North Idaho Classical Academy - Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Kaia F.

Northwest Academy is a good environment for emotionally troubled teens to take time away from drugs and harsh family environments. In many ways, my time at NWA was the best year of my life. The therapy was intense, but i grew a lot from it. Most of the staff were amazing people, the food was great, and I had amazing friendships. The best parts were working out and learning to love myself again. I had such`a good experience here. It had its flaws, as in it was difficult, but many things are difficult and I needed this.

S W.

Those of us who graduated 20 years ago have suffered ptsd, substance abuse and overall life trauma. This place is not what it is advertised to parents as. Please look up CEDU, Rocky Mountain Academy, Brown schools and more before sending your children. Read what alumni have to say about our traumatic experiences. There are YouTube documentaries about the abuse and awful things we endured in Northern Idaho. NWA was part of this but a smaller school. It still exists and is now stepping in for RMA with a new face with the intention of disguising the past. God bless the kids still in this program.

Lynne

By the time my son arrived at NWA, he had already been to multiple wilderness programs and a full year at another therapeutic boarding school. As such, I had a better idea of what to look for in his next school. NWA only accepts students in their junior or senior year of high school so almost everyone finishes within a year or so. While other therapeutic boarding schools emphasize their therapeutic component, and academics are almost a second thought, NWA builds its program around academics. Before the student even arrives on campus, the academic team would already have an academic schedule for each quarter and a projected graduation date. Of course things can change (a lot of kids actually end up exceeding the required credit requirement and take college courses while at NWA) but it gives the students (and parents) an achievable goal to focus on. For my son, that was a game changer.

To be clear, when my son started at NWA, he was ready to make changes. Still, of the many therapists he has had, the one at NWA has, by far, made the most progress. She clearly worked for him, not for us. She would advocate for him (and eventually helped him advocate for himself) at school. This therapist had to leave a few months before my son graduated but she came back for his graduation, driving 3 hours each way. That tells you everything you need to know about her.

The new therapist is also amazing - seasoned and calm. She guided us through the trickier part of the process I think. It is what the school called transition phase. Technically, it’s a preparation phase for the transition. It had never occurred to me that once my child turned around and made real progress at the school, I would have a whole new set of worries. But there they were, so many things could go wrong when he leaves the bubble in Idaho. Thankfully, his therapist guided us through it and now my son is home and working. He’s been accepted at a few colleges (some with scholarships and even to honors program!) and waitlisted at more for the fall. It’s great to see my son happy and excited about the future.

There were many more things at NWA that contributed to my son’s outcome. I can share information about the extracurricular activities at local schools and communities, outdoor day trips and overnight trips, therapeutic retreats, parent workshops, family trips, communication with the school, college and career counseling, recovery program, even their nurse and access to medical care outside the school. Please contact me if you are seriously considering this school for your child.

Joey C.

I can't believe anything remains from the old CEDU system. Do not believe anyone who is proud of this place. Kids are kept here against their will. It is a prison for minors, some of whom have committed no crime. I attended the Ascent Wilderness Camp and was threatened to be sent to one of these academies after the completion of the wilderness program. Boulder Creek Academy, Rocky Mountain Academy and Northwest Academy were all places that kids were shipped off to after camp. There have been riots, rapes and murders at CEDU academies. (Google the CEDU serial killer) These academies no longer operate under the CEDU umbrella but all these academies exist in the same exact spot as they did in the CEDU days and they're still doing the same ol' horrible things. These places still exist and they continue to scare children. If you love your children at all, do not send them here.

Chaotic L.

Glad to see you’re all still torturing kids. If you want to know what the real CEDU program is about just ask the 42% of my alumni that have committed suicide from the massive indoctrination and brainwashing of this “program”.

Aidan H. (.

I knew a guy who graduated last year. He ended up overdosing a couple of days ago. Sad to say but it’s a terrible program that’s seemed to be no good.

Amee M.

Abusive and deceptive practices, unqualified staff. Do not send your kid here unless you want to give them ptsd.

Jon H.