Alpha School Brings AI-Powered Learning to North Carolina
Alpha School, an AI-driven private school, is expanding its unique educational model to Charlotte and Raleigh this year. Alongside new campuses in North Carolina, the school is extending its presence into five additional states this fall. Currently operating in Texas and Florida, Alpha School also plans to open in Puerto Rico by 2026.
How Alpha School Operates
Each day at Alpha begins with a 15-minute exercise led by classroom guides to foster excitement and a growth mindset. Notably, Alpha replaces traditional teachers with these guides. Students then enter a two-hour learning block where AI software delivers core subjects such as math, reading, science, and language.
By lunchtime, students complete their academic work. The afternoon focuses on life skills—leadership, public speaking, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship—through workshops conducted by the guides.
Alpha uses a mastery-based learning approach. This means students in the same class may be at different levels of the same lesson, progressing according to their understanding. The AI tutor identifies what each student grasps and where more practice is needed, adjusting the pace accordingly.
For example, if a student needs only five repetitions to master a concept like fractions, they move on after completing those. If another student needs 15 repetitions, the AI ensures they get the necessary practice before advancing.
Expert Perspectives on AI in Education
Stephanie Keaney, Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools, notes that AI’s role in differentiation echoes teaching practices used for decades, but here it replaces some traditional teacher tasks. While students follow a common core curriculum, they receive no typical grades. Instead, K-8 students’ progress is assessed three times a year using the MAP test, and high schoolers are tracked through SAT and Advanced Placement results.
Alpha’s North Carolina campuses carry a $45,000 annual tuition and will initially serve K-3, expanding to K-8 in the second year. Enrollment in both Charlotte and Raleigh is already underway.
Krista Glazewski, Executive Director at NC State’s Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, highlights that AI tutoring has a long history but comes with limitations. Intelligent tutoring software covers a narrow scope and may not fully capture all learning nuances, so it shouldn’t be the sole instructional method. She notes that Alpha combines AI with other impactful teaching methods.
Glazewski, a parent and AI education researcher, advises thoughtful use of technology to meet clear educational goals, emphasizing the importance of protecting student privacy. As learners generate extensive data, she stresses that schools must implement strict privacy agreements to prevent misuse or unauthorized monitoring of student information over time.
Regarding social and emotional development, Glazewski points out the need for guides to support students’ curiosity and growth beyond academics. Alpha’s co-founder confirms that since guides focus less on instruction, they dedicate their efforts to motivation and emotional support.
The Role of AI in the Classroom
Contrary to common perceptions of AI replacing teachers with robots, Alpha’s model uses AI to create personalized learning paths. This allows guides to focus on connecting with students emotionally and motivationally, which is essential for effective learning.
Co-founder MacKenzie Price explains that AI frees teachers from routine tasks like lesson planning and grading, enabling them to engage more deeply with students’ interests and mindset development.
Glazewski encourages educators to explore promising instructional models while asking critical questions about access, scalability, and the evidence supporting these approaches.
Alpha promotes statistics such as students learning twice as much content in two hours compared to peers and consistently ranking in the 99th percentile. However, Glazewski urges consideration of whether these outcomes reflect the program’s effectiveness or are influenced by the school’s selective admissions and high tuition.
Alpha’s participation in North Carolina’s school voucher program remains uncertain amid recent policy changes, though Price supports school choice and hopes for inclusion.
Glazewski suggests that loosening voucher restrictions might be driving growth in private education options like Alpha, which have more flexibility to implement new teaching methods and technologies compared to public schools.
Smaller independent schools often have the agility to adopt innovative practices and offer teachers greater autonomy, according to Keaney.
Looking Ahead
AI can be intimidating, but Price views it as a positive development for education. AI tools give teachers time back to focus on what humans do best—building relationships and supporting students’ growth.
She says, “There has never been a more exciting time to be a five-year-old than now because of what’s going to be available through artificial intelligence.” Teachers, too, benefit by shifting away from administrative tasks to direct student engagement.
For educators interested in integrating AI into their practice or learning more about AI’s role in education, exploring targeted AI training can provide valuable insights and skills. Resources like Complete AI Training offer courses tailored to education professionals.
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