PARENTS, GUARDIANS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS BEING PLACED AT EAGLE RANCH ACADEMY
We know online reviews can be confusing—especially when you’re making decisions about your child’s care. Here are the facts every parent should know about Eagle Ranch Academy (ERA):
Why Some Online Reviews Are Misleading
- Many negative reviews about “Eagle Ranch Academy” are actually about other programs with similar names (like “Eagle Academy” or “Eagle Ranch”), not ERA in St. George, Utah.
- Online platforms allow anonymous, unverified posts—anyone can write a review without ever being part of our program.
- Some negative posts come from activists opposed to residential treatment centers in general, not from parents or students with real ERA experience.
- We legally cannot disclose student information or respond point-by-point to reviews, which makes online threads look one-sided.
Our Licensing, Accreditation & Oversight
- State Licensed: ERA is independently licensed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Licensing.
- CARF Accredited: Accredited since 2016, meeting international standards for safety, quality, and accountability.
- Regular Oversight: Multiple unannounced inspections and audits every year confirm ongoing compliance.
- Transparency with Families: Parents participate in family therapy, receive regular updates, have confidential weekly calls with their child, and can visit in person (on or off campus) at any time.
Addressing Abuse Allegations
- If abuse were occurring, it would be reported to law enforcement or state licensing. That has never happened at ERA.
- False claims online often come from troubled teens lashing out—something common in our field.
- We serve struggling youth, and part of the healing process can involve resistance, anger, and pushback.
Our Proven Record
- Nearly 20 Years of Service: Helping families nationwide since 2005.
- Top Success Rates: ERA has one of the strongest track records in the country for student safety and positive outcomes.
- Family Partnerships: We encourage parents to talk with current or former ERA families about their experiences.
Our Commitment
- The safety and well-being of students is always our top priority.
- We operate with full transparency, accountability, and continuous oversight.
- ERA provides a safe, structured, and supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
A DAD’S STORY:
Our counselor received a call from a dad of a 15-year-old boy. After a few weeks of discussion and information trading, the dad was ready to enroll his son. Two days before the dad was going to bring his son to the program, he called the admissions counselor and told her that he was reconsidering. He said he read a negative review online about the program.
He told the admissions counselor that what he read was pretty outlandish, and since he knew a former student wrote it, he didn’t believe it. However, it gave him pause, so he decided to keep his son at home and give him another chance. The admissions counselor called him a few weeks later to see how they were doing. The dad broke into tears and said about two weeks prior that his son had snuck out at night, stole a car with some friends, they were all drinking and had a severe car accident. His son and one other boy died in the accident. Not sure what to say to this grieving dad; there was silence. The dad finally said, “I can only hope that other parents do not make the same mistake I made.”
Understanding Online Reviews About ERA
Over the years, a small number of former students have posted negative comments on “hate sites” that exist solely to attack programs like ours. These claims are often misleading, connected to other programs with similar names, or come from individuals who never engaged with Eagle Ranch Academy (ERA). Because of student privacy laws, we cannot respond point-by-point on these sites, which can make them appear one-sided.
The truth is, ERA is one of the most regulated programs in the nation. We are fully licensed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and have been CARF accredited since 2016—meeting rigorous international standards for safety and quality. We undergo multiple unannounced inspections and audits every year to ensure compliance and accountability. If abuse or wrongdoing were happening, the state and our accrediting bodies would shut us down immediately.
Parents choose ERA when their child is in crisis—struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, or destructive behaviors. Some of these teens push back hard, even making false allegations, but that’s part of working with youth in pain. Despite this, our program maintains one of the top success rates in the country. Families consistently share stories of transformation, healing, and gratitude for the second chance ERA helped create.
Bottom line: Don’t let anonymous online posts outweigh the facts. ERA is safe, accredited, and committed to student growth and family healing, with a proven record of success since 2005.