Alternative schooling is having a moment among high-income parents. Families who can afford to send their kids to the best K-8 institutions are seeking new options. They’re exploring schools that prioritize life skills and call teachers “guides” or “coaches.” Some use AI-based tutors that tailor the curriculum to the child’s individual needs.
Parents considering less traditional options say AI is poised to have significant effects on the economy, so old ways of learning may no longer make sense. (Forge Prep’s marketing materials refer to it as “built for 2040. Not 1940.”) They also say AI tutors and hands-on learning in smaller groups offer opportunities for a more individualized curriculum.
Unlike public schools, these institutions aren’t required to report metrics to the state and their relative effectiveness can be difficult to evaluate.