If your child is struggling in school, you’ve probably found yourself googling specialized schools in the middle of the night. Maybe a friend mentioned a specific local private school they heard good things about. Maybe your child’s teacher suggested “exploring other educational options.” And now you’re wondering: Should I pull my child out of their current school entirely?

Here’s what many St. Louis parents don’t realize: a full-time specialized school isn’t always necessary. For many learners, intensive private tutoring can close academic gaps quickly — without leaving their school, friends, or community.

When Specialized Schools Make Sense

Specialized schools are designed for students with significant, complex learning disabilities who require:

• Daily specialized instruction across all subjects
• Multiple integrated therapies during the school day
• A different school environment due to severe anxiety or trauma

For these learners, specialized schools can be transformative.

But they also mean:

• Leaving your child’s current school and peer group
• Taking on a significant financial investment (tuition often exceeds $30,000-$40,000 annually)
• Possibly experiencing longer commutes across the St. Louis area

The St. Louis Alternative: Comprehensive Private Tutoring Solutions

In many cases, your child’s school isn’t the problem. Specific skill gaps are. Think of it this way: if your child broke their arm, you wouldn’t move them to a hospital. You’d get specialized treatment for the specific injury while they continue their regular life, right? Well, the same principle applies to learning challenges.

Here’s how our 1:1, intensive tutoring strengthens learning fast.

Targeted Skill Building: Fixing the Root Cause of Learning Gaps

We identify the exact skills holding your child back — often reading and math foundations — and strengthen them with precision and speed.

Minimal Disruption: Students Stay in Their St. Louis School and Community

Your child keeps their school, their friends, their teachers — everything they love — while closing academic gaps. (For many kids, the social and emotional benefits of staying in their school community far outweigh the challenges they’re facing academically — especially once those academic challenges are addressed.)

Accelerated Progress: Gaining 1-2 Grade Levels in Just 50 Hours

Our fast-paced, 1:1 instruction drives rapid growth. most students gain 1–2 grade levels in about 50 hours; that’s about 10-13 weeks of regular attendance. More information about Fit’s learning outcomes can be found here.

Need Maximum Intervention? The Fit Homeschool Option.

To support families who have opted to homeschool their student, we offer the Fit Homeschool program. This program provides an Intensive Alternative Educational Placement where students receive 3-hour, daily 1:1 instruction focused on mastery of core academic skills. It serves as a highly intensive and effective educational replacement for those core areas. More information about Fit Homeschool can be found here.

Flexible Scheduling for Busy St. Louis Families

Tutoring fits into your life. We offer sessions after school and during school breaks. You’re not committed to a full academic year at a time. Our Academic Summer Camp can help students catch up before the next school year begins.

Lower Cost: Paying for Intervention, Not a Complete Educational Overhaul

Even with intensive support, tutoring costs are far less than specialized school tuition. You’re paying for exactly what your child needs, and not a complete educational overhaul.

Data-Driven Instruction and Measurable Progress Every Week

Finally, at Fit we use evidence-based methods, and can track and deliver regular updates on your child’s gains.

Quick Checklist: Tutoring vs. Specialized Schools in St. Louis

To recap, tutoring may be right if your child:

• Fell 1-3 grade levels behind in one or two subjects
• Needs intensive intervention, not just homework help
• Thrives socially and wants to stay with the friends and activities they love

You may opt to consider a specialized school if your child:

• Struggles across subjects with severe delays
• Needs multiple daily therapies
• Experiences school-related trauma or anxiety where a fresh start may be needed

Ready for Answers? Start with a Comprehensive Assessment

Before you decide how best to help your child, get the data you need. Fit Learning’s comprehensive assessment pinpoints exactly which specific skills are missing, how quickly they can be strengthened, and whether intensive tutoring is the right path. Many families are surprised to learn that their child’s academic challenges are more specific (and more fixable) than they realized.

Fit’s subject areas include reading, math, expressive writing, logic, spelling, study skills, penmanship, and kindergarten readiness. We offer tutoring for students at all levels, including gifted students and children with special needs. We serve families across the entire area, including Ladue, Kirkwood, Chesterfield, Ballwin, Clayton, and other communities. Our tutoring can be done at our Creve Coeur location or via online learning. For more information about Fit Learning’s method, curriculum areas, and services, check out our Parent’s Guide.

You don’t have to make this decision alone. Let’s figure out what your child truly needs. Schedule your comprehensive assessment with Fit Learning St. Louis today.