50 Years of Learning Without Limits

In the 2025–2026 school year, Shelton School proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary, a milestone that honors five decades of pioneering work in educating students with language-based learning differences.

Founded on April 2, 1976, by Dr. June Shelton in Dallas, Texas, Shelton opened its doors that August in a church building with just 48 students in preschool through sixth grade. Backed by an enthusiastic parent base and a visionary board of trustees, Shelton quickly established itself as a place where students with dyslexia and other learning differences could thrive. By the next school year, enrollment more than doubled to 112 students supported by 31 faculty and staff.

Shelton’s founders understood that meeting the needs of students required more than a traditional classroom model. Over time, they established key divisions that remain vital today:

• The Speech and Language Center, offering therapy and screenings for students and the broader community
   
• The Evaluation Center, providing comprehensive assessments and roadmaps for success
   
• The Outreach Teacher Training Center, equipping educators, parents and professionals with research-based instructional strategies
   

In 1986, Shelton began adding upper grades, culminating in a full preschool through twelfth-grade program by 1999. The school’s accreditation journey reflects its commitment to excellence: first through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1990–2004) and since 2004 through the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS).

Shelton has also seen transformative leadership over its five decades. Dr. June Shelton served as founding Executive Director from 1976 to 1986, followed by Sherrye Camp, interim head Dick Cadigan and Joyce Pickering, who led Shelton for 20 years. Since 2010, Executive Director Suzanne Stell has guided Shelton through a period of tremendous growth and impact.

After decades of adapting to new campuses, including operating across two locations from 1999 to 2002, Shelton found its permanent home at 17301 Preston Road in August 2020. Supported by a 2016 capital campaign, the new 30-acre campus includes dedicated spaces for Athletics, Fine Arts and expanded classrooms. By May 2025, Shelton’s enrollment was 1,136.

The Class of 2025 is Shelton’s largest graduating class to date, with 101 seniors earning 506 college acceptances and $12.6 million in merit scholarships. They will attend 54 colleges across 21 states, including Hofstra University, Southern Methodist University, Baylor University, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Wake Forest University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas and more. Academic highlights include a composite ACT score of 35 and section scores as high as 36 in Reading and 35 in Math, Science and English.