Educating Thinkers. Empowering Futures.

COMING SOON

Our website is getting a makeover!
We’re currently in transition to a brand-new home on the Blackbaud platform.
While this temporary site has everything you need in the meantime, exciting improvements are on the way. Stay tuned for the full launch coming in Spring 2026!

Our Schools

EARLY EDUCATION

Infants | 6 weeks to 14 months of age

Toddlers | 15 months to 23 months of age

Twos | 2 years of age

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PRESCHOOL & TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

Preschool | 3 - 5 years of age

Tranistional Kindergarten | Children who turn 5 years of age in late summer and fall

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PRIMARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL

Primary School | Primary A (Kindergarten) - Primary F (5th Grade)

Middle School | Middle School A (6th Grade) - Middle School C (8th Grade)

Learn more
  • People canoeing through a flooded forest with tall trees and green foliage.

    The Trailblazer Journey

    Becoming a student means embarking on a journey of adventure, exploration, and discovery. Children from 6 weeks through 8th grade are encouraged to develop their limitless potential in an environment that both nurtures and challenges confident and curious learners.

  • A smiling young girl in a purple hijab stands near display tables with cultural Islamic objects, while in the background, three people are examining items on another table in a classroom or exhibition setting.

    Each Unique Path

    Each of our students are known well, supported in their unique interests and initiatives, and counted as valued members of a diverse community. Our programs provide a multi-dimensional educational experience unparalleled in the Central Illinois community.

  • A youth basketball game in progress with players jumping and reaching for the ball near the hoop in a gymnasium with spectators in the background.

    Avenues of Exploration

    As students grow into diverse learners with varied interests, NGS continually develops opportunities to showcase and support avenues of exploration. From budding engineers in Primary B’s Lego Academy to the award-winning IESA athletics and academic competitors, our students flourish through extracurricular learning.

  • Children participating in a classroom activity, holding a globe together in a circle.

    A World of Opportunity

    Our educational journey allows children to gain the skills necessary for exceptional academic success. Capable of both creative and disciplined thought, they have opportunities to achieve in academic, athletic, and artistic endeavors, and become integral members of their community.

Three people standing outdoors during daytime in different settings: a woman with long hair in a floral top, a smiling man in a gray hoodie, and a woman with black hair in a green dress with a background of trees.

Voices of Next Generation

Our Alumni. Our Legacy.
Our alumni are the heart of our school’s legacy. Their journeys reflect the values, empowerment, and lasting impact of a Next Generation School education. As they pursue their passions and lead with purpose beyond our walls, they offer meaningful insight into how NGS has shaped who they are today. Here are some of their voices.

Hear From Our ALUMNI

Trailblazers at a Glance

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    1 CENTRAL LOCATION

    Located in Champaign, Illinois, serving families across the Central Illinois region.

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    5 UNIQUE PROGRAMS

    Comprehensive educational programming spanning Early Education through Middle School.

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    1:6 EARLY EDUCATION RATIO

    An average 1:6 teacher-to-student ratio, including 1:4 in infants, 1:5 in toddlers, and 1:8 in twos.

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    890 BRILLIANT MINDS

    Up to 890 students learn, grow, and thrive across our programs each day.

  • Line drawing of a teacher in front of a blackboard with A equals B, with two students sitting and watching.

    1:15 PRIMARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL RATIO

    An average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:15 in Primary and Middle School.

  • Icon of a painter's palette with a paintbrush on a purple background.

    800+ PIECES OF ART

    More than 800 original student artworks displayed annually in our Spring Art Show & Auction.

  • Icon of a running shoe on a green circular background.

    14 COMPETITIVE TEAMS

    Middle School students can choose from 14 athletic and academic competition teams.

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    100+ FAMILY EVENTS

    More than 100 opportunities for families to engage in the Trailblazer experience from infant to 8th grade.

  • Purple badge with a white checkmark in the center, surrounded by a wavy border, and two ribbon ends hanging below.

    1 PREMIER MAKERS LAB

    Home to Champaign’s first student-dedicated Makers Lab.

  • Icon of a person reading a book to a group of three listeners.

    1:11 PRESCHOOL & TK RATIO

    An average teacher-to-student ratio of 1:11 in Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten.

FOLLOW US AS WE BLAZE OUR TRAIL

Primary & Middle School

View fullsize 🐬💡 Daring Dolphins Make Waves at First Lego League! 💡🐬 We’re incredibly proud of our NGS Daring Dolphins team—Adam A., Maddie Y., and Nadia T. (all Middle School A)—for an outstanding performance at this weekend’s First L
View fullsize 🏀💥 Illini Conference Champs! 💥🏀 Congratulations to our 7th Grade Trailblazers on an incredible Illini Conference Tournament Championship this weekend! The team brought the energy and dominance to the court, defeating St. Thomas Philo 49–13
View fullsize 🤖🥪 NGS Sandwich Robotics Team, YOU DID THAT! 🥪🤖 We are thrilled to share that the "NGS Sandwich" Robotics Team (proudly named by the students themselves!) absolutely showed out at Saturday's FIRST LEGO League Competition! Competing aga
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View fullsize 🦷✨ Today our Primary A–D students joined forces with superheroes from the Land of Smiles! Thanks to @deltadentalil and The National Theatre for Children, students helped defeat Cass Cavity while learning the importance of good dental care. On
View fullsize 🌮✨ Trivia Night Champions Announced! ✨🌮 Give it up for our Trivia Titans 🏆 — “We Just Came for the Tacos” — who proved they came for more than just the salsa… they came for victory! 🎉 And a big shout-out to Table 1
View fullsize Hayden and Sarah sure tee'd up success at their State Tournament last week. Hayden placed 6th along with two other competitors in a field of 94 boys! Sarah meanwhile completed her second ever 18-hole course and achieved a new PR! We could not be prou
View fullsize 🌎🎨 Happy International Dot Day! Our PA Class celebrated by making their mark—just like Vashti in The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. ✨ Each student created artwork inspired by the story’s message of creativity, courage, and seeing where a si
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View fullsize A true classic. Primary B will tell you, parachute day is our favorite day!

Early Education, Preschool & Transitional Kindergarten

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View fullsize We had some amazing visitors today! The UIUC Fighting Illini Women’s Soccer Team stopped by to read with our little learners. The kids were all smiles listening to their favorite stories from these inspiring student-athletes. It was the perfec
View fullsize The City of Champaign Public Works Department visited the preschool for an awesome Touch-A-Truck event! Our students learned about the vacuum truck and what all it does, explored the cab of a front loader, and wrapped up with a class picture! Thank y
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View fullsize Thank you to Champaign Police, Champaign Fire Department, Carle Health, and AirLife for an amazing First Responders Day! Champaign Police Department City of Champaign Fire Department Carle Health
View fullsize Developing the Building Blocks of Literacy: Through hands-on activities like manipulating small objects, children strengthen their fine motor skills—essential for holding a pencil and forming letters. These early experiences lay the groundwork
View fullsize Big ideas start with little hands! Blocks of all shapes and sizes spark creativity, enhance problem-solving skills, aid fine motor development, and encourage teamwork in our classrooms. From infancy we build, we explore, and we learn—one colorf
View fullsize Ms. Amira visited the Dragonfly classroom to teach us about Ramadan and Eid! She explained that Ramadan is a time to show gratitude for what we have and to better understand the experiences of those who are less fortunate. During Ramadan, our friends