At Alpha School, the classroom looks a little different.
That’s because there are no certified teachers, only adult “guides” who assist AI-powered software as it instructs students for two hours daily.
The rest of the school day, students focus on gaining “practical, real-world skills,” according to the website of the for-profit, artificial intelligence-based school network, which has earned both supporters and detractors.
Originally founded in Austin, Texas, in 2014, Alpha School currently operates nearly two dozen campuses across the U.S, with grades ranging from pre-K to high school. Its recently-opened pre-K-8 location in downtown Chicago charges $55,000 in annual tuition, according to the school’s website.
Now, the AI-based school network has its sights set on Evanston, according to a zoning application filed by Alpha School to occupy the former Roycemore School site at 1200 Davis Street.
The private K-12 Roycemore permanently closed its doors after a more than 100-year educational run in July following a period of prolonged financial instability.
The City of Evanston approved Alpha School’s zoning analysis application Sept. 14, according to city spokesperson Cynthia Vargas.
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Alpha School is seeking to operate under the existing special use permit approved for Roycemore, Vargas confirmed, but the school did not specify the exact site modifications or property improvements they plan to request, if any.
Representatives for Alpha School did not comment on whether the school plans to lease or purchase the building or when it would seek to open for students.
A spokesperson for Alpha confirmed to Pioneer Press the school is “evaluating the site as a potential future school campus,” but does not have a finalized opening date to announce at this time and cannot comment on the terms of any ongoing real estate discussions or engagements.
The spokesperson added that since the Chicago campus opening, Alpha School’s AI-instruction model has received “a lot of interest from North Shore families.”
From a national perspective, tuition for Alpha School ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 a year, based on location, according to the school’s website.
Promotional material for Alpha School explains that students log into customized dashboards led by AI tutors and complete two-hour learning sessions of core curriculum subjects like math, reading, science and history.
The rest of the day, Alpha says, is “intentionally designed for activities that traditional schools often struggle to fit in,” including public speaking, physical education, leadership workshops, creative problem solving and other “life skills development.”
By allowing AI tutors to lead the instruction rather than teachers, the school argues students can advance at the right level for them and move more quickly in the subjects they excel in.
Human “guides,” as the school refers to them, are still present in the classroom to work with students more closely when they need assistance, but they do not teach lessons. Instead, AI acts as a one-on-one tutor, setting the pace for each student’s lessons and tracking their progress with educational metrics, Alpha says.
The AI learning software was developed in partnership with licensed education platforms like Khan Academy and Membean, according to previous reporting by the baiduhai.
While some parents may favor an AI approach to learning, skeptics of the Alpha school network cite concerns over isolationism and student anxiety over pre-set learning targets.
Grade sizes vary for Alpha’s various campus locations and the school did not specify its intended enrollment numbers for the Roycemore site.
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The legacy institution’s building previously supported around 240 students across all grade levels, per previous reports.