The South Bronx Literacy Academy

South Bronx Literacy Academy is NYC’s first public school created specifically for students with dyslexia and other challenges in reading. Students receive extra support with reading, writing, spelling, and language as part of their school day.

Classes are small, with about 18 students and two teachers. Students also receive support from specialists, including speech services and occupational therapy. A full-time guidance counselor supports students and families.

Students spend extra time each day learning to read and write. Teachers use a structured approach that connects letters, sounds, and movement. For example, students may tap out sounds in words or use hand motions to help connect sounds with letters.

Teachers receive training in this approach. The school also partners with the Windward Institute, which provides expertise in teaching students with language-based learning differences.

The school was created through a partnership between NYC Public Schools and the Literacy Academy Collective, a nonprofit founded by parents of children with dyslexia. Before SBLA opened, the group helped develop literacy programs in NYC schools, including a model classroom at PS 161 in the South Bronx.

SBLA opened in 2023 and plans to serve grades 2–8 by the 2029-30 school year. Students usually enter in 2nd grade, but older students may be able to apply as the school grows. Families apply through NYC Public Schools’ MySchools system.

Families typically discover South Bronx Literacy Academy through referrals from teachers, speech therapists, or attorneys who help secure private school placements. Others learn about the academy through community organizations, word-of-mouth, or nearby schools. 

The school is still new, so there is limited data on student progress. Early NYC surveys show strong family communication and a clear focus on literacy, but it will take more time to measure academic growth. (Lydie Raschka, official reports, July 2026)