Question 1

What is Alpha School?

Accepted Answer

Alpha School is a private K-12 school that uses an AI-powered platform to teach all academic subjects in a hyper-efficient two-hour block, allowing students to learn up to 10 times faster than in traditional schools. The rest of the day is spent on project-based "life skills."

Question 2

Why hasn't the education model changed in 200 years?

Accepted Answer

The current model of a teacher in front of a class of 20-30 students was created for the industrial age as a way to deliver mass education. While learning science has known for 40 years that this is one of the worst ways to teach, there hasn't been a technology that could deliver individualized, mastery-based instruction at scale until the recent advent of Generative AI.

Question 3

What does "mastery-based learning" actually mean at Alpha?

Accepted Answer

It means a student must prove they understand a concept with over 90% accuracy before the system allows them to move on. In traditional schools, a student can pass with 70%, meaning they miss 30% of the material. Alpha's approach is like sports: you master the fundamentals (like dribbling) before you practice advanced plays (the alley-oop). This prevents the knowledge gaps that cause students to struggle later on.

Question 4

Can this system help students who are already far behind?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because the learning rate is so fast, students can catch up quickly. An entire grade level of material in one subject only takes 20 to 30 hours to master on the platform. A student who is two years behind is only about 40-60 hours of work away from being at grade level, a gap that can be closed in a matter of months.

Question 5

What do kids do for the rest of the day after the two hours of academics?

Accepted Answer

They participate in hands-on, collaborative workshops designed to teach life skills. Examples include fifth graders running a profitable Airbnb, launching a food truck, second graders training for and running a 5K, and high schoolers producing a Broadway-style musical.

Question 6

How do you scale the "life skills" portion of the day? Isn't that hard to standardize?

Accepted Answer

For K-8 students, Alpha has developed a structured curriculum of workshops and projects that can be rolled out systematically across campuses. For high schoolers, the model shifts to a "super passion project" where students have four years to work on a major, self-directed goal with mentorship, forcing them to become self-driven learners who can source their own resources.

Question 7

What is the role of teachers? Are they replaced by AI?

Accepted Answer

Adults are critical, but their role changes completely. They are called "Guides" and do zero academic teaching. Their entire job is to motivate, mentor, build relationships, and facilitate the afternoon life skill workshops.

Question 8

How much are "Guides" paid compared to traditional teachers?

Accepted Answer

The minimum pay for a Guide at Alpha is $100,000, which is roughly double the average teacher pay in the Austin market. This allows the school to attract top talent from both inside and outside the traditional education field.

Question 9

What are the biggest challenges or skeptical arguments against this model?

Accepted Answer

The primary challenge is proving it can work at scale outside of a well-funded private school with a select student body. Another issue is that parents have very different ideas about the purpose of education; some prioritize academics, while others value social aspects or other skills, making a "one-size-fits-all" solution difficult. The technology itself also needs refinement to eliminate AI errors or "hallucinations."

Question 10

My child will be on a screen for two hours straight. Is that healthy?

Accepted Answer

Alpha views this as "very good screen time." Unlike passive consumption, your child is actively engaged in a learning dialogue with the AI tutor. The system is designed for focus, using 25-minute "Pomodoro" sessions for each subject. The goal is maximum efficiency to free up the rest of the day for screen-free, collaborative activities.

Question 11

How do you prevent my child from just using the AI to cheat?

Accepted Answer

This is a key design feature. The "Time Back" platform is not a chatbot like ChatGPT, which is often used for cheating. The AI's purpose is to generate personalized lessons and questions and then provide targeted feedback. It acts as a tutor and a coach, not an answer machine. Functions that would enable cheating are not activated.

Question 12

How do I know this is actually working? Do you use standardized tests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Alpha uses third-party standardized tests, like the MAPS test, to measure progress. Parents receive a mid-year update showing their child's growth. The results consistently show that in two hours a day, students learn twice as much as their peers who spend six hours a day in a traditional classroom.

Question 13

What happens if my child gets stuck on a problem? Is there a human to help?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. While the AI is the primary academic instructor, the "Guides" (teachers) constantly monitor student progress. During the two-hour academic block, Guides will frequently pull students aside for one-on-one check-ins to offer encouragement, discuss challenges, and ensure they feel supported.

Question 14

My child is already gifted and ahead of their grade. Will they be bored?

Accepted Answer

No, this model is ideal for gifted students. Because learning isn't tied to a grade level, a student at the 99th percentile isn't capped. The system will continue to feed them advanced material at their own pace, allowing them to get years ahead of their peers.

Question 15

With only two hours of academics, does this mean no homework?

Accepted Answer

That's the goal. The system is designed to be so efficient that the traditional model of a six-hour school day plus homework becomes completely unnecessary. The only exception is for students who are significantly behind when they start and choose to do extra work to catch up faster.

Question 16

How do you motivate my child to do the work? What if they don't want to?

Accepted Answer

Motivation is 90% of the solution at Alpha. While the main motivator is earning back four hours of their day for fun projects, the school uses many other tools tailored to the child. This can range from earning stickers or a class petting zoo for younger kids, to friendly competition on leaderboards, to earning "Alpha Bucks" to fund their passion projects or learn financial literacy.

Question 17

If kids are on computers, how do they develop social skills?

Accepted Answer

Socialization is a primary focus of the other four hours of the day. The afternoon life-skill workshops are team-based, collaborative, and project-driven. This is where students learn teamwork, leadership, and relationship-building by working together on real-world challenges, like running a business.

Question 18

You set very high standards, like running a 5K. What if my child fails or isn't athletic?

Accepted Answer

The philosophy is "high standards, high support." The goal isn't just the achievement itself, but teaching the process of reaching a difficult goal. In the 5K example, students are taught "atomic habits" and start by simply walking the track. They build up incrementally with constant encouragement from their Guide. The program teaches them how to do hard things, building resilience and a growth mindset.

Question 19

This sounds very different and risky. How can I be sure it's the right choice for my child?

Accepted Answer

The founder acknowledges that it can seem "weird" at first because it's so different from our own experience. However, the model is based on 40 years of proven learning science. The school's commitments are clear: your child will love school, they will learn twice as fast, and they will learn critical life skills. The school uses hard data from standardized tests to prove the academic results, and the high engagement in the afternoon workshops speaks for itself.

Question 20

This is a high-end private school. Is this model just for rich kids?

Accepted Answer

The physical Alpha School campuses are expensive, but the long-term vision is the opposite. The goal is to perfect the "Time Back" software platform and make it accessible and affordable for everyone. The vision is a future where any child on the planet can get a world-class education for two hours a day on a sub-$1000 tablet.

Question 21

Why is American K-12 education doing so poorly despite massive spending?

Accepted Answer

The system is built on a flawed, time-based model. We advance students every year based on age, not on whether they've mastered the material. This creates compounding knowledge gaps, leading to a steady decline in performance as students are promoted with a weak foundation.

Question 22

What is the single biggest unlock to fix education?

Accepted Answer

Switching from a time-based system to a mastery-based system where students must demonstrate proficiency before moving on. This ensures every child has a solid foundation. When powered by AI tutors, this approach is highly efficient and scalable.

Question 23

How can kids really learn 10 times faster?

Accepted Answer

Traditional classrooms are incredibly inefficient, with retention from lectures as low as 5%.4 An AI tutor provides a personalized, one-on-one lesson plan for each student, keeping them in the optimal learning zone (the "zone of proximal development").5 It ensures they master basics before advancing, eliminating time wasted on remediation and allowing them to cover material much more quickly. An entire year's math curriculum can be mastered in just 20-30 hours.

Question 24

Isn't paying kids to get good grades a bad idea?

Accepted Answer

It can be a powerful "unlock." For a student who believes they "can't" succeed, an extrinsic motivator like a $1,000 reward can provide the initial push needed to do the work. Once they achieve a high standard they thought was impossible, their entire self-perception changes, creating a powerful intrinsic motivation that lasts long after the reward is gone. It's the kindling that starts the fire.

Question 25

What is the role of human teachers if AI is doing the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Their role becomes more important, not less. Freed from grading tests and delivering repetitive lectures, they become guides and mentors. They focus on connecting with students one-on-one, providing motivational and emotional support, setting high standards, and teaching the life skills—leadership, teamwork, public speaking—that AI can't.

Question 26

What is a mastery-based system?

Accepted Answer

It's an educational approach where students progress based on their mastery of a concept, not on a fixed schedule. If you don't understand fractions, you don't move on to algebra. This prevents the knowledge gaps that plague the traditional system.

Question 27

How does the "2-hour learning" block work?

Accepted Answer

Students spend a focused, two-hour block on core academics using AI-powered apps. Once they complete their daily lessons to a mastery standard, their "school work" is done. The rest of the day is freed up for workshops, sports, and projects focused on life skills.

Question 28

What are the key principles of learning science you use?

Accepted Answer

The model incorporates well-established concepts like Bloom's 2 Sigma (the effectiveness of tutoring), the zone of proximal development (keeping content not too hard, not too easy), cognitive load theory (not overloading working memory), and active learning (testing over passive listening).

Question 29

How is AI the "light microscope" for education?

Accepted Answer

For decades, learning science has described a better way to teach, but it was impossible to implement at scale in a traditional classroom. AI is the instrument that finally allows us to measure what a student knows with precision and deliver a perfectly tailored, one-on-one lesson, making the theories of learning science a practical reality for every child.

Question 30

How will Generative AI create better lessons?

Accepted Answer

Generative AI can create dynamic, endlessly engaging content tailored to each child's interests.6 If a student loves baseball, their math problems will be about batting averages. If they love the musical Hamilton, their history lessons will be presented as song lyrics. This makes learning compelling and relevant, not a chore.

Question 31

Is there still a technology risk in this model?

Accepted Answer

While the technology will continue to improve, the core principles can be implemented today. Even with current "static" AI-curated content, students can learn 3-5 times faster. The primary risk is not technological but sociological: getting society to adopt a fundamentally new model for schooling.

Question 32

Why hasn't this been done before if the ideas are 40 years old?

Accepted Answer

Because there was no scalable, cost-effective technology to deliver personalized, mastery-based tutoring. You couldn't give every child a dedicated human tutor. AI is the first tool that can provide that one-on-one relationship to millions of students simultaneously.

Question 33

What's the biggest obstacle to adoption?

Accepted Answer

Inertia and mindset. The "teacher in front of a classroom" model is all anyone knows. The biggest challenge is convincing parents, educators, and policymakers to embrace a complete rebuild of the school day, even if it's proven to be vastly superior.

Question 34

How do you plan to make this model affordable and accessible to everyone?

Accepted Answer

The cost is primarily in the AI compute, which is currently expensive. However, with the rapid development of on-device AI chips, the expectation is that within 3-5 years, a sub-$1000 tablet will have all the local processing power needed to run these AI tutors. The goal is to make this accessible to a billion kids, including through public and charter schools.

Question 35

What is Alpha School's core philosophy?

Accepted Answer

It's built on three commitments to parents: 1) Your child will love school more than vacation. 2) Your child will master academics and score in the top 1% nationally, but in only two hours per day. 3) The key to your child's happiness and success is being held to high standards in a highly supportive environment.

Question 36

What kind of person is a "Guide" at Alpha School?

Accepted Answer

Guides are responsible for motivational and emotional support, not academic instruction. Alpha hires two main groups: the world's best traditional teachers who are thrilled to stop lecturing and grading quizzes, and high-achieving individuals like ex-coaches, athletes, and Olympians who serve as impressive role models and can motivate kids to achieve greatness.

Question 37

How does Alpha deal with students who are behind academically?

Accepted Answer

The AI platform first assesses them to find their true knowledge level, ignoring their age or previous grades. Because a full grade level of material only takes about 20 hours to master, a student who is three years behind can catch up in just 60 hours. Liemandt says, "We can catch them up in no time."

Question 38

Why doesn't Alpha use chatbots if it's an AI-powered school?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt states that chatbots are terrible for learning because 90% of kids use them to cheat, turning them into "cheatbots." Instead of chat, Alpha's AI uses a vision model that watches the student's screen and coaches them on their learning process, with a "waste meter" that shows them how much time they are wasting.

Question 39

What exactly is happening in the “two‑hour academic day”?

Accepted Answer

Students work one‑on‑one with an AI tutor (no teacher lecturing) and, according to Liemandt, learn over twice as much as peers in six hours plus homework; he claims Alpha’s classes are top‑1%, and catch‑up from bottom to top quartile can happen in ~two years.

Question 40

What are the concrete student‑motivation tools?

Accepted Answer

The product is called Time Back (finish earlier to do projects you love). Other tools include screen‑time trades (e.g., 1 hour tutor → 1 hour games) with parental buy‑in, and financial incentives where appropriate.

Question 41

Do incentives like paying students actually work?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt cites Roland Fryer’s work (e.g., Houston) and says paying kids—structured to build daily habits—was most effective among teacher/parent/student options.

Question 42

What has Alpha tried in public schools?

Accepted Answer

In MTSS level‑3 pilots (bottom ~10%), Alpha tied gift‑card unlocks to finishing lessons; teachers and parents reported the approach transformed students’ lives.

Question 43

What about low‑income or refugee learners?

Accepted Answer

Alpha’s learn‑and‑earn program for Ukrainian refugees used $2.50/day incentives (doubling with streaks), with 1,000+ children participating.

Question 44

Isn’t AI in school just a cheating machine?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt warns that open chatbots become “cheatbots” (he says 90% of students will cheat if given them). Alpha’s design avoids that paradigm and uses AI to tutor/coach rather than provide answers.

Question 45

What’s the north‑star vision and funding plan?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt says he has committed $1B to a full‑stack reinvention and aims for on‑device AI on sub‑$1,000 tablets to reach a billion learners over the next 20 years.

Question 46

Any stated political/policy views tied to this?

Accepted Answer

Lonsdale asserts New York State currently bans AI in schools and frames a national debate about whether AI will be allowed to help kids; both discuss school choice as a path for innovation. (This is reported as their on‑air statements.)

Question 47

How does Alpha treat debate/civics?

Accepted Answer

Students are taught to steelman both sides of debates; Liemandt recounts formative experiences arguing positions he disagreed with to build understanding.

Question 48

What is Alpha’s “2‑hour learning” model?

Accepted Answer

A student spends ~two hours with an AI tutor on personalized, mastery‑based academics; when complete, the interface “goes green,” and students transition to life‑skills workshops for the rest of the day.

Question 49

What do kids do after academics?

Accepted Answer

Workshops in leadership, teamwork, grit, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, storytelling/public speaking, and relationship-building/socialization.

Question 50

How does Alpha handle students who are behind?

Accepted Answer

Alpha starts with diagnostic testing (knowledge grade), then assigns targeted lessons. A full grade level is usually 20–30 hours of mastery work; three years behind ≈ ~60 hours of focused study (e.g., a third hour per day).

Question 51

Are transcript grades reliable indicators of mastery?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Incoming “A” students often range +1 to –3 grades; “B” students –3 to –7 grades behind on Alpha’s standardized diagnostics.

Question 52

How good can outcomes get in two hours?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt states the engine supports top‑1% performance on standardized tests with the 2‑hour model.

Question 53

What motivates students to do the hard work?

Accepted Answer

The highest‑impact lever is “Time Back” (finishing academics to earn compelling afternoons). Alpha also uses lightweight incentives like “100 for 100” to catalyze mastery and change self‑perception.

Question 54

What evidence suggests the traditional model underperforms?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt cites data that the median U.S. high‑schooler gains about 1 point (of 300) across four years—a symptom of time‑based progression and prerequisite gaps.

Question 55

Is Alpha only for wealthy families?

Accepted Answer

Alpha is the high‑end model, but the team is building lower‑cost formats (e.g., sports academies, higher guide‑to‑student ratios) while preserving the academic engine.

Question 56

What about SAT/AP‑level outcomes?

Accepted Answer

The model aims to deliver 2–3 hours/day academics and strong results (e.g., 1550+ SAT, AP 5s) while freeing afternoons for multi‑year projects.

Question 57

What is Timeback?

Accepted Answer

A platform packaging the learning engine so builders can open schools or apps on top of it (Alpha afternoons are programmable). A AAA video game built on the engine is intended to be free‑to‑learn and massively scalable.

Question 58

What exactly does “two hours” mean?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt says students spend about two hours with an AI tutor designed on learning‑science principles; he claims they learn more than 2× as much as a traditional six‑hour school day with homework.

Question 59

How fast is “10× faster,” and what’s different from a chatbot?

Accepted Answer

He describes a learning‑science‑based engine that “teaches ~10× faster,” emphasizing it is “not like ChatGPT”.

Question 60

What life skills do students actually practice?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt lists leadership, teamwork, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, socialization/relationship‑building, storytelling/public speaking, grit; examples include post‑game press conferences and a 5th‑grade food truck for gross‑margin math.

Question 61

How much does Alpha cost now, and what’s the plan to reduce cost?

Accepted Answer

He states Alpha tuition is $40k–$75k; micro‑schools at ~$15k are launching, with ~$12k vouchers bringing family pay to ~$300–$400/month.

Question 62

What’s the long‑term scale vision?

Accepted Answer

Liemandt says the target is a sub‑$1,000 tablet that “teaches everything in two hours” for a billion kids; he says he has invested $1B to start.

Question 63

MBA or build?

Accepted Answer

Asked whether people should do MBAs, Liemandt answers “No,” arguing two years building is far more valuable.

Question 64

How does Alpha teach kids about money?

Accepted Answer

He describes financial literacy from kindergarten through high school; investing simulations and borrowing with interest to demonstrate 25% APR.

Alpha School San Francisco
K-8 Private School in San Francisco, California

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Motivation Is 90% of Learning: The Science Behind Kids Who Love School

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Alpha School San Francisco K-8 Private School in San Francisco, California

Welcome to the Future of Education in San Francisco​

See How Alpha Transforms Kids — Straight From San Francisco Parents

Ready to see what these parents are talking about?Join an Information Session

Alpha San Francisco Information Session with MacKenzie Price and Joe Liemandt

Alpha San Francisco Information Session with MacKenzie Price and Joe Liemandt

Alpha San Francisco Private School

K - 8th Grade

Tuition

Email:

Telephone:

Quick Resources

Alpha San Francisco Gallery

Meet our Team

Dr. Tasha Arnold | Head of Alpha School in San Francisco

Carson Lehmann | Lead Guide

Derek Kim | Guide

Ree Yeakley | Guide

More Real Stories From Alpha Families

Alpha San Francisco FAQs

Latest Blogs

Motivation Is 90% of Learning: The Science Behind Kids Who Love School

Why Every Textbook Is Obsolete: The End of One-Size-Fits-All Learning

Learning at the Speed of Thought: How AI Tutors Make Every Lesson Personal

In the News

Alpha School San Francisco
K-8 Private School in San Francisco, California

Welcome to the Future of Education in San Francisco

Ready to see what these parents are talking about?
Join an Information Session