Led by Founder & Executive Director Carla Shorts, Magnolia Mill School is proud to introduce key changes that reshape the landscape of long-term treatment options for students and families facing challenges to well-being.

Key Changes at a Glance

Magnolia Mill School welcomes a modern, informed, and intentionally developed approach to therapeutic treatment with new programming, skills-based approaches, inclusive community development, and comprehensive family support.

• New Approach: In creating this new program, the team has adopted a truly individualized approach to education and therapy. The intricate framework of Magnolia Mill’s therapeutic program invites students and families to work collaboratively with the team, healing and growing with autonomy and agency.
• Empowering Self-Worth: The school encourages students to realize and embody their inherent self-worth in the world. Core competencies and holistic skill development are at the forefront, empowering individuals to thrive.
• Eight Core Competencies: Backed by extensive research, the school introduces a curriculum focusing on Eight Core Competencies strategically designed to minimize program recidivism and enhance success in young adulthood. This approach supports the development of transferable skills, supporting both short and long-term success.
• Family-Centric Healing: Recognizing that healing is a family process, Magnolia Mill School introduces Robust and Comprehensive Family Programming to conjoin the therapeutic journey of students with their families.
• Personalized Treatment Plans: In a groundbreaking move, the school deconstructs the phase system previously used on campus, allowing students to actively partner with their therapists from day one to develop individualized treatment plans.

Story and Symbolism

Founder & Executive Director Carla Shorts shares the inspiration behind the transformation, drawing from the symbolism of magnolias.

“We love that Magnolias are a symbol of perseverance and dignity," says Carla. "This ties back into our core belief about the inherent value of allowing students choice and agency in their therapeutic journey. At Magnolia Mill School, we are redesigning and redefining what residential treatment is and how it feels. The magnolia is a gentle nod to our Southern roots, and while appearing delicate and beautiful, they have an incredibly strong and wide root system that allows them to withstand incredible winds. After Hurricane Hugo hit NC, the only trees that survived on my grandparents' farm were their magnolia trees."

She continued, "While we have changed our program and identity, we will maintain our roots on this beautiful campus. The mill house is a central heart of our campus, a midpoint between the transitional spaces of home, our clinical cottage, and school. We felt that a nod to this historical landmark on our grounds neatly connects the old with the new as we excitedly usher in this incredible new program.”

For more information or to schedule a meeting, please visit Magnolia Mill School's website or contact Bri Anicetti, Admissions Director, at bri@magnoliamillschool.com.

About Magnolia Mill School

Magnolia Mill School is a learning community dedicated to empowering bright-minded students and their families. Led by Founder & Executive Director Carla Shorts, the school facilitates transformative changes through core competencies, family work, and agency-focused identity development for students.