Reviews of Grand River Academy (School)

Suzanne Rivera

Grand River Academy is a college prep boarding school for boys who need a second chance at success. They have about 100 boys and each one is there for a different reason: ADHD, behavioral issues, underachievement in their previous environment, etc. What they all have in common is an opportunity to rediscover the path to college. As a GRA parent, I've seen my son go from having a disasterous ninth grade year at home to being a senior who is excelling academically, captain of the soccer team, and an award-winning journalist for the local newspaper. Before GRA, we worried that college might not be possible for our smart but underachieving boy. Now our mailbox is full of invitations to our son from top colleges, asking him to please apply. If you think your son could benefit from a fresh start, consider GRA. They know adolescent boys and they can get your son back on track.

Heather Tierney

My son has attended GRA since the latter part of his sophomore year and is currently a senior. He was not excited about going but without GRA, he was in serious jeopardy of failing his sophomore year. He is one of those great kids who can skate through and slips through the cracks at a large school (his previous school had over 25 kids/class and 2000 in the whole school). He needed the individual attention that he has received at GRA. The small class size, teachers who live on campus (or in the same dorm), close friendships with the kids that attend with him are all things that he would not have had otherwise. I sincerely believe that college would have been a struggle had he not gone to GRA. They have taught him to be accountable, to be responsible, that he is someone who is worthy. He also plays baseball for GRA, which he wouldn't have gotten to do at "regular" school because of his grades. This year he has joined the golf and bowling team. As a senior (and someone who will be turning 18 in October) the decision to come back to GRA this year was his. He made us all very proud by making the decision to graduate from GRA. This is a great school with a wonderful support system for kids who are struggling, whether from ADHD or some other issue, but it also has great support system in place for parents. I have never felt like I couldn't get in touch with someone at any time, day or night. For someone sending their child away, this was a very important thing for me. Thanks for all the help GRA!!!

Gavin Gardner

I used to live here as a kid. It was the best 4 years of my life

Another Faze

I was in GRA in the early 80s ...Miss Hubbard was one of my live in dorm supervisors...I want to thank her for her care in my sort term there...I was a young dumb kid and didn't appreciate the Love she gave...Thank you...It took many years aft to find my calling and find the Lord...The school was truly great, I was not...If ever one needed the Love and care this school provides, you will receive it...Thanks to you all, even Zeek...Smile! Praise be to God... Stephen Neff

Colin Tang

i love this school

Cindy Wooldridge

This school is a bad choice for ODD ADHD ADD boys; if your son is having disciplinary and grade issues at their current school; Grand River will not fix their problems, this is NOT a therapy school. I highly suggest that you consult with a therapeutic boarding school AFTER entering them into a wilderness program. Grand River has two types of boys that attend there - the foreign kids who want to go to a US school then onto a US college so it looks good on applications AND the US kids who have disciplinary/grade problems. There is a lot of contraband on campus - do not send your boys here if they have issues; spend your money on a therapeutic boarding school.

Daniel Doner

Many, if not most, of my fondest and favorite memories are my two years at GRA. Most of the students did not appreciate or understand why they were there, mostly lucky enough to have the opportunity to attend, but I knew in the first five minutes on campus of my first visit that this school was/is the place to be! I miss all the amazing people, Carol Koranda, the Hartz', Mr. Corlew, "Big Oak" Wooding, Miss Owens, Mrs. Russell, Mr. Blum, Dean Thomas, Miss Hendrick, Ms. Carrel, Mr. Archer, Mr. P (Petkovsek), Mr. Drexler, Mr. Kancler, Ms. Rhoads, and of course Mrs. Field and Edmund "Bud" Field. I always think of him when I hear Conway Twitty. I apologize for anyone I did not mention. I was one of a very few students lucky enough to spend both my junior and senior years living in Shepard Hall with the Fields, Hartz and Carol and Jakers. The other day i was walking around sundown and the sights and smells I was walking through took me back 15 years to that walk from Shepard to Armington for dinner, my walking changed to floating. Thank you everyone, EVERYONE, involved with the Grand River Academy past and present! If you don't already know, YOU are the ones whom make the memories so memorable! Thank you! Danny (Daghn) Doner

Kim Hiller

The administration has ruined the school. Facility is old, run down, filthy. Academic standards are subpar at best. The headmaster lies to students, staff and parents. Run the other direction.

David Holmes

I arrived at The Grand River Academy as a lost and misguided boy at the age of 15 who had potential but was heading down the wrong path. I attended and lived at GRA my sophomore and junior years of high school and can honestly say that those two years were monumental for me. I hate to think about what would of happened to me had my parents not sent me there. I now have a wonderful family of my own, a great career, am an honorably discharged Marine Corps veteran, and have a BA and MA degree from a really great university. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the wonderful teachers and staff of GRA. If you have boy who is underachieving and heading down the wrong path, I would highly recommend that you look into and consider sending him to GRA. They turn boys into young men and he will thank you for it one day. Trust me.

98 KkoMaeng

I was GRA student. I'm only say fact. This school do not fix problems. Also they buck-pass all of student's problem. They do not give transcript well. I saw some parents come from other country then they got transcript. Also when student sick(add, injury), they do not care. Also this school is not good for international students. Because almost half students from other country.

Barbara Pennington

My son is currently a senior at GRA; he loves the school. The teachers and staff are caring,the classes are preparing him for a challenging college experience, and the environment is friendly and supportive. As a parent, I am pleased that my son's entire high school career has been at Grand River Academy. He has made wonderful friends and learned much more about life in general by being at the school!