Alpha School in San Francisco is an AI-powered, one-to-one mastery-based private school that claims higher learning efficiency than traditional classrooms and is planning expansion to Palo Alto and the East Bay due to rising demand.

Supporters say the model could represent the future of education by accelerating progress for advanced students while helping others catch up, though charter approvals have been limited and expansion faces regulatory hurdles.

The program reports that students learn more in two hours than in conventional settings and tracks progress with check charts focusing on teamwork, grit, and independence rather than traditional grades.

Students earn 'alphas' and real money as incentives, with tuition cited at about $75,000 per year and the possibility to save or invest rewards as part of a broader emphasis on life skills and ownership of education.

Critics question screen time, tuition, and human connection, while supporters point to alumni achievements like Stanford admissions and high SAT scores linked to Alpha-based learning, and education officials acknowledge guardrails alongside AI tutoring potential.

Notable alumni, including Kate Liemandt, credit personalized, self-directed learning with high achievements such as a 1600 SAT, underscoring the model's impact on motivation and outcomes.

The school day centers on a morning launch and two hours of digital learning, followed by lunch and afternoon workshops, with incentives like Alpha points redeemable at a school emporium or through investments.

The model replaces traditional teachers with guides who provide mentoring and emotional support, allowing adults to focus on facilitation rather than direct instruction.

Classes are personalized in mixed-age settings where students work on different tasks with AI-driven real-time feedback and without conventional grades, guided by both AI and human mentors.

Founder Mackenzie Price launched the concept in Austin, expanded to 13 campuses nationwide with San Francisco as a key location, and is pursuing charter status amid regulatory challenges.

Advocates, including Lead Guide Carson Lehmann and alumna Kate Liemandt, emphasize deeper engagement, personalized pacing, and independence, with some alumni citing long-term benefits in higher education.

A two-hour daily AI-driven learning block starts the day, followed by structured breaks, lunch, and afternoon workshops to reinforce personalized pacing and rapid skill mastering.