Billionaire financier Bill Ackman, known for his support of Donald Trump, is now championing a network of AI-powered private schools designed to accelerate learning while deliberately avoiding lessons on social and political issues. The flagship institution, Alpha School, employs AI-enabled software to teach K-12 students complex subjects in just two hours, with the remainder of the day devoted to physical, social, and experiential activities.
Co-founder MacKenzie Price emphasizes that the curriculum intentionally sidesteps topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to keep “political, social issues” out of the classroom. Ackman’s role is primarily that of a brand ambassador, promoting the school to parents, highlighting a broader trend of billionaire-backed alternative education models that raise questions about accessibility, equity, and the future of American schooling.
Read More: Real-Time Coverage of Google’s ‘Made by Google’ Pixel Event
Alpha School: A New Approach to Education
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Alpha School is a “fast-growing private school that eschews lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).” Co-founder MacKenzie Price explained that the curriculum intentionally avoids “political, social issues” that might interfere with academic instruction. “We stay very much out of that,” she said.
Alpha’s model is highly innovative: K-12 students complete subjects in just two hours using AI-enabled software, with the remainder of the day devoted to physical, social, and experiential activities. The school offers a range of workshops focusing on leadership, business education, and recreational activities. Founded over a decade ago, Alpha now has campuses nationwide and plans to open a new location in Manhattan later this year.
Ackman’s Role in the School
Ackman’s involvement is primarily as a brand ambassador. WSJ reports that he was drawn to the school partly because of its stance on DEI and its avoidance of topics such as the gender continuum. Over recent months, Ackman has promoted the school to parents and will appear on a panel with Price to discuss its approach.
Questions Around Humanities Education
While AI-driven learning may excel in certain subjects, teaching humanities presents unique challenges. History, literature, and art are inherently interpretive, and removing social or political context can complicate instruction. How Alpha teaches the American novel or discusses historical events without addressing potentially contentious social issues remains unclear.
Billionaire-Backed Education: A Broader Trend
Ackman’s support for Alpha fits a larger pattern of wealthy individuals investing in alternative education models. Bill Gates has championed charter schools, Jeff Bezos founded a network of preschools, and Elon Musk created Ad Astra for his children, later expanding it into a private school in Texas.
This trend reflects a long-standing effort among the ultra-wealthy to shape education outside the public school system. Initiatives like the school choice movement and policy proposals under Project 2025—including proposals to dismantle the Department of Education—highlight the influence of private capital on American education.
Accessibility and Societal Implications
Tuition at schools like Alpha runs approximately $45,000 per year, effectively limiting access to a small segment of the population. Critics worry that such models could widen educational inequality, creating an intellectual elite while leaving the majority of students in underfunded public systems.
Whether the ultimate goal is simply innovation in education or a more stratified society remains a matter of debate. What is clear is that the growing influence of billionaires on schooling is reshaping the educational landscape—and raising important questions about equity, access, and the future of learning in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Alpha School?
Alpha School is a private, AI-driven K-12 school that focuses on accelerated learning. It uses AI-enabled software to teach subjects in two hours, with the rest of the day devoted to physical, social, and experiential activities.
Who founded Alpha School?
The school was co-founded by MacKenzie Price over a decade ago. It has multiple campuses nationwide and plans to open a new location in Manhattan this year.
What subjects does Alpha School teach?
The school covers a wide range of subjects, including traditional academics, leadership workshops, business education, and recreational activities.
Does Alpha School include DEI in its curriculum?
No. The school deliberately avoids lessons on diversity, equity, inclusion, and other social or political issues.
What is Bill Ackman’s role in the school?
Ackman serves mainly as a brand ambassador, promoting the school to parents and highlighting its approach to education.
How much does tuition cost?
Tuition at Alpha School is approximately $45,000 per year, limiting access to a small, affluent segment of the population.
Why are billionaires investing in alternative education?
Many wealthy individuals, like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk, support alternative education models to provide tailored learning experiences for their children or to innovate outside the public school system.
Conclusion
Bill Ackman’s support of Alpha School underscores a growing trend of billionaire-backed, alternative education models that prioritize accelerated learning and technological innovation over traditional social or political instruction. While the AI-driven approach may offer efficiency and engagement in certain subjects, it raises significant questions about accessibility, equity, and the broader societal impact of excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion from the curriculum. As these elite educational models expand, they highlight a widening gap between affluent students and the majority of Americans who rely on public schools.
