About Elon Academy

Elon Academy serves students and their families in Alamance County who demonstrate financial need and/or no family history of college, known obstacles to a college education. We provide information and opportunities to academically promising high school students to pursue and complete higher education. Through a structured support system, students strengthen academic and interpersonal skills, build leadership skills, and develop an active sense of self-worth and social responsibility. Once a student is accepted into the program in ninth grade, they remain an Elon Academy scholar until they graduate from college – a seven-year commitment.

Program Completion

The Elon Academy is an intensive, multi-phase college access and success program based on academic accomplishment, leadership development, college attendance knowledge and culture, service and family involvement.

Phase I: The College Access Program

Phase I: The College Access Program provides enriching experiences for high school students. Scholars uncover their passions, build academic skills, find meaning in their lives and imagine new futures for themselves and their families. Each spring a cohort of ninth graders is selected based on an application and interview process. The year-round program combines three intensive four-week residential summer experiences at Elon prior to the 10th, 11th and 12th grades with monthly Saturday Academy during the academic year.

Phase II: The Transitions to College Program

Phase II: The Transitions to College Program is designed to prepare scholars and their families for the financial, academic, personal and social challenges of transitioning to college. This program takes place during the summer between high school graduation and the first year of college.

Phase III: The College Success Program

Phase III: The College Success Program is designed to ensure college completion for scholars once they enter college. Elon Academy staff visit scholars on their campuses to provide additional academic, social and mentoring/advising support, as well as assistance in securing additional financial aid. The role of the Elon Academy is to facilitate campus connections for scholars no matter where they are attending school.