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P.E.A.S.E. Academy (Peers Enjoying a Sober Education)

A tuition-free, public high school in Minnesota for youth in recovery from substance use disorders 

Bridging treatment and recovery for adolescents can pose unique challenges. The P.E.A.S.E. Academy (Peers Enjoying a Sober Education) was begun in 1989 as the first recovery high school in the United States. The high school is a member of Minnesota Transitions Charter School and is open to qualifying students from any school district in Minnesota.

Some of the features of this recovery high school include:

  • Providing a safe, sober community based on recovery principles, where diversity is both respected and valued
  • Maintaining a small supportive school environment with an enrollment of 70 students
  • A teaching ratio of 1 teacher to 17 students
  • Practicing a restorative justice model to address conflicts and helping the community gain deeper understanding through respecting every voice

Most students who go on to graduate from P.E.A.S.E. Academy and pursue college degrees enroll in collegiate recovery programs to continue supporting their recovery. 

More information on recovery high schools can be found in this report and in this presentation. 

For a detailed description of 17 recovery high schools across the nation, see this peer-reviewed paper. 

Recovery High Schools are associated with less substance use, better academic performance, and economic benefits to society. 

Continuum of Care
Recovery
Type of Evidence
Replicated
Implemented
Response Approach
Housing, Education, and Employment
Peer-reviewed Article
Net Benefits of Recovery High Schools: Higher Cost but Increased Sobriety and Increased Probability of High School Graduation
Related Resources
Evidence-Based Interventions for Adolescent Opioid Use Disorder: What Might Work for High-Risk Ohio Counties?
The Role of Recovery Support Services in Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care
Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Resource Guide
Recovery Management and Recovery-oriented Systems of Care: Scientific Rationale and Promising Practices
Building recovery ready communities: the recovery ready ecosystem model and community framework
Promoting Recovery in an Evolving Policy Context: What Do We Know and What Do We Need to Know About Recovery Support Services?
Recovery Management
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
Monitoring the Future

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

This specific recovery high school (RHS) has not been formally evaluated, although RHS, in general, show promising results: 

"RHS students had significantly less substance use during the study period—at 12-month follow-up, 55% of RHS and 26% of comparison students reported 3 month abstinence from alcohol and drugs... RHS students’ high school graduation rates were 21% to 25% higher than comparison students...Mean net benefits ranged from $16.1 thousand to $51.9 thousand per participant; benefit-to-cost ratios ranged from 3.0 to 7.2." (Weimer et al., 2019)