Diamond Ranch Academy
Reviews and Complaints

Sending your child to Diamond Ranch Academy is a tough decision. I know because I went through it myself. It's hard to see your child leave with strangers, but sometimes it's necessary. I did my research before sending my son there, but I still had my doubts.

I can't guarantee that your child will have a great experience at Diamond Ranch Academy, but I can tell you about one person who made a huge difference in my son's life. His name is Rod Peterson, and he's the director of the art program.

Mr. Peterson helped my son discover a talent he didn't even know he had. He mentored him, advised him, and believed in him when no one else did. Even after my son left Diamond Ranch Academy, Mr. Peterson continued to support him and attend art events with him.

The art program at Diamond Ranch Academy is a safe and creative space where kids can express themselves and find a connection to life. Mr. Peterson is a caring professional who knows how to reach kids who feel abandoned and alone. He's a shining example of the beauty and wisdom of art.

I can't promise that Diamond Ranch Academy will be the right fit for your child, but I can tell you that Mr. Peterson and the art program are something special. They made a huge difference in my son's life, and I'll be forever grateful for that.

We decided to enroll our granddaughter in Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA) as an alternative school when we noticed her heading in a negative direction. Despite her high IQ of 140+, she was constantly defiant towards her teachers and other adults. She had a habit of lying about her responsibilities in school, not doing her homework, and failing her studies even with the help of a qualified tutor.

We knew that our child needed structure and discipline, and she had to learn to respect authority and be polite to her peers, teachers, and their parents. We researched several schools, and DRA stood out because of its 10-month or longer program. We learned that therapy is most effective when it is long-term, not just for 30-60 or even 90 days.

We read some negative reviews on the internet, but we did our due diligence. We contacted the Utah State Department that oversees all private schools in Utah. They regularly and randomly inspect these schools for compliance and safety. Their report to us indicated that the DRA staff is very open about allowing the inspector to talk openly with the kids and staff members. Their unbiased and truthful report indicated that DRA is exactly as advertised.

Our child has been at DRA for six months, and we have seen a remarkable turnaround. She is now positive, upbeat, cheerful, grateful for her family, and is learning to be self-confident without being self-centered. DRA teaches kids to build strong self-esteem, maintain a positive attitude, and develop self-respect, make good choices, and feel good about themselves through hard work and realistic accomplishment in academics, sports, and in making good choices.

We highly recommend DRA, and we cannot understand the negative comments we have read. Our experience with our child and DRA has been very positive.

Diamond Ranch Academy is a really great place for teens who are struggling. I can't even tell you how much we appreciate this school and the staff who work there. Our daughter was really struggling in school and with her behavior, and we didn't know what to do. We tried everything we could think of, but nothing seemed to work. It was really hard to make the decision to send her to DRA, but we are so glad we did.

It's really hard to get through to a teenager when they're surrounded by distractions and negative influences. But at DRA, they have a chance to break that cycle and start fresh. The staff is really well-trained and they care a lot about the kids they work with. They kept us informed and helped us feel more comfortable during those first few weeks.

Our daughter wasn't happy about being there at first, but over time she started to see the benefits. It took a while for her to start making positive changes, but eventually she did. She's doing really well in school now, and she's much more confident and self-assured. DRA taught her how to handle problems and deal with peer pressure in a healthy way.

If we hadn't sent her to DRA, I don't know what would have happened. We were really worried about her future, and we were afraid that our relationship with her would suffer. But now we have a daughter who is happy, motivated, and excited about her future. We're so glad we made the decision to send her to DRA, and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you're struggling with your teen and you don't know what to do, I would definitely recommend DRA. Your child will be safe there, and they'll have a chance to turn their life around. It's not an easy decision to make, but it's definitely worth it in the end.

Our daughter has been at Diamond Ranch Academy for 4.5 months now, and we are already seeing a huge improvement in her behavior and attitude. Before coming to DRA, she was in and out of juvenile detention, failing in school, and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Her self-esteem was low, and she had lost her passion for sports. We had tried everything, from counseling to in-school and out-of-school help, but nothing seemed to work. That's when we discovered DRA, and we are so glad we did.

We recently visited our daughter at DRA, and it was a wonderful weekend. We could see that her passion for life had returned. She is now getting A's and B's in school, excelling in her favorite sport of soccer, and even talking about college. This is the same girl who just a few months ago didn't care if she graduated from high school. We are so grateful to DRA for giving us hope and a clear vision of our daughter's future.

DRA's program is comprehensive, addressing the overall health of the student, from therapy to academics to athletics to faith. They also provide family counseling to help families heal and prepare for the road ahead once the student comes home. Their mission is to help students realize their potential and heal families, and we are eternally grateful for the help we are receiving.

We hope that DRA's program can be duplicated and expanded beyond Utah to help even more families facing similar challenges. If you have a troubled teen and feel alone in what you're facing, don't hesitate to reach out to DRA for assistance. You'll learn that your family situation is not unique, and DRA is well-equipped to help. It's a painful decision to make, but it's for the well-being of your child and a means to give them a bright future.

We are so thankful for what DRA has done for our daughter and our family over the past few months, and we look forward to continuing on this journey toward her graduation.

Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA) has been a real lifesaver for our son and our family. Our son had a rough time in 8th grade, and then things got worse during the summer. As parents, we thought we had everything under control and could fix whatever trouble he threw at us. We tried grounding him, taking away his phone and computer, and giving him more chores, but nothing seemed to work.

When high school started, we thought he was just getting used to it, but things started to turn after Christmas. We didn't realize that behind the scenes, everything was falling apart. Our son started lying, had a bad attitude, became depressed, started using drugs, and ultimately flunked out of school. As parents, we had to make the difficult decision to send him to boarding school.

DRA and their transition partners made the process as smooth as possible. They handled everything with care and professionalism, from the pickup to the delivery process. The DRA staff and therapist kept us informed as our son progressed through his first phase, which was the toughest. We were nervous during our first phone call, but the professional therapist and staff made us feel at ease.

The DRA staff, therapist, and teachers worked their magic with our son to build up to our first visit, and we were amazed at how much he had changed in such a short time. The facilities on the DRA campus are impressive, and the area around the DRA campus is beautiful, with Zion National Park nearby for outdoor activities and the local St. George town for shopping and eating.

Our son is due home for his first home visit, and we are looking forward to the changes he brings and the work we have ahead of us. DRA has done a great job in setting goals for our son and challenging him in all areas.

Overall, we rate DRA 4 stars because we're not finished yet! Stay tuned for more updates.

Our son was struggling with depression and anxiety, which led to a lack of self-esteem and poor academic performance. He was also combative at home and with his peers, and his behavior was becoming increasingly self-destructive. We tried day programs and in-patient therapy, but nothing seemed to work. He turned to substance abuse and was getting into fights at school. We knew we had to do something to keep him safe.

After searching for options, we came across Diamond Ranch Academy. We were intrigued by their structured approach and the fact that they were a fully accredited high school with full team athletic programs. We knew our son still enjoyed sports and were concerned about his academic future. When we visited DRA, we were impressed by the young men who spoke with us about their experiences. We felt hopeful that our son could one day show the discipline, respect, poise, and confidence that these young men demonstrated.

Although our son was only beginning his junior year, we felt encouraged that he could achieve his diploma and graduate from high school at DRA. The self-paced study approach suited him well, and he began to have some successes in school. He had some setbacks, but we had wonderful family visits off campus. He struggled somewhat with the home visits, but he fulfilled all of the program requirements and finished his junior year academic credits.

We were making plans for him to come home and re-join his high school back home for his senior year, but he showed great maturity in discussing the option to stay at DRA to finish high school. He ended up choosing to stay, and we are proud of the progress he has made. Today, he is working hard at his full-time job and continues to receive counseling. He enjoys spending time with family and never misses work except for family vacations or time taken to visit his top college choices. We know he is ready for college and hope that others can find the same assistance we did at DRA. We are grateful for the wonderful people we met there and will never forget them.

Hey there, if you're reading this, you might be going through a tough time with your kid. I feel you, it's not easy. But if you're looking for some hope, keep reading...

So, my 14-year-old son was making some really bad decisions, including drug abuse. We had been through this before with his older brother, and we knew that outpatient and short-term inpatient rehab programs weren't always effective for teenagers. After doing some research and praying, we decided to send him to Diamond Ranch Academy. We thought their program would give him the best chance at recovery and healing. And it did.

My son had always been interested in drawing graffiti, but he joined the art club at DRA to make the most of his time there. And it turned out to be life-changing for him. The art director taught him how to draw portraits, and my son's talent blossomed. He even won first place in a chalk art festival. The art director at DRA is a talented artist and an amazing inspiration to young artists!

When my son came home, we enrolled him in a local charter school for the arts. He successfully finished grade 10 last year, which I don't think would have happened without DRA. Unfortunately, he did experience two relapses during grade 10, but he bounced back with the positive energy and hope he learned at DRA. Over the summer, he relapsed again, but this time he was unreachable. So we sent him back to DRA for a 30-day "refresher." He quickly turned the corner and came back home stronger and more committed to his recovery than before.

I highly recommend DRA to families in crisis. The program is strong and the staff truly cares about these kids. If your family is going through a similar situation and you need help, DRA could be the place where you find recovery, healing, and peace.

All the best to you!

Hey there, if you're reading this review, chances are you're going through a tough time with your loved one and looking for help. I want to share my experience with Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA) and their staff. Life can be hectic, but I wanted to take the time to write this review because I wish I had read something like this when I was searching for help for my daughter. I understand what you may be going through, as the last few years of my life have been some of the most stressful and difficult I have experienced. My 17-year-old daughter was struggling with depression, defiance, isolation, and negative coping skills to deal with her mental health. Every day was a rollercoaster, and I never knew which daughter I would be interacting with. It was like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde situation. Her behavior was taking a toll on my marriage and affecting my other children. Her life seemed to be spiraling out of control, and I felt like she was becoming a vortex of destruction to all in her path, including herself. We had tried everything possible, including outpatient therapy and self-help books, but nothing seemed to work. I was losing hope.

We started to look at multiple options, including intensive inpatient therapy and intensive outpatient therapy. None of these seemed like viable options until we discovered DRA, and we began to see some hope. One of the things that stood out to me was the saying at DRA of Healing families one child at a time. DRA understood that it was not just the child that needed help, but by helping that child to develop the skills to overcome their negative behaviors, it would also help to heal the family of that child that was also hurting.

As my wife and I were contemplating this decision, I had to address some personal issues and thoughts.

Issue #1: "If I send my child to DRA, it will be as if I admit that I had failed as a parent." This was one of the more difficult thoughts I had to work through for myself. I felt like perhaps if I had done something differently, she would not be in this situation. I felt that perhaps I had failed her as a parent and that by sending her away, it would be as if I were giving up. As my daughter has been at DRA, I now see that the opposite is true. By sending your child to DRA, you are not abandoning your child and you are not a failure as a parent. You are turning your child over to experts who have helped many children to turn their lives around. In sending a child to DRA, you are actually exhibiting great courage to make this decision and being a great parent.

Issue #2: "Why did this happen to us, and it will be a complete embarrassment once everyone finds out." As my daughter has been at DRA, I have discovered that many families are in similar situations and don't know where to go for help. The parent 101 and parent 201 classes were excellent as we met with many other parents who were in similar situations. I felt like my wife and I no longer were suffering in silence but were actually understood by many people with whom we shared a common bond. Furthermore, as friends and family found out about us sending our daughter to DRA, we have only felt supported by them.

Issue #3: As I was researching DRA, I encountered some negative reviews. Before I sent my daughter there, I expressed some of these concerns with Andrew and some of the other staff at DRA. They even offered to give me several referrals of parents that had children in the program. The parents I spoke with gave very positive reviews of DRA and the staff there. Since she has been there, I can't say enough in support of the professionalism of all of the staff that I have encountered at DRA. The DRA staff do an exceptional job of keeping parents in the loop and letting parents know how their child is doing.

DRA is a well-rounded program. At DRA, she has excelled academically due to the low student-teacher ratio and all the assistance she has in learning the material. She was also accepted to college and will start college two weeks after her high school graduation from DRA and completing the program. Furthermore, while she has been at DRA, she has had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that she otherwise would not have.

The therapists at DRA have helped my daughter and myself tremendously. By doing this, I have found that it has significantly strengthened my relationship with my daughter, and I understand her better now than I ever have understood her.

As we finish the program at DRA, I know the transition home and to college will have some ups and downs. However, I now feel that DRA has given my daughter and myself the skills needed to navigate the hills and valleys that will inevitably come. I truly cannot express enough thanks to all of the staff at DRA for loving and caring for my daughter and by so doing to help her heal. I feel I will always be indebted to DRA for everything they have done for my daughter and also for myself. For the first time in many years, I again feel hope and feel at peace for my daughter; something that I was not sure I would feel again. I fully express my support of the program and wish to thank them for everything.

yo parents, if you're reading this, it probs means you're dealing with a tough situation with your teen and trying to figure out if Diamond Ranch Academy (DRA) is the right move. Trust me, my wife and I were in the same boat 8 months ago. We want to share our experience to help you make the right decision for your family. Our son was a star athlete and outgoing kid until he got caught up in social media, cell phone addiction, bad friends, and immaturity. He started failing classes, using weed, and acting out. At 17, he got in trouble with the law and we knew we had to do something. We tried everything, but nothing worked. We were at our wits end.

Misconception #1 - "I can't let go-it will be like admitting we failed as parents." Letting go and turning your child over to experts is the right thing to do. DRA has helped thousands of teens and knows how to handle tough situations. It takes courage to make this decision, but it's not abandoning your child.

Misconception #2 - "You can't get your child to DRA-if they don't want to go they will run". You don't have to transport your child. There are professional youth transport services that will help you. Even if your teen doesn't want to go, the transporters know how to handle it. We used the service for home visits and it was a breeze.

Misconception #3 - "I know what's best for my child and I can salvage this situation on my own". We regret not going to DRA sooner. Teens are smart and manipulative, and it's hard to make progress on your own.

Misconception #4 - "This is so embarrassing. Why us? How did we draw this straw?" You're not alone. Many families go through similar situations. DRA receives hundreds of inquiries every month.

DRA has a lot to offer. Our son has been there for 8 months and is happy and engaged. The academics are rigorous and students learn study skills. The merit system rewards good behavior and encourages participation in activities. Athletics are a big part of the program and helped our son regain confidence. There are also opportunities for arts and theater. Therapy is important and DRA has over a dozen therapists to help with a variety of issues. The governance is family-oriented and the Dias family is deeply involved.

Our son will graduate from DRA and high school a semester early. We have confidence in his ability to make better choices and are grateful to DRA for helping him get back on track. It's not nirvana, but it's a chance for your child to turn their life around. Don't be afraid to make the courageous choice.

Do your research before sending your kids to Diamond Ranch Academy. They got a whole team that's dedicated to removing student reviews from sites like this. They even offered to pay students who were leaving without any money or a phone to give a good review before they left. That's shady, right?

I went to Diamond Ranch Academy in high school and it was a nightmare. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Many of my former classmates are addicted to more drugs than they were when they came in. It's not just drugs, either. Being placed in a school like this can lead to many developmental issues down the line. Some of my former classmates are now active in the porn industry. It's not a good place to be.

If you're thinking about sending your kids to Diamond Ranch Academy, talk to former students and do your research. Don't just take their word for it. There are plenty of other options out there that are better for your kids.