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What is Good Shepherd School for Children?
Good Shepherd School for Children is a not-for-profit early childhood education and therapy center in West St. Louis County, Missouri. It serves two groups: children from 6 weeks old until kindergarten entry in an early learning program, and children up to age 18 who need pediatric therapy. The school describes itself as independent, led by a board of directors, and not affiliated with any religious organization or other group using the "Good Shepherd" name.
What it offers
- Early childhood education: Full-time care and education for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a setting that mixes typically developing children with children who have special needs. Up to 33% of children in each classroom may have special needs, including autism spectrum, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and global developmental delays.
- Pediatric therapy: Individual speech, occupational, physical, and developmental therapy delivered by licensed therapists, for children up to age 18.
- Small scale: The page states only 78 full-time students are enrolled, which it presents as a way to give each child individual attention. It also notes that 129 children were served last year, 60 of whom had special needs.
- Practical support: Outpatient therapy is often covered by insurance, and the therapy team helps families work through paperwork.
Who it suits
A parent in the St. Louis area with an infant, toddler, or preschooler who wants a small, inclusive program — especially if their child has a developmental diagnosis or delay. It also suits families who mainly need outpatient pediatric therapy rather than full-time child care.
Cost and logistics
Tuition is listed at $1,875 per month for ages 6 weeks to 2 years and $1,575 per month for children over 2, based on five days a week; part-time schedules are considered case by case. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Because only 78 full-time spots exist, availability is likely the main constraint.
Next step: If you are considering it, contact the school directly to ask about current openings for your child's age, whether part-time is possible, and how therapy would be billed through your insurance. You can reach it at 314.469.0606 or through Good Shepherd School for Children. For comparison, you might also look at NAEYC to understand what accreditation means for early childhood programs.
How does Good Shepherd School for Children decide which children can enroll in its early childhood program?
Good Shepherd School for Children describes its early childhood program as open to a mixed group: children who are typically developing and children with special needs, from 6 weeks old until kindergarten entry. So the primary enrollment decision is not “special needs or not,” but whether the school can serve the child in one of its early learning classrooms.
The page evidence shows a deliberate inclusion model. Up to 33% of children in each classroom may have special needs, and the school lists examples such as autistic spectrum, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, global developmental delays, and other disorders. It also notes a small full-time enrollment of 78 students, with 129 children served last year, 60 of whom had special needs. That ratio matters: the limit is per classroom, not a general statement, so placement depends on the needs of the individual child and the composition of the classroom at the time.
For a parent, the practical decision path is:
- Use the general inquiry form for early childhood enrollment.
- Use the special needs inquiry form if your child has a diagnosed or suspected developmental concern.
- Expect the school to consider age first — 6 weeks through kindergarten entry — then whether its early learning center can meet your child’s needs.
- Ask directly about classroom openings, because a classroom near the 33% special-needs limit may not have space even if the school is enrolling overall.
Part-time schedules are considered case by case, so a family needing fewer than five days a week should raise that early. The page also lists tuition rates by age group, but the enrollment question is separate from cost: the school appears to make placement decisions based on age, classroom capacity, and the child’s individual needs.
A useful next step is to contact the school at 314.469.0606 or use the inquiry form on Good Shepherd School for Children and ask two specific questions: “Does my child’s age group currently have an opening?” and “Can this classroom meet my child’s specific needs?” If you are seeking therapy only, the page describes outpatient therapy up to age 18, often covered by insurance, with the therapy team helping with paperwork. That is a different enrollment path from the early childhood program.
What therapy services does Good Shepherd School for Children provide for children up to age 18?
Good Shepherd School for Children provides individual pediatric therapy for children up to age 18, separate from its early childhood classrooms. According to the center, licensed therapists offer:
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Developmental therapy
Therapy is available to families seeking pediatric therapy even if their child is not enrolled in the school. Outpatient therapy is often covered by insurance, and the therapy team helps families work through the paperwork.
A practical next step is to ask two questions before booking: whether your insurance plan covers the specific therapy type, and whether the center recommends a school-based or outpatient therapy schedule for your child's age. For a child under kindergarten age, therapy can be combined with classroom enrollment; for a school-age child up to 18, the outpatient route is typically the relevant option. The center also notes that up to 33% of children in each early learning classroom can have special needs, so therapy and education are designed to work together.
For context on early childhood options in the area, see Good Shepherd School for Children.
How much does it cost to attend Good Shepherd School for Children, and are part-time schedules available?
Tuition at Good Shepherd School for Children in St. Louis is listed by age group, based on a five-day-per-week schedule:
| Age group | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks–1 year | $1,875 |
| 1–2 years | $1,875 |
| Over 2 years | $1,575 |
The lower rate applies once your child turns 2. Part-time schedules are considered on a case-by-case basis, so they are possible but not published as a fixed option — you would need to ask the school directly.
If cost is your deciding factor, the practical next step is to contact the school at 314.469.0606 or use its inquiry form to ask two things: whether part-time enrollment would reduce the monthly rate, and whether any financial aid or scholarship process exists, since it operates as a not-for-profit. That answer will matter more than the sticker rate for many families.
For context on the therapy side: the page notes that outpatient pediatric therapy (speech, occupational, physical and developmental, up to age 18) is often covered by insurance, and the therapy team helps families with paperwork. So if you are weighing the school against therapy services, those are separate cost paths — tuition for the early learning center versus insurance-billed outpatient therapy.
To compare local options, you can look at Good Shepherd School for Children alongside other St. Louis early childhood providers, but confirm current rates directly, since tuition changes and part-time terms are negotiated individually.
How does insurance cover pediatric therapy at Good Shepherd School for Children?
Insurance is not handled as a fixed, published benefit. The page states that outpatient pediatric therapy "is often covered by insurance," and that the therapy team helps families work through the paperwork. So coverage is determined case by case, based on your plan, your child's diagnosis and the specific services recommended — not by a single school-wide policy.
What the page actually confirms
- Therapy is offered for children up to age 18: speech, occupational, physical and developmental therapy, delivered by licensed therapists.
- The therapy option is separate from the early learning center, which serves children from 6 weeks until kindergarten entry.
- Outpatient therapy is the part described as often insurance-covered; the school's team assists with the paperwork involved.
- Tuition figures shown on the page apply to the early learning center, not to therapy sessions, so do not treat them as therapy pricing.
What to ask before your first appointment
- Is the therapist in-network with your specific insurance plan?
- Does your plan require a physician referral or a prior authorization for speech, OT, PT or developmental therapy?
- How many visits per year does your plan allow, and is there a visit cap?
- What is your deductible, copay or coinsurance for outpatient therapy?
- If coverage is denied, what self-pay or payment-plan options exist?
A practical scenario
A parent whose 4-year-old has a speech delay might call the therapy team first, give their insurance details, and ask whether an evaluation and weekly sessions would be billed as outpatient therapy. The team's stated role in navigating paperwork is most useful at exactly this stage — before sessions begin, not after a bill arrives. Families whose children also attend the early learning center should keep the two cost streams separate in their budgeting.
Decision criterion
Choose Good Shepherd for therapy if you want a provider that combines licensed pediatric therapy with help understanding insurance claims, and confirm in-network status and authorization requirements yourself before committing. If your plan is restrictive, ask about the denial and self-pay paths up front.
Next step: call 314.469.0606 or use the inquiry form on Good Shepherd School for Children and ask for the therapy team's insurance checklist.
What is the daily schedule and hours of operation at Good Shepherd School for Children?
Good Shepherd School for Children operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the hours listed on its site. That is an 11-hour daily window, which is wider than many part-day preschool programs and is designed to cover a full working day for parents.
What the schedule covers
The same hours apply to the early learning center (children from 6 weeks until kindergarten entry) and, based on the site, to tours and general operation. The center describes itself as enrolling both typically developing children and children with special needs, with up to 33 percent of each classroom able to have special needs. With only 78 full-time students, the day is likely to feel small and staff-intensive rather than large and institutional.
Practical reading of the hours
- Drop-off could reasonably happen near 7 a.m. and pick-up near 6 p.m., but the site does not publish a fixed drop-off/pick-up schedule, classroom-by-classroom timetables, or holiday closures.
- Tuition is quoted on a 5-days-per-week basis, with part-time schedules considered case by case. That suggests the daily hours stay the same regardless of whether your child attends full or part time.
- Outpatient pediatric therapy (up to age 18) is a separate service from the early learning center, so therapy appointment times may follow their own scheduling rather than the 7–6 center hours.
A concrete scenario
If you work a standard 8-to-5 job in West St. Louis County, the 7–6 window gives you buffer on both ends for commuting. If you need only three days a week, you would not assume a shorter day; you would ask whether part-time means fewer days at the same daily hours.
Next step
Call 314.469.0606 or use the inquiry form on Good Shepherd School for Children to confirm your child's specific classroom start and end times, the part-time day patterns available, and the holiday and closure calendar, since none of those details are published on the page.
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