6410 South Dante Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 773-324-1020 Fax: 773-359-0506
Program Philosophy
Mount Carmel High School has a history of developing each student’s unique potential for learning so that he will develop the needed skills to prepare for his journey after high school. In 1992, consistent with this philosophy, Mount Carmel established the McDermott-Doyle Program. The program, named for two notable MC alumni, Frank McDermott and Patrick Doyle, and designed to meet the needs of students with mild learning disabilities/differences who have the potential and desire to succeed at the college level.
“The support I received through the McDermott-Doyle Program was the best investment my parents made in me. By the time I graduated from Mount Carmel, I knew how I learned, what accommodations I needed, and how I needed to work to obtain them. I attended Marquette University and now work as a spokesman for a Fortune 20 global company.
There is no magic pill or secret formula, but the program has given kids like me the opportunity to fully realize our potential.”
Phil Caruso, ‘05
STUDENT SUCCESS
The success of McDermott-Doyle students is linked to a number of factors. First and foremost is the willingness and the determination of the student to work hard. Second, parental support is a key factor. Third, students are expected to cooperate with classroom teachers and follow the rules and policies of Mount Carmel High School. When a student follows these guidelines, he is typically quite successful. While not all graduates of the McDermott-Doyle Program pursue college, many have attended, and graduated, from four-year institutions, including Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Loras College, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Carthage College, Miami (OH) University, and the University of Illinois.MODIFICATIONS TO CURRICULUM
With the exception of waiving the requirement of studying a foreign language, no curricular modifications are made for McDermott-Doyle students: they must meet the same standards as any student at Mount Carmel. No extra time is given for projects or papers, and all assigned homework is to be completed at the time the teacher indicates. As a college prep school, Mount Carmel adheres to the guidelines established by colleges/universities which offer support to students with learning disabilities.THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS WHO MEET SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Average or above intelligence, as assessed by educational and psychological testing.
- A significant discrepancy between intelligence and achievement.
- Difficulty in processing learning tasks which may be related to deficits in visual perception, visual memory, auditory perception, auditory memory, and/or visual-motor integration.
- Work habits and behavior, which demonstrate the potential to succeed in a college-preparatory program
- Students who typically have received less than 400 minutes of support per week at the grammar school level
BENEFITS OF THE MCDERMOTT-DOYLE PROGRAM
- Serves a broad range of academic levels
- Transition plan from grade school to high school
- Entrance Exam: Accommodations for IEP and 504 plans during the entrance exam if taken at Mount Carmel
- Testing center
- Small class sizes: Student-teacher ratio of 5 to 1 during program hours
- Daily access to McDermott-Doyle resources for one period per day or 200 minutes per week
MAINTAINING ENROLLMENT
To maintain enrollment in the McDermott-Doyle Program, a student must demonstrate a serious work ethic and must update his file of educational tests every three years. All students who have documented IEP or 504 are required to provide such documentation at the time of the entrance exam or enrollment. The McDermott-Doyle program does not accommodate BD and ED.Please contact us to discuss if Mount Carmel's McDermott-Doyle Program is right for your son.
