Brehm Preparatory School

950 South Brehm Lane

Carbondale, IL 62901

37 Reviews

School District
Grade

6-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 26, 2025

As a parent of a neurodivergent (or neuro-spicy) child who struggled throughout middle school, finding Brehm was a God-send. For years before we found Brehm, we went to parent-teacher conferences in public school and were told that our child was doing fine (mostly because they weren't disruptive). We would say, "but what about X and Y and Z?" And the teachers would say, "different children develop at different rates." The result was our child felt inadequate and incompetent. They hated going to school. Our child started Brehm as a Freshman and at the first parent-teacher conference 6-8 weeks into the year, every single teacher said to us "these are the things that your child is struggling with, and here are the next three steps I'm taking to help them grow." It was such a change. It's hard to send your special needs child to a boarding school, but the faculty and staff treat them like their own. We experienced so much love and caring for our child. We are grateful to have found Brehm.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2024

Brehm is great because:being neurodivergent is the normit’s coedindividual expression is encouraged in appearance and activitiesall the teachers are special ed teachersthere are options for therapists and therapy is normalizedthey can work with some sensory issues accessibility is considered in PE requirementsthey have some animals on campusthere is structured personal electronics timethere is support for learning to manage time, money, self-care, and chores
Submitted by other on February 27, 2024

Brehm is an amazing place. It has a warm and supportive culture. The experience and expertise of the teachers really shine.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2023

2023/2024 is my son’s 4th year at Brehm. He started as a high school freshman and has dual diagnoses of high functioning autism and ADHD. I put him at Brehm as I felt he likely would not graduate high school in the regular school system, even with accommodations in place. The boy/almost man he is today, compared to when he started is unrecognizable. His growth, maturity and independence is fostered not only in the classroom but also in dorm life where he has become totally independent. He came in with a lot of behavioral issues and they worked with him with kindness and respect to get him where he is today. My own relationship with him has grown tremendously as well. He received his first college acceptance letter and will will be going to college next year. To have him graduate high school and now attend college is something I don’t think he would have achieved without Brehm. The staff is amazing with him, and so encouraging. They exude positivity and are huge cheerleaders for his success.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2023

I spent an entire year searching and Brehm was the only school that had the ability for him to go to college and the supports he needed but wasnt a year round therapeutic boarding school at double the price. The midwestern hospitality and the holistic environment make for a place of acceptance. Through no fault of the school, it has been a rough year for my son, but they have been patient and kind. The parents all love Brehm and want other parents to know there is a place where your child can learn and get behavioral supports and grow into successful adults. We are a family that support eachother and recognize the struggles we have been through to get here. Ask the school if you can speak to current parents, or visit during parents weekend. You can also trial it for summer camp. Take students reviews with a grain of salt. Becoming responsible for yourself and your choices is a difficult transition and not enjoyable. They need a few years before they can reflect back on their positive growth rather than focus on how difficult the process was. If you ask my son, some days he loves his "brothers" and "mom" there and some days he hates it just like how he felt about me at home, but I love it every day and cannot recommend it enough. My son is returning in the fall and, at the moment, excited to go back. We hope to see you there.
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2020

Very good, my child is at this point thriving. In spite of COVID the kids are busy and socializing. The school has a step by step COVID plan and I don't believe there are any cases on campus. This is an excellent school for kids with learning challenges and ASD. From the top down everyone is involved with the betterment of the students.
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2019

The teachers are horrible and make you feel stupid and put you down so you feel terrible. Student life is terrible and the dorms are more like prison cells than dorms. The activities are boring and the food tastes like tree bark. The teachers obviously don't care about the kids and I learned absolutely nothing here. This place is closest you can get to hell on earth.
Submitted by parent on September 04, 2019

0 out of 10 the people are terrible with kids
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2019

the most amazing school, and feeling superbly blessed to have found BREHM!
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2014

The only 1-star review? No, there are several. Check LDRESOURCES.COM too. Don't enroll your child at Brehm without doing your research. Be wary of a list of parent references that is provided by a school. Find former Brehm students and parents online and talk to them. Talk to ed consultants who have actually had clients attend Brehm. Based on our experience, I would never recommend Brehm. Communication from the school was abysmal. Aside from 1 parent-teacher conference, there was zero communication from teachers. Admins didn't follow the school's own handbook or spec ed law requirements. It was common to receive contradictory information from different staff members about the same event on the same day and no follow up thereafter. If your child is placed at Brehm by a public school district, you may be surprised to be handed a financial contract on enrollment day and told you must sign it. It happened to us and many others that day. The law prohibits private schools from charging parents for spec ed services pursuant if a child is placed there by a public school. But that didn't stop Brehm. Consult a lawyer before signing anything at Brehm.
Submitted by parent on December 26, 2013

I recently read the only one-star review of Brehm Preparatory School, and was very surprised at what it said. Our child has been at Brehm for some time and is now enrolled at OPTIONS, the post-graduate program. Our experience has not been perfect, and we doubt that anyone else with a learning disabled child has found perfection at any school. However, without very, very few exceptions, we have found Brehm's work to be outstanding in every aspect. Communication can always be better, but we have found that it is very much a two-way street and that Brehm will accommodate any reasonable request for more information and more frequent updates. We're delighted with the progress our child has made and highly recommend Brehm to any family whose student qualifies for the programs.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2013

Brehm provides support for the whole student. Brehm's fabulous teachers use a variety of techniques that assist students with complex learning differences to make the most of their abilities. We were unsure when our daughter first arrived at Brehm, what her academic future would be; now she is a student at a state university. Brehm provides students with a solid education along with techniques and strategies to deal with their learning differences. In addition, their program supports social and emotional development of each student. The entire staff, faculty and administration work together to provide a supportive environment to each and every student. Their social-emotional support continues as they reach out to former students in need of assistance. We feel blessed to have learned of this wonderful school and to have been a part of the Brehm family for 3 years.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2013

Brehm's goal is to help students with learning disabilities. However their goal is to get these students to a full high school diploma in approximately a normal amount of time. Therefore it is not an appropriate school for students who are not capable of, with help, doing normal classwork. With that caveat, it does a tremendous job and was of immense help to our daughter who graduated with honors and is now attending a serious four-year college. It does this with small classes and a great deal of support outside of class. Students are allowed off campus according to rules that depend on their past behavior. However it is not a locked down campus. There is nothing that physically prevents them from leaving campus. The two negatives about the school are the high cost and the remote location. It is located in Carbondale Illinois, 2 1/2 hours from St. Louis which is the closest major airport.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2013

Brehm Prep is an incredible school. Caring, devoted teachers and staff who are experts in dealing with kids with learning differences. My child is completing a level of academic work I never thought was possible before we came to Brehm. The emphasis on all areas of functioning from academics to socialization, make us very happy. Your child will love it, they have everything you expect to see in a high school experience, and all the staff and students are all so friendly. Everyone cares about your child's happiness and success--peers and teachers. They go the extra mile to ensure each student is happy, healthy and thriving. Lots of wonderful recreational activities, every day. The students all genuinely care for each other and support each other. The students love Brehm! All of this and fantastic facilities, gorgeous campus. This is a great school, don't hesitate to send your child to Brehm. You will be so glad that you did.
Submitted by other on September 14, 2013

I had a great experience with this school. I went their senior year and it helped me realize I wasn't stupid, I just learned differently. I liked the small class sizes and overall I would recommend it to any parent or student looking to enhance their lives.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2013

I cannot say enough great things about Brehm. We were in crisis, and Brehm accepted my child as a student. In eight weeks, they were able to erase so much of the damage our public school inflicted on my child for over 8 years. Brehm developed an individualized plan for my child's learning- something our public school was never able to do. They helped my child in social and psychological areas too. The change in my child in every aspect was nothing short of remarkable. With our history, my child and I lost a lot of trust in the school system. Brehm restored that trust in a matter of weeks.
Submitted by other on August 30, 2013

I want to commend this school for what they have done with my grandson. He had so many difficulties and failing his classes as the teachers were not working with his learning disabilities at his local school. Brehm has many dedicated teachers, small class sizes and make the student feel wanted and gives students praises for their work. Brehm has made my grandson feel confident. He is on the honor roll since attending this school as they are working with his learning disability. He is learning respect, helping others, and being self confident. Our grandson would have been lost had it not been for Brehm and its staff.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

My child had struggled for over five years in several different schools. No school could teach his unique Learning style, although all professionals remarked on his high intelligence. It was remarkable how quickly the staff & faculty at Brehm understood what my child's complex learning style was and that Brehm was able to teach him. In the first year he made huge dramatic improvement; closing the gap on the time lost. The staff has always been available at all times to assist all concerns. Truly thankful for our consultant who found Brehm.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2013

Our son loves the teachers at Brehm. Since starting there last year he is a whole different child. He found acceptance with the kids there and hasn't had to go through any bullying since he left the public school system. His self esteem and confidence are soaring. They have a holistic program that not only teaches school curriculum but also life and social skills. They have a very structured safe environment. All of the teachers are very caring. Our son really became attached to his advisor from last year. His speech therapist helped him over the summer. All of the teachers and staff are so friendly it is like an extended family. We finally found teachers that know how to teach him in a way that he can understand and learn. We are so blessed to have our son go to school at Brehm. They have given our son the chance to go on to have a bright shining future like so many of us take for granted. We would never have seen the improvements we are seeing if we had kept him in public schools. Brehm is a necessity if you have a child with learning disorders.
Submitted by teacher on August 27, 2013

I am a new employee of Brehm. In my first couple months of employment, I could see how much the staff really cared for the students and family and wanted to be of great help. After the first parent weekend and the students returned, I also saw how much the parents and students love Brehm and find that it is helping. I heard wonderful testimonials. I am honored to be part of such a wonderful, caring and nurturing school and program.