Hidden Lake Academy

Hidden Lake Academy (HLA) was a therapeutic boarding school in Dahlonega, Georgia, United States. It is now shut down.

The school was founded in 1994 by Dr. Leonard Buccelatto. It was intended to "fill the need for a specialty school to fill the gap between services of residential treatment centers and traditional boarding schools."

New students had typically struggled with homework, depression, anger management, or various addictions. Some students were from outside the United States. The student population ranged from about 15 to 200. Hidden Lake Academy was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and the Georgia Accreditation Commission (GAC).

The staff recommended that most of the students attend small colleges or boarding schools, although a few attended larger universities or went back to ordinary high schools, against the school's recommendations.

Books were screened, and students were not allowed to possess any literature containing sex or drug references/pictures. Magazines, newspapers, and journals were also screened, and any inappropriate articles were cut out to allow the student to have reading material without negative influences. Incoming and outgoing mail were no longer screened by staff, but some letters were not permitted if they were from friends. The school did not always let students know when they received letters.

Peer groups, the school's method of group therapy, started with about ten students and one counselor. Students arrived at all times during the school year and were expected to stay for 13–15 months. During that time the students received an education tailored for those with learning differences and/or disabilities, and which included group therapy. The school had extracurricular activities in which students became involved, only if they reached certain levels/"peer groups": soccer, baseball, basketball, volleyball, music, art, track, cross country running, tennis, golf, canoeing, and clubs.

Like other behavioral modification institutions dedicated to improving behaviors, Hidden Lake Academy put students through different developmental tracks. Each peer group progressed through the steps of the program. The tracks were known as Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Galaxy. The program ranged from 18 to 28 months; their website stated that their programs ran from 13 to 15 months. The counselor had a choice whether to hold a student back, if he or she was not performing up to the counselor's expectations.

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