Roberts Academy at Elon to Open in Fall 2026 for Dyslexic Students

Roberts Academy at Elon University will launch in fall 2026 as a university-affiliated, private school focused on students with dyslexia, opening to rising third- and fourth-grade students in an existing university building on Elon’s campus in the town of Elon. The Roberts family of Lakeland, Florida — Hal and Marjorie Roberts — provided the gift to establish the academy, and Elon named Alicia Tate, an assistant professor in the School of Education, as interim director.

The academy is designed as a transitional program that uses structured literacy grounded in Orton-Gillingham principles. Elon’s public materials say the program will provide small classes, expert instruction, and individualized learning so students can return to their home schools reading at or above grade level. AssemblyNC describes classroom practice as multisensory and concrete, with students saying a word, tapping out syllables, and writing it down as part of literacy development.

Elon plans a phased growth model. The initial fall 2026 cohort will be limited to rising third- and fourth-grade students in the temporary campus space. A new, state-of-the-art facility now planned for completion in fall 2028 will expand the academy to serve grades 1 through 6 and accommodate an estimated 150 to 200 students per year at full capacity. Elon has said classroom size will be capped at no more than a dozen students.

The Roberts family has funded similar dyslexia-focused programs at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College, and their decision to partner with Elon was prompted by the educational journeys of three grandchildren. Hal Roberts said, “We’re very pleased that Elon shares our passion for creating a school for children with dyslexia in North Carolina. Kids with dyslexia often have strengths that are extraordinary. They call it their ‘superpower.’ We’ve seen these schools change lives, and with Elon’s national reputation for teaching excellence, this partnership feels like the perfect next step in our journey.” Roberts-backed programs have drawn on research-based instruction and cited success at schools such as the Schenck School in Atlanta.

Elon will link the academy to the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. University materials and the academy’s announcement video describe the center as a hub for professional development for educators, resources for policymakers, and a site where Elon faculty and students collaborate on teaching and research. The YouTube announcement posted Nov. 6, 2025 stated, “The Roberts Academy will serve as a lifeline for students with dyslexia, offering the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to thrive. Families will gain resources and a strong, supportive community. And at the same time, Elon will prepare a new generation of teachers equipped with evidence-based methods to reach every child, multiplying the impact far beyond the academy's walls.”

Recruitment for classroom teachers and administrators is scheduled to begin in early 2026, and Elon’s March 3, 2026 coverage highlighted a Fox8 WGHP report about the academy. AssemblyNC reported that the Roberts Academy will be the first school of its kind in North Carolina. Families, educators, or community partners seeking information can contact RobertsAcademy@elon.edu.