Is Miracle Meadows a school, a jail or a group home? What is it exactly?
MMS is a school that specializes in at-risk children. MMS is under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Department of Education. Just think of us a boarding school that has a no expulsion practice and specializes in students that have problems in school and/or at home.

  Is MMS a jail or lock-up facility?
No. MMS has no fences and no locks on our doors. In order to provide supervision and security, we do have local alarm systems in our dormitories so staff members can be alerted if a student is trying to leave when they are not supposed to. Students are under staff supervision at all times.

  My child is in trouble with the law and is facing jail and/or probation. Can MMS help?
Yes. MMS has been a sentencing option in the past for juvenile courts in the United States. Depending on the charge, many courts view MMS as a positive alternative to a lock-up facility and sometimes, charges can be reduced or dropped if they know your child is enrolling in a program such as ours. However, our experience is that they won’t pay the tuition for you.

  How similar is MMS to a “boot camp”?
MMS is not a boot camp. However, we do have a strict schedule, students are supervised at all times, and students are held accountable for all their actions. Students wake up early (breakfast is at 7 am) and go to bed early (9:30 pm). Students are expected to be diligent in school and work. Students are kept busy and everything is a privilege that must be earned.

  What do you mean by a “low distraction” environment?
MMS does not allow students to bring personal CD players, mp3 players or radios. There is no TV watching on campus (except for the occasional movie night on campus) and telephone use is limited. We seek to provide an environment where the student can focus on their studies, on their emotional issues, their family, and God.

  How much does it cost?
Tuition, room and board is $2,050 per month. Parents will also receive a $200 discount - because all students are required to paticipate in the work education program - and, if you pay on time, you will get another $200 discount - which brings the tuition down to $1,650 per month. The first month is $2,500 (no discount); this includes an enrollment fee of $500 and a uniform fee of $350.

  Can my child work at MMS and reduce the tuition somehow?
Unfortunately, work is part of the educational program of MMS and does not count against the tuition other than the $200 per month already allocated.

  I am a Adventist conference employee and am entitled to subsidies for Adventist academies. Does MMS qualify for the same subsidies?
Most conferences have agreed to provide the same subsidies as with Adventist operated academies. Please contact our business manager for further information.

  Are donations made to MMS tax deductible?
Yes. MMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are fully tax deductible.

  Okay, my child is out of control but I’m not sure if this is a step I want to take. How do I know that this is a step I should take?
Please read "When Is It Time".

  We’re not Seventh-day Adventists. Can we still enroll our child?
Yes. MMS is open to everyone and currently over 20% of our students are not Adventist. However, we do operate a program that reflects the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church. We do not expect a student to join our denomination. We simply expect the child to show respect for our religious programs and we expect the family to do the same. We will likewise show respect for the religious beliefs of your family.

  My child is really behind in school and is not a good student. What can MMS do about that?
MMS can help if your child has difficulty reading. Students that could not improve from reading programs elsewhere have shown remarkable improvement with our “Potentials” reading program. We also have remedial math classes designed to work with students that are behind in math one-on-one. Often, when a child begins to develop discipline in his/her daily routine they begin to do better in school as well. Finally, students who need to make up classes may utilize our computer based self-paced program (Switched On Schoolhouse) to quickly catch-up. If a child is nearly 18 and very behind, MMS can also provide GED preparation classes.

  Will there be any problems transferring credits to another school after MMS?
In most cases, there is no trouble at all. However, in the few instances where there was difficulty transferring credits, the difficulty applied to only a few classes and in the end, we were able to work it out with the new school. Also, students that graduate high school from MMS have no problem getting into most colleges in the US. We are a testing site for the SAT and ACT test in the Salem, WV area so your child can take the appropriate test if needed.

  My child is really good at sports. Do you have a sports program?
Unfortunately, we do not. Our emphasis is getting the child “back on track” so that they can return home. We do have a weightlifting program and plenty of cardiovascular exercise in our program. A child can increase their strength and endurance at MMS and most importantly, their discipline and self-control—two mental attributes that are essential for success in sports.

  Can I enroll my child at any time or do I have to wait for a semester break?
MMS accepts students at any time. While our school year runs from end of August to end of May, we have summer school and our program is designed to accept students year round.

  How long does a student typically stay at MMS?
It takes years for a child to learn the behavior that is now causing a crisis in the family. That sort of behavior is not unlearned overnight. It takes most children one to two years before they are ready to go home. However, there are exceptions and some children leave sooner and some later. In order for MMS to be effective, a child should not be told a time frame for leaving. The expectation must be that the child will not leave until they are ready and this readiness is determined by the MMS staff in conjunction with the parents.

  I’m really interested in enrolling my child into your school. What do I do?
Call 304-782-3628 and ask to speak to Aaron Weber about possible enrollment. If he can not speak to you at the time you call, Aaron or someone else from our school will return the call. We will send you a student application or download the student application form here. Please print it out, fill it out as completely as possible and send it to us. Usually, there is a waiting list for students but depending on the time of the year, we may be able to accept your child immediately.