WELCOME TO OUR BOARDING SCHOOL FOR TEENS
Thank you for stopping by to learn about Shepherd’s Hill Academy. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call us. Our mission is to build intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual character into struggling teens, and their families, for the purpose of impacting today’s culture for the glory of God, and the benefit of society.
While others may apologize for calling their program “Christ-centered,” we do not. We know that a change of heart only comes from knowing Christ, and that’s the best therapy of all. Our program is built on person-to-person mentoring and counseling, intentionally offering a wilderness program to remove modern distractions and to help the teen start thinking about the important things in life — home, family, relationships, responsibilities and God. The wilderness program builds trust and teamwork, and teaches lessons from nature right along with daily time in our academy learning from our top quality educators. Within time, our students progress to the residential program, after they have learned to accept responsibility for personal decisions, address individual and family issues, and become invested in their own personal and academic growth.
We provide a fully-accredited year-round school with transferable courses commensurate with the educational requirements of the state of Georgia based on the Quality Core Curriculum. We provide each graduate with a high school diploma. In addition, we have designed our program to meet the following objectives:
- To teach students how to learn and think analytically;
- To teach decision making for a positive future;
- To guide each student into career decisions appropriate to his or her giftings and abilities;
- To develop the self-concept of the learner through positive educational experiences;
- To give students a quality education in preparation to be productive members of society;
- To meet the requirements for graduation as set forth by the State of Georgia.
SHA offers a general-education course specifically designed for the students’ unique needs. SHA uses the Stanford Achievement Test, as needed, with any student who comes in need of remediation to help determine appropriate placement. This test measures the students’ and school’s national standing academically.
Shepherd’s Hill Academy has a trained and educated staff, ranging from degrees in Christian Counseling and Christian Education to Masters of Education and Masters of Nursing. Many of our staff are graduates of Toccoa Falls Bible College, and reinforce the strong biblical foundation of our program. SHA is a member of the American Association of Christian Schools & the Georgia Association of Christian Schools, and is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission. We are also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Here at SHA a variety of programs are offered to our residents.
- Wilderness Program (New Creation)
- Residential Program After the First Year (Next Step)
- Academy (Accredited Junior and Senior High School)
- Equine Therapy Program (Reins of Life)
- Individual, family, and group therapy
- A variety of popular athletic activities
In class, the teens learn from Georgia certified teachers who teach the various subjects. Our Principal and Director of Education hold’s a master’s degree in special education. Our school and campus facilities have all the conveniences of most other schools, plus the day-to-day activities around the campsites that give great opportunities for teens to grow in character. Our sports, field trips, games, horses, devotions, accountability groups, game room, exercise room, music room, and chapel are just some of the other healthy activities that kids can involve themselves in to grow in personal character. Every activity here is designed to provide teachable moments.
OUR BELIEFS
- We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and is man’s only salvation from the penalty of sin through faith in His blood atonement at the cross. We believe He is the only begotten Son of God (God incarnate). The Holy Bible is His inspired written Word for our direction.
- Our Mission is to build intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual character into struggling teens, and their families, so they may use their integrity of character to integrate and impact today’s culture for the glory of God, and the benefit of society.
- Our Goal is to provide a Christ-centered and biblical-based community where struggling teens can experience life where healthy boundaries are defined, enforced, and enjoyed.
We strive to mentor SHA residents in a loving, Christ-like manner. No staff member will force-feed his or her faith, or our organization’s stated faith, on any resident. We offer an environment that is structured, yet loving and non-threatening, and where healthy boundaries are clearly defined.
To learn more about Shepherd’s Hill Academy, please contact us at (706) 779-5766 or fill in the online inquiry form. Though most of our residents come from states in the southeast like Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas, we enroll teens from throughout the U.S. and Canada.