PHOTO VIA ALPHA SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE
UPDATE: Blue Bamboo has pulled the AI School Sublease proposal from the commission agenda, saying “We feel that the issues the sublease raises will be better addressed by requesting a city work session where the best use of the facility can be addressed.”
As first reported by Winter Park Voice, an AI-powered private school could open on the second floor of the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts (Website) in Winter Park.
The Winter Park City Commission will consider a sublease agreement on May 14 for Alpha School (Website), a private institution that charges approximately $45,000 per year in tuition and uses artificial intelligence to teach core academics in about two hours daily.
The school would operate through the Love & Life Foundation (Website), a nonprofit led by Winter Park residents Matthew and Paige Wideman, who are affiliated with River Orlando Church (Website). The draft lease caps enrollment at 50 students and prohibits accepting Florida school vouchers.
Alpha School’s “2-Hour Learning” model has students spend approximately two hours each morning on core subjects like math using AI-led adaptive learning apps, including IXL, Khan Academy, and custom Alpha programs. Human staff members, called “guides” rather than teachers, supervise and provide motivation while students work independently on tablets or laptops.
Afternoons focus on project-based learning, life skills, public speaking, emotional intelligence, and other real-world activities. The model was founded in Austin, Texas, by MacKenzie Price around 2014-2015.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited the Austin campus last year and said she was “blown away” by the model after President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting AI in schools.
According to online reviews, parents’ experiences with Alpha School vary widely. Some families report dramatic academic acceleration, with students advancing three times faster than peers and ranking in the top 1-2 percent nationwide on standardised tests. However, CNN reported that at Alpha’s Brownsville, Texas campus, approximately six families voiced concerns during the 2023-2024 school year about teaching efficacy and anxiety the school’s culture placed on children. One parent told CNN students were “so stressed out” despite being promoted as success stories.
A 2026 review noted that while some children thrive with self-paced dashboard learning, others who need hands-on explanation or writing support struggle. Critics note Alpha’s academic growth claims have not been independently verified through peer-reviewed studies, though the school is accredited through Cognia, a globally recognised, research-based designation for educational institutions.
Community reaction to the Winter Park proposal has been sharply divided. Opponents argue the proposal conflicts with the building’s intended use for arts organizations, would increase traffic congestion in an already crowded downtown area, and represents a for-profit operation using a publicly-owned building.
Supporters say the innovative model offers families an alternative educational option and helps Blue Bamboo meet a rent increase from $132,000 to $276,000 annually in August. They argue that the small school size would have minimal traffic impact.
Blue Bamboo received approximately $900,000 last year through an Orange County grant program funded by tourist development taxes. Central Florida Vocal Arts previously walked away from a sublease agreement after becoming dissatisfied with the terms.
Alpha School operates locations in Austin and Brownsville, Texas, Palm Beach Gardens, Miami, and five other states. The Brownsville location is near Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starbase facility.
The Winter Park City Commission meeting is scheduled for May 14 at 3:30 PM at City Hall.
