Regarding your story - I did send my kid to deaf school and she loves it. I had to do what was best for her, not me. She was one of five deaf/hh kids in a southern CA school program....the only deaf one; the other four were HH and hispanic. At her school, she participates in everything. We went back to visit her friends after a year for the 8th grade graduation. One kid is being held back and had joined a gang. The other boy joined a gang too. The girl didn't know where she was going to go to HS.
I think its a matter of perspective.
Best,
Mary
Glad it worked out for you and your daughter.