Canaan Academy

Canaan Academy is a private school in Urbana, Illinois under the auspices of Canaan Development Foundation, non-profit organization.
The Foundation supports children primarily through its education program. Commencing in the fall of 1996 with classes at the pre-kindergarten through second-grade level, Canaan Academy held the lofty goal of taking students who had been unresponsive to the standard teaching methods used in area schools and placing them in an environment where they would succeed.
Its mission is: “To provide a Christian-centered social and educational program that will maximize the intellectual, spiritual, social, and cultural potential of youth.” This challenge is one that the Academy’s administrators and faculty attack with vigor.
Canaan Academy presently serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through five from the Champaign-Urbana community and surrounding areas of Central Illinois.
Each classroom is staffed by one male and one female teacher to ensure that every student is exposed to positive influences of both genders.
In addition, Canaan Academy uses a collegial model, which requires equal participation of home, community, and the Academy in the education process.
In addition to core subjects, Canaan‚s curriculum combines multiculturalism, daily Bible instruction, and philosophical investigations that seek to foster inner discipline, social skills, and critical thinking.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 50 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Top Rankings

Canaan Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-6

Student Body

Total Students
50 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
96%
State avg.: 34%
Students by Grade
Canaan Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
7 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling

School Notes

  • Canaan Academy is a private school in Urbana, Illinois under the auspices of Canaan Development Foundation, non-profit organization. The Foundation supports children primarily through its education program. Commencing in the fall of 1996 with classes at the pre-kindergarten through second-grade level, Canaan Academy held the lofty goal of taking students who had been unresponsive to the standard teaching methods used in area schools and placing them in an environment where they would succeed. Its mission is: “To provide a Christian-centered social and educational program that will maximize the intellectual, spiritual, social, and cultural potential of youth.” This challenge is one that the Academy’s administrators and faculty attack with vigor. Canaan Academy presently serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through five from the Champaign-Urbana community and surrounding areas of Central Illinois. Each classroom is staffed by one male and one female teacher to ensure that every student is exposed to positive influences of both genders. In addition, Canaan Academy uses a collegial model, which requires equal participation of home, community, and the Academy in the education process. In addition to core subjects, Canaan‚s curriculum combines multiculturalism, daily Bible instruction, and philosophical investigations that seek to foster inner discipline, social skills, and critical thinking.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the application deadline for Canaan Academy?
The application deadline for Canaan Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Grades: Kindergarten-6
  • Enrollment: 50 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

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The average private school tuition in Champaign County, IL is $10,144 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

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