Next Generation Scholars

Next Generation Scholars offers Year-Round Academy, Summer Programs, the Community Uplift Project Program, College & Career Counseling, and Family Services for families. Year-Round Academy includes Academic Counseling, Community Uplift Leadership Development, and College & Career Support. Summer Programs include the Little Scholars Program and the Summer Academy Program.

Programs

• Year-Round Academy — 6th-12th · Core year-round program centered on Academic Counseling, Community Uplift Leadership Development, and College & Career Support.
• Summer Programs — 1st-12th · Includes Little Scholars Program (1st-5th) and Summer Academy Program (6th-12th).
• Community Uplift Project Program — 8th-12th · Designed to foster project management skills and leadership development.
• College & Career Counseling Program — Provides counseling, mentorship and comprehensive career guidance through college and into first careers.
• Family Services Program (NGS Parents) — Provides holistic services to families in five focus areas: education, employment, food services, healthcare, and housing.

At a glance

• Ages: 6–18 years old
• General schedule: Year-Round Academy: students attend two weekly classes during the school year, one on Sunday and one during the week. Summer programming is a 5-week experience; scholars meet five days a week over the course of five weeks.

About the provider

Next Generation Scholars was founded in 2003 and says it has served first generation Scholars in Marin County for over two decades. The organization says it partners with 42 schools and organizations, became a food bank site, added a monthly parent program, and became an official partner of San Rafael City Schools. Its mission is to equip and empower first generation, under-resourced Marin County middle and high school students to succeed in college and beyond through socially-conscious leadership development.

Students are expected to attend two weekly classes during the school year, one on Sunday and one during the week. During the summer, students are expected to either enroll in the 5-week Summer Academy or a similarly rigorous academic summer program.

What families say

“NGS allowed us to be surrounded by other driven, first-gen students who looked like us. They nurtured us in so many ways. From helping with food and school supplies to emotional support, this was a space where we were constantly being celebrated, something our schools couldn’t always provide for us.” — Alba Alvarado, NGS Academy ‘16, Harvard University Class of 2025

Last updated September 3, 2026.