Wealthy parents pay $75,000 for Alpha’s two-hour AI school day. Half of its K-8 students missed the math target

Alpha School, a network of AI-driven private schools charging up to $75,000 per year, has gained support from Silicon Valley and the Trump administration. However, internal data reveal that only 42% of its students met the goal of learning twice as fast in math and reading. The school employs "guides" who make students feel valued and motivated, but they do not plan lessons or grade homework.

The core of the pitch is that students will learn twice as much in two hours of academics daily, thanks to Alpha's TimeBack app, which personalizes and accelerates learning. Despite its rapid growth, about half of K-8 students at Alpha's private campuses failed to meet the learning target, with half of them missing the math goal and one in five missing the reading target.

The school's two-hour academic focus is also being questioned, as some parents report stress and anxiety for their children. Now, Alpha's software is being adopted by public schools, putting a greater challenge on districts as they lack the ability to remove struggling students. While there is promise in using AI well, research shows that excessive reliance on AI summaries can lead to a decline in reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.