Alpha Schools, a private school network led by tech billionaire Joe Liemandt, plans to open a K-8 campus in Bethesda with tuition of about $65,000 a year.

The school promises students can finish their core academics in two hours a day using AI software. The rest of the day focuses on life skills workshops covering financial literacy, public speaking and what the school calls "grit."

Alpha does not employ traditional teachers. Staff members carry the title "guide." The school's FAQ states: "The title changed because the job changed: AI delivers academic lessons, and Guides spend their day on motivation, relationships, and life skills coaching." Guides in high-cost areas earn a starting salary of $150,000. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) teachers start at $66,690 under the current salary schedule.

An Alpha spokesperson told The Banner the network chose Bethesda "because of strong interest from local families and the community's commitment to education." The exact location has not been finalized.

The opening timeline is unclear. The Banner reported Tuesday, Sept. 15 that Alpha officials expect to open in fall 2027. Newsweek reported Monday, Sept. 14 that the campus is scheduled for January 2027. Alpha requires at least 25 families to commit with a $1,000 deposit before launching any campus. As of Monday, Sept. 14, one family had committed. School officials said more than 100 others have expressed interest.

Alpha, which gained traction in Austin, Texas, is expanding across 16 states. The network has tried to open publicly funded charter schools in several states but was mostly rejected. Pennsylvania officials wrote in a 2025 decision that Alpha's AI model was "untested and fails to demonstrate" alignment with state academic standards.

Alpha claims its students grow 2.6 times faster than peers on nationally normed Measures of Academic Progress assessments, according to Newsweek. That claim has not been independently verified.

The Bethesda campus arrives as MCPS grapples with its own questions about technology in classrooms. The Board of Education voted unanimously on July 16 to require a comprehensive review of K-8 student screen time, with a report due by March 2027. Board member Julie Yang introduced the resolution.

In an Aug. 25 WTOP interview about the new school year, MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor addressed the district's approach to AI. "We are mindful of the impact of technology both in society and in the classroom," Taylor said. "We are studying the screen time and impact of technology in classrooms this year and this will inform a lot going forward."

A Montgomery County Council of PTAs survey of about 1,000 parents found concerns about excessive Chromebook use and a desire for more traditional learning materials, The Banner reported Aug. 14.

If Alpha Bethesda expands to high school, older students could face the network's "High Bootcamp," an eight-week program. In one activity, students wear heart-rate monitors and listen to recordings of their parents giving them critical feedback in front of classmates. To pass, students must bring their heart rate back within 10% of their resting baseline.

Alpha needs 24 more committed families before the Bethesda campus can open.