch of an investigation into the Academy at Ivy Ridge.
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In the Matter of the
Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15
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In the Matter of the
Academy at Ivy Ridge, Assurance of Discontinuance Pursuant to Executive Law Section 63, Subdivision 15
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reported that Robert
Lichfield's brother and fellow WWASPS associate Narvin Lichfield, who was director at the affiliated
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program, not a school. Following this ruling, the school's enrollment dropped from about 500 to less than 100 students.
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58:
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185:(WWASPS). In 2003, the New York Times reported that the school's director had previously been an administrator at
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714:
566:"Utah man sues over Netflix's 'The Program,' saying its portrayal of his 'troubled teen' career defamed him"
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agents assisted in ending the riot and capturing at least 30 runaways. Later in the 2024 documentary series
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school. In addition, it was required to make partial refunds to former students. On
December 1, 2006, the
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documented the conditions at the facility and the lasting impact it had on the people who attended it.
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The institution began admitting students in 2001. As of spring 2005 there were 460 students enrolled.
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As of June 3rd, 2024, the campus remains abandoned and the property is listed for sale at $ 875,000
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video footage obtained from the school demonstrate violent restraint tactics used against students.
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corporation, a spokesperson for the purchaser told news media that the school would not reopen.
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Academy at Ivy Ridge
Withdraws From World Wide Association of Specialty Programs & Schools
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On August 17, 2005, Ivy Ridge was ordered to pay civil penalties of $ 250,000 to the
647:, Attorney General of the State of New York, Watertown Office, August 17, 2005, and
658:, Office of the State Attorney General, press release, Albany, NY, August 18, 2005.
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Academy at Ivy Ridge sits on 237 acres (0.96 km) of land located close to the
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In April 2009 a judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit related to the diploma issue.
414:, Attorney General of the State of New York, Watertown Office, August 17, 2005
542:"St. Lawrence County DA investigating Ivy Ridge allegations from documentary"
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67:
379:"Netflix documentary recounts alleged abuse at old Ogdensburg-area school"
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614:"Watch The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping | Netflix Official Site"
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155:
506:"Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy - The New York Times"
181:, and the school opened later that year in affiliation with the
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Parents, Shopping for
Discipline, Turn to Harsh Programs Abroad
280:, alleging that he had been defamed and secretly recorded.
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was an independent privately owned and operated for-profit
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World Wide
Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
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World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools
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649:School for Troubled Youth to Issue Tuition Refunds
766:Therapeutic boarding schools in the United States
332:In connection with the incident, the Idaho-based
234:which had been closed by the Mexican government.
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358:"Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy"
502:Melee Keeps Spotlight on Hard Life at Academy
317:, and refrain from advertising that it is an
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736:Educational institutions established in 2001
470:Teen Help Specialty Boarding Schools website
132:World Wide Association of Specialty Programs
334:Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
122:Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
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796:Human rights abuses in the United States
746:Schools in St. Lawrence County, New York
696:Judge refuses to toss suit filed in 2006
668:Ivy Ridge Academy accreditation rejected
291:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
254:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
223:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
161:The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
756:2001 establishments in New York (state)
698:, Watertown Daily Times, April 25, 2009
487:Director: Ivy Ridge to close until fall
429:, Watertown Daily Times, April 25, 2009
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274:The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping
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420:
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323:New York State Department of Education
16:Closed behavior modification facility
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801:Education fraud in the United States
731:Boarding schools in New York (state)
272:, had filed a civil lawsuit against
771:Special schools in New York (state)
751:Defunct schools in New York (state)
680:Boise accreditation firm questioned
201:. The facility, the former home of
252:In 2024, following the release of
14:
527:"Buffalo News | buffalonews.com"
239:Closed-circuit television camera
427:Ivy Ridge, home sold for $ 2.8m
311:New York State Attorney General
276:director Katherine Kubler and
144:behavior modification facility
1:
377:Bruening, Lexi (2024-03-06).
356:Semple, Kirk (June 8, 2005).
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781:Escapes in the United States
504:Semple, Kirk (8 June 2005).
313:, stop issuing unauthorized
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643:December 12, 2006, at the
410:December 12, 2006, at the
150:. It marketed itself as a
175:Robert Browning Lichfield
168:Ownership and affiliation
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472:(accessed March 1, 2007)
305:Legal status as a school
670:, News Watch 50 WWTI TV
301:, all for child abuse.
270:Academy at Dundee Ranch
776:Troubled teen programs
590:"Academy at Ivy Ridge"
489:, by Max R. Mitchell,
37:5428 State Highway 37,
741:Behavior modification
570:The Salt Lake Tribune
491:Watertown Daily Times
327:behavior modification
265:The Salt Lake Tribune
81:44.63750°N 75.56889°W
715:Academy at Ivy Ridge
684:Deseret Morning News
540:Sommerstein, David.
315:high school diplomas
262:On June 26th, 2024,
148:Ogdensburg, New York
140:Academy at Ivy Ridge
42:Ogdensburg, New York
22:Academy at Ivy Ridge
682:by Ami Joi Bryson,
158:documentary series
86:44.63750; -75.56889
77: /
654:2007-08-19 at the
511:The New York Times
445:The New York Times
363:The New York Times
284:Lawsuits and abuse
218:U.S. Border Patrol
199:St. Lawrence River
177:Family Limited of
686:, April 27, 2005.
203:Mater Dei College
179:Toquerville, Utah
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791:Strip search
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154:. The 2024
128:Affiliation
110:Established
102:School type
97:Information
84: /
59:Coordinates
786:2005 riots
725:Categories
717:(archived)
623:2024-03-05
599:2024-03-05
575:2024-06-27
551:2024-03-17
388:2024-03-07
383:wwnytv.com
343:References
319:accredited
69:44°38′15″N
72:75°34′8″W
652:Archived
641:Archived
408:Archived
247:Delaware
193:Location
48:New York
278:Netflix
209:History
156:Netflix
105:Private
27:Address
228:WWASPS
52:13669
636:See
546:NCPR
113:2001
146:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.