Rural NC microschool lets middle schoolers run an Airbnb and learn with AI

A Rural Microschool Where Students Learn With AI - and Run an Airbnb

Elijah, a rising sixth grader, almost passed on a new school. Then he heard he'd help run an Airbnb. Boredom turned into curiosity. His mom, Terrie Wilson, sees a way to reconnect schoolwork to real life.

Elijah earned a spot through a district lottery. He's one of 26 middle schoolers in a new public microschool in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, North Carolina. The goal: build emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial skill through projects with local businesses, starting with a partnership with Water Street Real Estate Company.

Why this matters for rural districts

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank serves about 4,800 students across 13 schools, and nearly 70 percent are economically disadvantaged. Like many rural areas, it faces enrollment pressure and "brain drain" as young people leave for jobs elsewhere. Microschools are one way to keep students engaged, build local opportunity, and still keep enrollment inside the public system.

The model aims to pilot new structures in a small setting, then move what works into traditional schools. It's a lower-risk way to test hands-on learning and community partnerships without overhauling every campus at once.

The model: small cohort, real work

The program is intentionally small: 26 students, two instructors, and mixed-age collaboration. Mornings are for core academics. Afternoons are for applied projects tied to the Airbnb property, which is currently under construction.

Students will rotate through roles like furnishing and logistics, hospitality and experience design, and writing guest guidebooks. The work is unpaid and happens during the school day, with the district framing it as a learning lab focused on entrepreneurship, market operations, and financial literacy.

AI as the second teacher

With two instructors for the cohort, the district is leaning on AI tutoring to personalize practice and feedback. Leaders cite Khanmigo as the primary AI tool to support instruction and free up teachers for coaching and small-group work. Learn more about Khan Academy's approach to AI tutoring at Khan Labs.

The school's structure borrows from models like Alpha School, which compresses direct instruction and relies on tech-enabled practice. See an overview at Alpha School.

What students actually do

Students will learn the basics of business strategy, market analysis, budgeting, and guest experience. They'll compare their listing's performance to nearby rentals to get direct feedback on pricing, reviews, and occupancy.

"You also have to think about what that's going to ignite," says microschool administrator Colina Bartlett. The bet is simple: make school relevant, and performance follows.

Early signals from families

Wilson believes the on-the-ground work will help Elijah connect school to future income, responsibility, and opportunity. "I want him to understand there's so much more out there," she says. The specificity of the tasks - from budgeting to guest communication - provides experience students usually don't get until much later.

Beyond one property: a district playbook

The Airbnb is one of several work-based microschools the district is piloting. Other partners include Rick Anderson Fitness, Arts of the Albemarle, and Port Discover. If results are strong, leaders plan to fold key practices - scheduling, coaching, and project design - into comprehensive schools.

Equity, safety, and oversight

Microschools draw both interest and scrutiny. Advocates highlight flexibility and relevance; critics flag uneven oversight and limited data. Districts should set clear guardrails: parent consent, alignment to academic standards, defined roles and scope of student work, and transparent reporting on outcomes.

What success could look like

• Academic growth: reading and math gains vs. prior year baselines.
• Engagement: attendance, on-time work submission, student surveys.
• Skills: evidence of planning, budgeting, communication, and iteration.
• Market feedback: booking rate, reviews, and revenue vs. local comps.
• Teacher feasibility: workload, usable data from AI tools, coaching time.
• Community demand: applications, waitlist, and partner interest.
• Scalability: which elements transfer cleanly into traditional schools.

Implementation checklist for district leaders

• Run "inspiration visits" to schools using project-based and AI-supported models.
• Pick a local industry with safe, visible, year-round projects (hospitality, fitness, arts, science centers).
• Lock the schedule: mornings for core academics; afternoons for projects.
• Define student roles, guardrails, supervision, and assessment rubrics.
• Map projects to standards and write simple performance tasks with exemplars.
• Set data routines: pre/post assessments, quarterly exhibitions, partner feedback.
• Secure permissions, transportation, risk management, and accessibility plans.
• Train teachers on AI tutors, prompt quality, and academic honesty norms.
• Budget for furnishing, supplies, and replacement cycles; track cost per student.
• Give students voice: naming, branding, guest communications, and tour scripts.

Practical AI prep for educators

• Start small: one subject, one routine (e.g., AI for practice with teacher feedback).
• Set clear rules for tool use and citation. Build in checkpoints to reduce shortcutting.
• Use AI to differentiate practice, not to replace core instruction and relationships.
• Share wins and failure points in weekly team huddles; adjust prompts and pacing.

If you're building staff confidence with AI, see role-specific options here: AI courses by job.

The bottom line

This microschool trades worksheets for accountable work. Two teachers, 26 students, one property, and a clear schedule. If it boosts engagement and growth - and the model proves safe and feasible - it could give rural districts a practical path to keep students learning and keep them local.