This narrative study seeks to elucidate survivors' experiences of academic and social emotional learning during the high school years within the troubled teen industry, which includes privately operated wilderness therapy programs and residential treatment centers. The study illuminates how the loss of a traditional high school experience can have academic and social-emotional consequences. Purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews of ten participants were utilized to ensure that participants' varied experiences and stories are shared and contribute to the scientific research community. The ten narratives convey first-hand experiences of schooling within the troubled teen industry and their long-term impacts years after release. Based on the findings, participants endured varying levels of institutional child abuse and trauma that consequentially impacted their academic trajectory, academic potential, and additionally impacted their social-emotional experiences in negative ways, initially and years after discharge from the programs. The recommendations of this study indicate a need for change in the culture which pathologizes adolescents as bad. Instead, a culture that utilizes trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning concepts need to be implemented within families and schools, to prevent children from being sent away to out of state programs that have been found to use abusive, non-evidence-based practices. If facilities are to serve at-risk teenagers, it is imperative to develop curriculum and settings that teach and foster age-appropriate social and emotional interactions, as researched in social and emotional learning theories. Professionals working with at-risk teenagers need to attend evidence-based trainings and undergo frequent evaluations with evidence-based educational and mental health standards. This inquiry allows parents, educators, therapists, doctors, and lawmakers to hear directly from adult survivors as they reflect upon their experiences within the troubled teen industry. This study can help guide professionals and parents into making informed decisions based on the long-term impacts shared in this study. Keywords: Residential treatment centers, wilderness therapy programs, teenagers, troubled teen industry, high school, education, social-emotional learning. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]