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Carrabassett Valley Academy is a private middle/high school at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, offering a unique balance of college-preparatory academics and competitive ski and snowboard training. Nestled in Maine's western mountains since 1982, we have earned more Olympic medals for skiing and snowboarding than some small countries. Our students have attended the most prestigious colleges and universities. CVA prepares student-athletes to be responsible, caring citizens who know the value of hard work and commitment. CVA is more than a school. It is a way of life that is shaped by the ruggedness of the terrain and environment. We create an experience not found elsewhere, an experience that creates growth, opportunity, and choices. A full-on academic, athletic, and community experience that is life-changing. We are student-centered. We tap into a student's passion for skiing/snowboarding, love of the outdoors, and willingness to work hard. We use that passion to help students achieve his/her personal best to create the most powerful high school resume, so upon graduation, he/she has the most post-secondary academic and athletic choices. We are the leader in delivering programs that enable students from 7th grade to Post-graduate to obtain a rigorous college preparatory education while pursuing athletic aspirations. It is a time tested integration of academics, athletics, and community, providing a framework for students to become confident, independent, and advocates for themselves. The intent and purpose of Carrabassett Valley Academy are to foster focused individual student-athlete development by providing the optimum balance between outstanding college-preparatory academics, responsible community living, and world-class athletic training in competitive skiing and snowboarding. Carrabassett Valley Academy is the offshoot of the Sugarloaf Regional Ski Educational Foundation (SRSEF), which began operations in 1969 to help racers and freestylers sharpen their competitive skills skiing. While the tutorial program was successful, members of the SRSEF and others soon became interested in establishing a ski academy at Sugarloaf to allow young athletes to stay in the Western Mountains of Maine rather than attend ski academies out of state. In the winter of 1982-1983, spurred by visionary H. King Cummings and other enthusiastic pioneers, Carrabassett Valley Academy opened its doors for the first time as a five-month, winter-term tutorial program. CVA's charge was to develop a school for student-athletes based on the Greek ideal of developing the body, mind, and spirit equally. With its initial 15 students, the program was designed to provide young athletes with a high quality college-preparatory academic program while allowing for and emphasizing time on the mountain. The following year CVA relocated to the former Capricorn Lodge as a full-time ski academy and college preparatory program. Since that time, CVA has seen many exciting changes and reached several goals and milestones, including the first snowboard, big mountain, and freeride programs. Following the development of a new campus plan, twenty-two acres of land was purchased a soccer field, 29,000 sq. ft. Antigravity Complex and new residential dormitory, and academic center have been constructed. View full school