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Typical Day at Copper Canyon Academy

Copper Canyon Academy offers teenage girls an ideal balance of structure, education, therapy and fun. Weekdays are primarily focused on school and therapy, with time set aside for playing sports, doing chores and finishing homework. Students can play basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball competitively against other schools in the area, start a game of four square on our court, or engage in some other form of physical activity each day.

Our lush campus in the Verde Valley of central Arizona creates an ideal setting for exercise, play and reflection. A lazy creek runs alongside our western border and leads to three southern colonial-style mansions, a full-size soccer field and track, and a pasture which houses a herd of horses. Students live in three comfortable, home-like dorms that are named after the trees that line our campus – juniper, willow and sycamore – each with its own library and team of residential and clinical staff.

On weekends, students enjoy a more relaxed schedule that features some of their favorite activities, including equine therapy, canine therapy and off-campus trips. The girls are able to sleep in until 8 a.m., watch movies, play games, and enjoy a wide variety of on- and off-campus activities. More advanced students may take hikes in the red rock canyons of Sedona, go bowling or ice skating, or participate in a number of other outings. During their free time, students often read, crochet, write letters home, play music, or work on art or homework projects.

Our students also learn the value of service through volunteer projects such as singing at a retirement community or feeding the homeless every Friday. Those who would like to attend religious services can go to church or temple on weekends. Every activity on the schedule is designed to help girls recognize the need for change and begin to implement those changes so that they can be happier and more engaged in their lives.

* Times change for the summer/winter due to daylight and temperature

Course Load
Each student at Copper Canyon Academy takes five to six classes during the fall and winter semesters and two to three classes during the summer session. Up to 7.5 credits can be earned in a 12-month period of time. Because of scheduling constraints and the added summer session, the short-term sequencing of classes may seem at variance from that of a traditional school setting. However, over the course of a year, our academic department will remedy and make whole any previous gaps in a student’s schooling.

Block Schedule
Except for the summer session, a block schedule is followed at Copper Canyon Academy. Three classes are scheduled each day, with a different three classes scheduled on alternating days, totaling six core classes that a student can take each semester. The school day begins at 8:25 a.m., and each class meets for 85 minutes, with 10-minute breaks between classes. There is a 30-minute lunch break. There is also one hour of “constructive time” directly after lunch when students can study and catch up on homework, or receive tutoring from teachers.

College Planning
In preparation for college, juniors and seniors are expected to take the SAT and/or ACT while enrolled at Copper Canyon Academy. Tutoring and test preparation are encouraged and are available through trained teachers. Upper-division students are provided a full array of college counseling services. A list of 4-year colleges to which our students have been accepted is available.

Field Trips
Students participate in educational field trips to sites around Arizona, drawing upon the cultural and natural history of the area. Each field trip provides students with learning experiences in science, history, nature, English composition, culture and art. More extensive traveling classrooms include participating in the Presidential Classroom in Washington, D.C., competing in the Utah Shakespearean Festival and volunteering at a Mexican orphanage.

SAT/ACT Preparation Classes
Students who are preparing to take the SAT or ACT are strongly encouraged to participate in a SAT/ACT preparation class during the semester before their exam. These intensive workshops prepare each student to maximize her potential during the exam.

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