Alpha Schools expands AI-led, high-cost charter model with San Francisco campus
Critics warn that a two-hour academic focus and life-skills curriculum powered by artificial intelligence could affect traditional learning and social development, even as families line up
Alpha Schools, a for-profit chain of charter schools, is expanding its AI-driven model with a new campus in San Francisco as part of a nationwide rollout that has drawn scrutiny from educators and parents alike. The network charges about $75,000 per year and describes its approach as prioritizing life skills over traditional subjects, with only two hours of academic work scheduled each day and the rest devoted to hands-on projects and real-world experiences.
Founded by podcaster Mackenzie Price and tech executive Andrew Liemandt, Alpha Schools rely on artificial intelligence to guide classrooms and to draft lesson plans the founders say accelerate learning. In their model, classroom support is provided by “guides” who coach students and distribute “Alpha bucks,” currency that can be spent on prizes, donated, or invested. The curriculum includes projects such as building sailboats and, this year, a collaboration with the YouTuber Mr. Beast to develop an app designed to persuade teens that contributing to their community is essential to happiness. The two-hour academic window is described on the company’s site as the only time screens are used; the remainder of the day emphasizes outdoor play, real-world projects, and creative challenges, with technology framed as a tool rather than a babysitter.
Advocates say the model can tailor learning to individual students and demonstrate that children can learn values and practical skills more efficiently when informed by AI. Liemandt has touted what he calls a better way to teach that has existed in theory for years but was previously limited by technology and cost. He and Price contend that generative AI will reinvent education by enabling highly personalized instruction and rapid content updates to reflect current events and skills.
The approach has not gone unchallenged. Critics contend that the rapid deployment of AI in classrooms risks sidelining the essential social dynamics of learning—negotiation, teamwork, and peer feedback—that form the backbone of traditional schooling. Audrey Watters, an education-technology writer who has long criticized hype around AI in schools, told The San Francisco Standard that substituting AI for in-person collaboration could be damaging and potentially dangerous for child development. A Pew Research Center survey this year found that about a quarter of U.S. teachers believe AI is doing more harm than good in the classroom, underscoring broad concerns about relying on machines for formative learning.
Supporters say the scrutiny is warranted but not disqualifying. Price has claimed that students can learn ten times faster than in traditional settings and notes that the program begins paying children in kindergarten. The company says all lesson plans are AI-written and based on AI-produced books, and that its founders believe generative AI will revolutionize education. San Francisco will host the chain’s 14th campus, joining locations in Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami, among others. Alpha also offers transportation to and from school and operates summer camps.
Parents vary in their assessment. Some, like Andrey Svirsky, say the lack of long-term performance data makes the concept risky, arguing you cannot redo adulthood if the approach fails. Yet hundreds of families have enrolled, and Alpha plans further growth in 2026 with openings in Puerto Rico, North Carolina, and Virginia, signaling that the model has found a compelling audience even as its long-term outcomes remain uncertain.
The debate over AI in classrooms continues to shape discussions about innovation in education. The Alpha model, with its emphasis on two hours of academic work and AI-guided life-skills programs, exemplifies a broader trend toward technologically infused approaches. As districts and families weigh the potential benefits against concerns about social development, evidence on long-term effectiveness will likely influence whether similar schools proliferate across more states.