A $40,000-a-year school with no teachers: AI promises to help students learn twice as fast
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
AI-Driven Classrooms Arrive in Oklahoma
This August, Oklahoma will witness the opening of a school with no teachers. Alpha School, a chain of private institutions fueled by artificial intelligence and deep-pocketed investors, is setting up campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The school’s tuition—$40,000 a year—outpaces even the priciest private schools in the state, signaling a new chapter in the debate over education’s future and who it serves.
Alpha offers something rare: a classroom experience managed not by teachers, but by software and human guides. Each morning, students log two hours on laptops, cycling through math, reading, science, and social studies in half-hour blocks. The afternoon shifts to hands-on projects and workshops designed to build life skills. For some parents, that blend of highly personalized learning and entrepreneurial training makes the cost worthwhile.
Inside the Alpha Model: No Teachers, Just Guides
There are no certified teachers at Alpha. Instead, students interact with guides—supervisors who monitor progress but do not shape the curriculum or enter classrooms during digital learning. In the afternoons, guides oversee workshops ranging from programming toy cars to simulating Navy SEAL challenges. Sometimes, they stage real-world lessons, like sending middle-schoolers to Starbucks with prepaid cards—some set to zero—to teach resilience when things don’t go as planned.
Guides command salaries between $100,000 and $150,000—substantially higher than what beginning public school teachers in Oklahoma earn. But guide positions do not require teaching certification. Instead, Alpha actively recruits people with varied backgrounds, from sports psychologists to holders of bachelor’s degrees in any field. Hiring involves cognitive tests, background checks, and extended training in Austin before guides deploy to schools across the country.
Critics are watching. State Rep. Cyndi Munson argues that such models discount the dedication and skill required to be a classroom teacher. Erika Wright, an advocate for rural schools, warns that students could miss out on vital educational and emotional support without certified teachers. "This is a travesty for those kids," she said.
Big Tuition, Big Promises, and Growing Scrutiny
Alpha is not shy about its ambitions—or its price tag. Tuition at the new Oklahoma campuses will be nearly double that of the most expensive local private schools. Funding comes in part from Joe Liemandt, a software investor who recently pledged $1 billion toward education initiatives, including Alpha. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman also lends his support.
Some families are enticed by discounts for early adopters: those who join in Alpha's inaugural year get $10,000 off annually for five years. Still, even with this break, the cost remains steep—at least $30,000 a year—with no school-sponsored financial aid initially. Oklahoma’s new Parental Choice Tax Credit, which can offer families up to $7,500 toward private school tuition, will not apply for Alpha’s first year. Accreditation by Cognia is still pending site visits at the Oklahoma locations, a requirement for future eligibility.
The program’s critics highlight issues of equity. Most families benefiting from the tax credit statewide earn well above Oklahoma’s median household income. For Alpha parents, even the full tax credit would barely dent tuition, ensuring the school remains accessible only to a select few. "What scares me is they’re going to try to take even more public school funds to do their little pet school projects," said Jami Cole, leader of the public school advocacy group Edvocates.
Technology in the Spotlight—And the Crosshairs
Alpha’s educational software has drawn attention, and not all of it is positive. Before ChatGPT, Alpha’s students used well-known online platforms. Now, the proprietary “2 Hour Learning” AI system personalizes lessons and claims to double learning speed. Media reports from outlets such as 404 Media and Wired have accused Alpha of scraping content from other platforms without permission, allegations the company strongly denies. These investigations also noted instances of faulty AI outputs, such as “hallucinated” content and quirks in quizzes.
Privacy is another concern. The AI software monitors student screens, snapping photos when progress stalls. One incident, uncovered by Wired, involved the system recording a student working in bed in pajamas. Alpha’s spokesperson says these criticism echo “cherry-picked” examples from disgruntled former employees, and the company is weighing legal action against the outlets involved.
For public schools, Oklahoma legislators recently passed rules mandating AI be supervised by teachers. But as a private institution, Alpha is not subject to the new law—despite its model relying entirely on unmediated AI instruction. Sen. Ally Seifried, who authored the regulation, says she will be watching closely: "AI and technology are moving at such a quick pace that we just want to make sure that … students are safe." Alpha, meanwhile, touts strong results, pointing to average SAT scores of 1545 among seniors and AP test averages above 4.
A Test Case in Oklahoma’s Educational Crossroads
Alpha’s arrival comes as Oklahoma battles over education rankings, funding formulas, and the use of AI in schools. Governor Kevin Stitt has publicly supported AI-driven learning, visiting Alpha facilities and praising emerging technologies—despite recently signing limits on virtual instruction for public schools. This contradiction hasn’t gone unnoticed by educators, who feel efforts to innovate in public education face steeper hurdles.
While Alpha’s methods and price tag are out of reach for most Oklahoma families, the school is moving forward. As of late July, the Edmond campus had 26 students enrolled, the Tulsa location 32. The Edmond building, more than 6,000 square feet of industrial space, was still in transition; the Tulsa site has yet to be confirmed. Applications remain open, with the school warning it cannot accommodate students needing intensive academic or behavioral support. Families must disclose IEPs or specialized plans—or risk withdrawal.
Among Alpha’s inaugural Oklahoma families, curiosity runs high. Wendy Vassiliou, whose son will join the Tulsa campus, freely admits her reservations—but also her optimism, shaped by Alpha’s publicity and promises. She researched critical coverage and concerns, yet chose to enroll: "I looked at everything I could find, and I still was not deterred." Her son, Cullen, hopes Alpha will make learning more engaging and open better opportunities than his previous school.
The school’s advocates insist Alpha offers something traditional systems can’t. Recent graduate Rhett Jones credited the program with fueling his entrepreneurial ambitions—ventures he never thought possible before. "The school truly unlocks kids educationally in a way other schools can’t," he said.
For all the controversy, Alpha’s opening in Oklahoma marks a turning point. How the model fares in a state wrestling with educational inequities and AI anxieties could shape debates far beyond state lines—and challenge what it means to “go to school” in the age of artificial intelligence.
