McKay Academic Center

Reading specialists, including academic language therapists and dyslexia tutors, work with students diagnosed with dyslexia, as well as students without a diagnosis who struggle with reading and spelling skills. Explicit instruction is provided through an Orton-Gillingham approach, a multi-sensory instructional method proven effective for learners with difficulties in reading, spelling, and writing.

A limited number of compensation classes are offered for students who require a more comprehensive, specialized classroom environment due to specific learning differences such as high-functioning autism, sensory integration disorders, and language-based learning differences. Inclusion is an integral part of the compensation program. Every effort is made to move students toward increased participation in the traditional classroom. Based on progress, some students move from the compensation setting to the traditional classroom with appropriate MAC support as needed; other students continue to have most of their academic needs met in the compensation program. Students' social, emotional, and adaptive skills are also developed through the following compensation program components:

• Social skills class
• Peer mentoring
• Extracurricular activities
• Sensory and behavioral strategies
• Communication skill enhancement
• Work ethic and independence development
• Academic and life skills connections

Please note that the compensation program is small by design and may not accommodate all ages each year. Individual consultation with the Dunham Admissions Office and the staff of the McKay Academic Center, as well as a current psycho-educational evaluation, are required to determine the possibility of enrollment.

Bridges in an extension of the Compensation Program and serves current students as they finish high school with a certificate of completion rather than a traditional Dunham diploma.

Second through sixth grade students may participate in Homework Helpers, an after-school program that provides a quiet place to complete homework, monitored by a proctor who helps students stay on task and offers reasonable assistance with assignments.

Based on individual student needs, the MAC offers other academic support services, including out-of-class testing, shadowing, and classroom accommodations. For more information on these services, please contact Ashley McIlwain, Director of the McKay Academic Center.

Students currently enrolled in The Dunham School are eligible to receive services from the MAC and do not have to go through a formal admissions process. However, it may be necessary to schedule a meeting to determine the nature of services required, and in some cases, a student will need to obtain an Ed/Psych evaluation. Parents of current students should contact Ashley McIlwain, director of the McKay Academic Center, at 225-767-7097 ext. 380 to inquire about obtaining services.

Parents of prospective students should begin the admissions process by contacting the Dunham Admissions Office. Please be prepared to provide basic information about your child and his or her school history, as well as documentation and other information about specific learning needs. In addition, students applying for admission to the Compensation Program are required to provide a current Ed/Psych evaluation (completed within the last three years). Applicants will follow the same admissions process as outlined on our admissions page and will be asked to come to campus for interviews and testing. Please note that the Compensation Program is small by design and may not accommodate all ages each year. Individual consultation with the Admissions Office and the staff of the McKay Academic Center will be necessary to determine the possibility of enrollment.

Academic Tutoring*
$55 per hour

Reading/Dyslexia Remediation*
$65 per hour

Homework Helpers
$240 per quarter after school for grades 1-4; $255 for grades 5-8

Shadowing*
$20 per hour

Accommodations: Out-of-Class Testing and Extended-Time Testing:
‍Fees are determined on a sliding scale and are dependent upon the degree of assistance needed for the particular test. The fees that may be charged are $10; $15; or $35 per test.

MAC Courses**
$7,000 annually (one student)
$6,000 annually (two students)
$5,000 annually (three students)
$4,000 annually (four or five students)

*Fees for Academic Tutoring, Reading/Dyslexia Remediation, and Shadowing are reduced when two or more students grouped together.

**A maximum of five students may be scheduled into individual MAC courses; fees are billed by the month and are adjusted when others join or drop the class.
 

2024-2025 Tuition
Compensation I Tuition (grades K-2) - $30,600
Compensation II Tuition (grades 3-8) - $29,500
Transitions Tuition (grades 9-12) - $28,430

Re-enrollment Fee
$300 (non-refundable; due Jan. 31; increases to $550 after Jan. 31)

Technology Fee
$650 (PreK4-12 only)

Dining Fees
$550 (PreK3 & PreK4)
$880 (grades K-4)
$1,090 (grades 5-8)
$1,190 (grades 9-12)

Facilities Fee
$300 (grades PK3-12)

New Student Enrollment Fee
$750 (one-time, non-refundable fee for new K-12 students only; waived for alumni children)

Students enrolled in the Compensation Program are provided a variety of extra fee-based services that may be added to their tuition. These services may include, but are not limited to, shadows, tutors, out-of-class testing, or other services specific to the individual student's needs.