North Carolina’s only university-based private school for students with dyslexia is set to open on Elon University’s campus in fall 2026 following a philanthropic donation, according to a November press release from the college.
Initially, the Roberts Academy at Elon University will only admit third and fourth grade students in a temporary location on Elon’s campus. Another facility is set to finish construction in fall 2028, per the release, and will allow the school to host first through sixth graders. Once at full capacity, the school will hold 150-200 students a year, with no more than a dozen students in each classroom.
“This is not just a gift to Elon. It is a gift to families, schools, and communities across North Carolina and beyond,” said Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book. “The Roberts Academy will serve as a lifeline for children with dyslexia — offering the tools, confidence, and encouragement they need to thrive.
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Instruction at the academy will be sourced from the Orton-Gillingham Approach, the release says. The approach is personalized to each student and is associated with a one-on-one instructional model.
According to Dr. Jo Watts School of Education Dean Ann Bullock, the academy will utilize technology, such as voice recognition software, as a tool to help students with their reading skills.
“The Roberts Academy will become a living classroom for future educators,” Bullock said in the release. “Through hands-on learning experiences, teacher candidates at Elon will gain deeper expertise in structured literacy and the Orton-Gillingham approach, methods proven to transform the lives of students with dyslexia.”
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The school will be the fourth establishment supported by donors Hal and Marjorie Roberts, who are based in Florida. The Roberts Family has established similar programs at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College, the release says. At Elon, the family is also supporting the establishment of the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning within the university’s school of education. The center will focus on professional development for educators and providing resources to policymakers on dyslexia.
The philanthropy of the Roberts family was inspired by the educational journeys of three of their grandchildren.
“We’re very pleased that Elon shares our passion for creating a school for children with dyslexia in North Carolina,” Hal Roberts said in the release. “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.”
Recruitment for classroom teachers and administrators at the school will begin in early 2026, according to the release. Alicia Tate, an assistant professor in the School of Education, was appointed as the academy’s interim director.
After the announcement of the school, students and staff expressed their excitement for the new academy. Bella Martino, an Elon student studying to become a special education teacher, was one of them.
“I’ve worked with students within Alamance County… (and) I’ve seen that confidence shine once they know that that’s the area of support that they’re needing. And I think that this is going to be really fantastic for Elon,” Martino said.
According to the university, the school is intended to be a place students can come for two to three years of instruction and then eventually return to the schools in their communities, the release says, “equipped to succeed as future scholars, entrepreneurs and civic leaders.”
Superintendent of the local Alamance-Burlington School System, Aaron Fleming, said the academy is a great opportunity, “not just for students with dyslexia in the Alamance-Burlington School System, but across all of North Carolina.”
“It’s really going to advance the study and the preparation of teachers, and we’re really excited,” he said.
You can find updates and background information on the academy and the Roberts Family on Elon’s website, or email questions to robertsacademy@elon.edu.
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