Diamond Ranch Academy closing after being denied a license renewal

HURRICANE, Utah — Diamond Ranch Academy, a school for troubled teens in Southern Utah, has announced it is closing after 24 years. The school has been under recent scrutiny over the deaths of at least three students, one of whom died recently in December 2022.

Earlier today, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services announced it would not renew the school’s licenses. The DHHS told KSL NewsRadio that it notified the school about the decision on Tuesday.

The licenses are critical for the school’s therapeutic boarding school and residential treatment programs. The DHHS said the school will have to discharge all students by August 14.

Diamond Ranch had 15 days to request an appeal, but they have decided to close citing “numerous factors affecting the viability and sustainability of the institution.”

Since its establishment in 1999, Diamond Ranch Academy has been committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for students in need of therapeutic intervention and academic excellence.

In a statement, the school blames unfair treatment from the State of Utah. It also accuses DHHS and Child Protective Services of failing to provide due process to the school and making false allegations against the school’s assistant medical director.

Diamond Ranch said it will refute those allegations in court.  

The school faced criticism after the deaths of at least three students. One student, Taylor Goodridge, died late last year. Her family is now suing the school, alleging that staff at the school ignored their daughter’s sickness and denied her care before her death.

In a statement from attorneys for Goodridge’s parents, they said they are “pleased that the Division of Professional Licensing and The Department of Human Services is holding Diamond Ranch Academy responsible for its terrible decisions.”