Notre Dame School serves mentally handicapped students ages 6 through 21. All classes have a teacher and an assistant. The academic curriculum emphasizes mathematics, reading, spelling and writing. Music, PE, and religion classes are offered to all students. Independent living skills, job skills and career exploration are important elements in the upper school. Christian values and attitudes are taught in all classes. Catholic students are involved in sacramental preparation.

All classrooms have computer access and employ a variety of teaching software programs. These programs allow students to work according to their own level of understanding; their repetitive nature encourages lesson retention. Older students learn keyboarding skills and their application.

Notre Dame School is very fortunate to have volunteers from the community, and more specifically the youth from area Catholic schools, who come on a regular basis to work and interact with the students in their classrooms. Planned activities with non-handicapped peers are offered on a regular basis beginning in Intermediate classes.

Discipline using "Project Career" is an effective reward system that encourages appropriate behavior as well as teaching basic budget skills. The students are paid daily for appropriate behavior; they are fined for unacceptable behavior. After paying their "bills", students may use any remaining money to purchase "admission" to special events or items in the school store - items can even be put on layaway!

Notre Dame is a loving and caring campus. You may encounter older students helping younger ones in the classroom or PE. Everyone has something to contribute and is encouraged to do so.