Squaw Valley Academy

March 2011

Does anyone have a child at this boarding [live-away] school or know anything about it? I am considering it for my snowboard crazed son, together with the SV snowboard development team. Thanks! Anon

I don't know about the Squaw Valley Academy from the snowboarding perspective, but I would be surprised if it's really a good option for your son. Nearly all Tahoe area ski racers either go to a charter school in Tahoe, do independent study/home schooling/tutoring, or go to Sugar Bowl Academy. A few go to North Tahoe High or Truckee High, but those schools do not afford as much time for training as most athletes need. From what I understand, Squaw Valley Academy is attended mostly by foreign students, not competitive winter sports athletes. I would recommend investigating Sugar Bowl Academy to see if they have a good snowboard program (although I am sure that both you and your child would prefer to ski/ride at Squaw). It is annoying, even maddening, that Squaw Valley Academy can't serve this niche, but there are no Squaw Valley Ski Team kids who go there, and many kids who leave their own mountain to go to Sugar Bowl Academy. pam