(The Center Square) – As artificial intelligence spreads across Virginia’s economy, from data centers to workforce training, Northern Virginia is about to see AI move into the classroom.
This fall, Alpha School will open a new campus in Chantilly. The private school, enrolling students in kindergarten through fifth grade, will be Virginia’s first AI-powered school. Tuition is set at $65,000 a year.
Alpha’s model is built around two hours of AI-guided academics each morning. Students then spend the rest of the day in workshops that focus on entrepreneurship, teamwork, public speaking and outdoor activities.
The school says the approach allows children to learn core subjects faster while leaving time to build practical life skills.
Alpha Schools was founded in Texas in 2014 by MacKenzie Price and has since expanded to campuses in Miami, New York, Charlotte, Raleigh and several Texas cities. Tuition varies by location, ranging from about $40,000 at some schools to $75,000 at its San Francisco campus. The Chantilly site will be among its highest-priced.
Instead of teachers, Alpha employs “guides,” whose job is to mentor students using AI-generated learning plans to track student progress and motivate them through small-group sessions and one-on-one meetings.
The Chantilly school will open at 4550 Walney Road, the site of a former Guidepost Montessori campus. Enrollment is open now, with classes scheduled to begin in August 2025. Families are required to pay a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit, and a 5% sibling discount is available, according to its website.
Alpha reports that its students score in the top 1% to 2% on NWEA MAP standardized tests, with the strongest learners showing growth more than six times the national average. Surveys shared by the school also show more than 90% of students say they enjoy attending.
The launch comes as Virginia pushes deeper into AI technology.
Billions of dollars are flowing into Northern Virginia data centers to handle the growing demand for AI computing power. At the same time, commonwealth officials are promoting AI-focused education and training programs to prepare workers for new technology jobs.
The school’s arrival shows how quickly AI is reshaping options in Virginia classrooms, just as it is in the commonwealth’s economy.
