Each CERTS Program includes an excellent academic program that fosters success in our students. Kolob Canyon, La Europa Academy and Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy provide a high school program for students grades 9-12. Moonridge Academy provides a middle school academic program for students in grades 6-9. Parents make the important decision to enroll their daughter at a CERTS Program primarily because of therapeutic challenges they are facing. However, many are also experiencing either academic challenges or academic consequences as a result of their emotional struggles. Many residential programs minimize the academic component and use online coursework or learning packets with an instructor teaching multiple subjects or levels at the same time. Our students attend classes with highly qualified, full-time, licensed teachers. All CERTS Programs are accredited through the AdvancED accrediting agency. All credits are fully transferable to home school districts. Students who are completing their high school credits at a CERTS Program, can earn a high school diploma by filling the Utah State Office of Education graduation requirements.
CERTS believes that a challenging, stimulating academic program is an important key to restoring balance and health to our students. Success in the classroom has far-reaching effects into other areas of life. As a result, we provide a high quality, fully accredited educational program. Special attention is paid to meeting the needs of each individual student. Our goal is to develop positive self-esteem in a climate that stimulates creativity and individuality. Our philosophy is based on the belief that each child has unique capabilities and talents. We feel that a wide variety of experiences are needed to help students discover and enhance their talents. We help each student to experience success that can be applied to all aspects of our education and clinical programs. Academic expectations are high and with the guidance of a highly trained and caring academic team, students learn to master the necessary skills to prepare them for their future. Students who enter our program academically behind, are often able to catch up with their class work while receiving the therapeutic care that is required. At CERTS, our belief is that a strong and challenging academic program is an important component of helping our students heal, develop resiliency, competency and establish future direction. The academic component compliments the therapeutic program by:
- Allowing students to practice skills in a traditional academic classroom setting
- Helping students develop or strengthen their academic abilities
- Allowing students to recoup lost credits, and/or helping them to move forward with their academic credits and goals
- Superb teacher to student ratios (average 1:6 teacher to student ratio) that provide the one-on-one best suited for this type of student
- Outstanding college-prep curriculum that is taught through learning and teaching techniques best suited for this type of student (direct instruction from a certified teacher with lots of opportunity for “hands-on” learning)
- A customized education plan
- Classes take place on campus with access to the teachers during regular study hall hours
- Specialized teachers who are passionate about what they teach and, therefore, who produce students who say things like, “I’ve never liked math before now!”
- SAT/ACT preparation and testing
- Opportunities to accelerate students’ coursework to help them get caught up or graduate on time. In addition, opportunities exist to make up deficient grades
- College entrance preparation and application assistance
- Career exploration and vocational internships
Graduates are Successful
Students at La Europa Academy have been accepted to some phenomenal colleges and universities including the Art Institute of New York, Parson Institute of Fashion Design, California College of Arts, Loyola College, Drexel University, Fordham University and many state colleges such as Colorado State University, Florida State University and many of the California State University Campuses. Students at Kolob Canyon have been accepted to Lawrence University, Southern Utah University, Sarah Lawrence and various state universities. Over the years students at all of our programs have received scholarships as well to some of the universities listed above.
On Friday May 17, 2019 Mountain Springs held its Spring Commencement Exercises at Southern Utah State University. A total of five students graduated with high school diplomas and six students graduated from the program at Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy with three students accomplishing both. Principal John Dobbs from Cedar High School was the graduation Guest Speaker. High school dipolmas were handed out by Academic Director Dave Gardiner. Each program graduate was honored by their student advisor. Each year we are excited when our graduating students are accepted to colleges and universities they have applied to. It is wonderful to see them advance to campuses of higher education with the academic and life skills learned at Mountain Springs Prep. Students graduating with the Class of 2019 were accepted to a number of different colleges and universities including Oregon State University, Arizona State University, Whitman College, Colorado State University, and a number of California State University campuses–California State University Chico, California State University Fullerton, California State University Montery Bay, California State University Northridge, and California State University Sonoma. One of our students earned scholarships to Evergreen State College, Oregon State University, University of Pudget Sound and Whitworth University. We are so proud of our graduates and all that they have achieved.