Alpha San Francisco is open, and we’re accepting applications for our 2026–27 waitlist. Apply for future enrollment, and our admissions team will guide you through the next steps.
Join us for an info session at 3741 Buchanan St. in the Marina District and see firsthand why Alpha is ranked among the best private schools thanks to its groundbreaking learning model.
When choosing a school, nothing matters more than hearing from families just like yours.
These San Francisco parents share how their children gained confidence, learned faster, and rediscovered their love of school.
Explore our showcases to tour the Alpha San Francisco campus, and enjoy our camps and afterschool programs offering exciting, hands-on experiences for kids.
Loading events...
3741 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94123
$75,000
Note: Alpha San Francisco accepts high-school applications for grades 9 and 10. We’re accepting applications for future enrollment in these grades through our 2026–27 waitlist.
Alpha San Francisco
Kori is a relationship-centered educational leader with expertise in educational design and a deep understanding of students and families, building strong partnerships and creating systems that help people thrive. She believes strong schools are built on relationships, clear communication, trust, and a shared commitment to helping students develop confidence, independence, and a genuine sense of agency. She earned a Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, a Master’s degree in Special Education, and an MBA. As an educator and parent of four adult children, she brings humor, empathy, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the powerful partnership between families and schools.
I've always been struck by how remarkable kids' curiosity and determination can be. That's what drew me to Alpha: a model built to meet children where they are, hold high standards for what they can achieve, and give them exactly the support they need to get there.
Carson is a visionary leader who sparks students’ passion for learning and growth. Starting as a 3rd–4th grade guide at Alpha Austin, he quickly stood out for personalizing learning and building confidence. From coding drones to LSAT logic puzzles to Wharton simulations, he pushes students to exceed expectations. Blending heart and rigor, Carson empowers kids to learn faster, master life skills, and believe in themselves.
With high standards and high support, I push students beyond what they thought possible by connecting their passions to learning and showing them that Alpha prepares them for the life they want.
- Carson Lehmann
Education, AI tools, and user experience design come together in Derek Kim’s work as a guide at Alpha San Francisco, where he helps students push beyond limits and thrive. A decorated Division I student-athlete at Columbia University, he later earned a master’s in Human-Computer Interaction & Design from UC Irvine. Drawing on his experience as both a teacher and college prep advisor, Derek prepares students to succeed in San Francisco’s center of innovation and in the world beyond.
I model a genuine passion for learning and pass it on: guiding students to nurture curiosity, embrace challenge, and carry the confidence to pursue ambitious futures.
- Derek Kim
Ree Yeakley is excited to begin her second year as a guide at Alpha. With a background in education, literacy, and child development, she loves helping children discover their strengths and grow in confidence. Last year, her students achieved remarkable academic and personal growth, and she’s eager to continue fostering a joyful, supportive space where every child can thrive.
I will uphold Alpha’s promise by inspiring every child to aim high, supporting them relentlessly, and creating an environment where they feel safe, capable, and excited to learn.
- Ree Yeakley
England Reddy is a literacy expert who has spent her career helping students become strong, confident readers. She holds a master’s in Special Education from the University of Florida and has taught kindergarten through 12th grade, giving her a full picture of the reading journey as she guides each student toward their next step. Most recently, she led the reading specialist department at a college-prep school for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences, and she trains teachers across the country in the science of reading through the AIM Institute and UF’s Lastinger Center. I joined Alpha because students have so much more potential than traditional methods can reach. Alpha matched the philosophy I wrote about back in college: meet each child exactly where they are, and help them rise to their full potential.
With high standards and high support, I push students beyond what they thought possible by connecting their passions to learning and showing them that Alpha prepares them for the life they want.
- Carson Lehmann
Jason is a mentor who blends curiosity, creativity, and compassion to inspire growth. An Eagle Scout who loves the outdoors, he enjoys sports like golf, tennis, running, and climbing, always eager to learn new things. With an Electrical Engineering degree from UC Irvine and experience in engineering and sales, he is driven by a passion for teaching to create a supportive, engaging learning environment.
Maria Mejia is a people-first professional rooted in community and advocacy. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and clerked within the court system. Before law school, she spent a decade supporting families navigating the aftermath of domestic violence. She has served as Campus Coordinator for Alpha Miami and Alpha San Francisco.
Max is a career educator who specializes in innovative school development. He started as a high school teacher and held roles as department chair, grade level chair, and Head of School. With a Masters in School Leadership, Max has been part of founding four schools all of which advance a learner-led education. Max continues this work reshaping education as the Director of Admissions at Alpha San Francisco.
Our youngest generation is capable of more than we know. With a world-class team of educators and AI technology, students will unleash their potential for the world to see.
Michelle’s path to education spans UC Berkeley, a Northwestern Kellogg MBA, and roles at Boston Consulting Group, Amazon, Apple, and Levi’s. At Kellogg, she founded an edtech startup helping girls build courage and researched children’s wellbeing in Denmark and the Netherlands. Now a High School Guide at Alpha San Francisco, she helps students identify and pursue their passions.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s acting on your values even when you're scared.
Dr. Tasha Arnold is a dynamic educational leader with extensive experience in American and international schools across the US, Europe, and Asia. She has spent her career transforming schools, implementing innovative learning models, and fostering personalized educational experiences that empower students to reach their highest potential. She has taught at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels, specializing in IB/AP Sciences and Learning Support across various curriculums (USA, UK, IB, and AP).
I joined Alpha Schools because I believe in redefining education. Personalization, hands-on learning, and skill development are the pillars of a truly impactful education. Alpha’s approach aligns with my vision of ensuring every child thrives academically, socially, and emotionally in a way that is uniquely suited to them.
- Dr. Tasha Arnold
Looking for more stories to view and share?
Alpha San Francisco is located in the Marina District on Buchanan Street, serving families from neighborhoods across the city such as Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow, Russian Hill, and North Beach, as well as the wider Bay Area:from Berkeley to Hillsborough and beyond. Alpha San Francisco delivers an innovative and personalized education for your children.
We explored many spaces across the Bay Area, and this one stood out. It offered the right blend of flexibility, safety, design potential, and proximity to key hubs like Marina Green Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Muni/Caltrain connections downtown:offering easy access from neighborhoods across San Francisco.
Every school day includes 60–90 minutes of break time and play. Students often explore nearby green spaces like Moscone Park or the Marina Green. Our SF location also takes advantage of proximity to local activties that keep our students moving, like Bechmark Climbing Gym, the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, and La Petite Baleen Swim School.
Each Alpha student follows a customized learning path built with adaptive apps that adjust in real time to their progress. Our San Francisco students are mastering core subjects at their own pace:with no gaps, no burnout, and no unnecessary review.
Outside of academics, guides work 1:1 with students to set goals and choose workshops:from coding machines to performing arts:based on interests. Whether a student lives in Hillsborough or South the Marina District, they’re on a path that fits them perfectly.
Yes, Alpha San Francisco is open and serves K–10. We’re accepting applications for our 2026–27 waitlist. Apply for future enrollment, and our admissions team will guide you through the next steps. Since we launched in Fall 2025, we’ve been actively growing. So, if you’d like to tour the campus or connect with a current family, we’d love to show you around.
The daily schedule at Alpha runs from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM. Students arrive for morning drop-off at 8:15–8:30 AM, and the day finishes with afternoon pick-up between 3:30–4:00 PM.
You can find more information on what an Alpha day looks like in the Info Packet linked above.
Alpha San Francisco currently presents itself as a K–12 private school in San Francisco. Families can use the campus page and admissions process to confirm current grade placement and enrollment availability.
The campus pairs AI-supported, mastery-based core academics with Guide coaching and afternoon workshops. Students progress at an individualized pace rather than following one fixed lesson schedule for the entire class.
Adaptive learning tools adjust academic difficulty and pace to each student’s progress, and students advance after demonstrating mastery. Guides are adults on campus who mentor students, coach goal-setting, and support motivation rather than deliver academic lectures. Alpha describes the model as AI-supported with adult educators, not an AI-only school.
The daily model separates focused core academics from workshops that build practical skills. Workshop areas across Alpha include leadership, teamwork, communication, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, relationship building, and grit.
The mastery-based model can support students who are ready to move more quickly because they do not have to wait for an entire class to finish the same material. Guides help students set goals and stay challenged.
Future-ready learning combines academic mastery with repeated practice in communication, collaboration, problem solving, leadership, and entrepreneurship. The aim is to build practical capabilities alongside core subject knowledge.
Compare schools by fit: grade scope, learning pace, daily model, adult support, workshop opportunities, location, tuition, admissions experience, and how each school documents and verifies its published results. Alpha emphasizes personalized mastery-based academics and structured life-skills workshops. Families wanting a conventional schedule, a settled grade pathway, or independently verified local results should review those specifics with admissions.
Alpha San Francisco is a non-traditional private school that shares some ground with progressive education: students learn at their own pace, and afternoons center on projects and workshops rather than lectures. It differs in method. Progress is mastery-based and measured through adaptive coursework, not an emergent or child-directed curriculum.
Each student follows a personalized path built with adaptive software that adjusts difficulty and pace in real time as they demonstrate mastery. Guides review progress one-to-one and change goals or support when a student moves ahead or gets stuck, so the plan shifts with the learner.
Alpha San Francisco is at 3741 Buchanan St in the Marina District, serving families across San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. Alpha runs separate Bay Area campuses in Piedmont (Alpha East Bay) and Palo Alto. Each campus has its own location, admissions contact, and enrollment process.
ABC News: Teacherless, AI-powered private school expanding Bay Area footprint due to growing demand
San Francisco Examiner: AI-Driven education: founded in Texas and coming to a school near you
KRON4 News: First A.I. school coming to San Francisco
CBS News: Inside the $40,000 a year school where AI shapes every lesson, without teachers
ABC News: Exploring the world of AI education
NewsNation: A look inside how one Texas private school uses AI to teach