The de Paul School

De Paul is a great school if your child has a learning disability or not. They evaluate each student and their education is based on individual needs. Plus all learning is done in school so there is only a small amount of homework.

Public school is free. So why would anyone pay thousands of dollars a year to attend a school like dePaul that caters to learning differences? Because public school can only cater to the middle, not the top 30% nor the bottom 30%. We live in an excellent elementary school district. It's why we moved to St. Matthews. But I will never forget when my daughters 1st grade public school teacher announced that she would never learn to read. By 3rd grade, it was clear we needed to act. Continuing down this path would result in disaster. After doing much research, we landed on dePaul. Within a year, she was no longer dreading going to school (a daily morning fight) and was happy. She was reading above her average grade level and was doing well in math, language and science. Five years later, with the benefit of hindsight, we could not be happier with the investment in our daughter and the performance, attitude and dePaul faculty and administration. Our daughter is soon going on to high school, and we are absolutely confident she will continue to do well. If not for dePaul, I truly believe we would have lost her and I shudder to think what her future would have looked like. Sure, the middle school classes have more students than the lower ones. But that's because the students are prepared to handle it. And the ratio is somewhere around 18 students per teacher (compare that to 8th grade in public school). Yes, you do have to purchase the lunch program. But they really strive to provide a varied menu (this week offers shrimp scampi on one day and penne with olive oil, garlic, and onion on another) with a salad bar and deli sandwiches offered every day. It's pure economics and without full participation it doesn't make sense to offer any program at all. Personally, I'd rather let my kid have an opportunity to expand her palate than have PB&J or bologna sandwiches and chips every day. And as one who has volunteered many times to help work lunch, I can tell you it is plenty of time for a tween or younger to eat without feeling rushed. Throughout the years we have been in close communication with teachers and administrators alike. Every single time I have left a message, sent an email (and I have sent a lot), or requested a meeting, I have always gotten a response the same day or the next day. They have always addressed my concerns, and their results with my daughter have earned my faith and confidence that they know what they are doing. Back to the original question...why pay thousands of dollars when public school is free? Because when your child has a learning difference, he or she needs an environment where the teachers and leaders have the flexibility and freedom to find the best way for them, not locked into a rigid structure dictated by some huge bureaucracy. It's because you want the best for your child and you want them to succeed. By the way, my daughter is now one of the best readers in her class, and reading has become one of her favorite hobbies.

Academically this school is good - especially in the lower grades. The class size is very small then, however the classes get at least twice the size in middle school. Mr. Kemper goes on public television and says the teacher-student ratio is 1 to 8, even though that is not true. The lunches are so-so, but not what children with learning differences need to be eating - too many empty carbs and sugars. Plus, you have to buy the lunches. There is no option not to. They only get 20 minutes for lunch. That includes getting their food and then gobbling it down. Its as if the school is preparing the students to become fast food consumers. It would help if they followed some of the Waldorf principles...outside time everyday, to be in touch with nature, not rushing and mindful eating. That helps all of us. While dePaul offers sports, they have an athletic handbook which is mostly ignored and they have no one with a sports management degree. The coaches are not held accountable to the rules. The emphasis should be on teaching the game, including each child so they can all improve and experience being part of a team. Some coaches only care about winning playing those they consider to be better at the expense of those "not as good". They play in a gym which contains a large sign that says Compassion Starts Here, however it would be more accurate to say that Compassion Stops Here. Another weakness with dePaul is there is no PTA. Parents have no clout. They should since they pay for this education. This is a very expensive private school. The leaders of the school seem disinterested in having parent input. So, if your child has a learning difference, hopefully he or she gets to dePaul in the early elementary grades. And be aware that your tuition will go up each year. In addition, you will have to assume that the teachers have special training, because you won't find any credentials or background education on anyone on the website.