In August, the esports academy by Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price opened to four fifth- through eighth-grade students in Northwest Austin. Students complete their academic instruction using an artificial intelligence platform, known as 2 Hour Learning, and learn life skills by competing in esports and developing video games.
“Our goal here at this school is that kids that are not typically motivated by the traditional school system absolutely love walking into these doors every day, so that they're crushing it academically, because they've got the coolest environment to work hard,” said Beau Sydes, head of school for NextGen Academy.
How it works
For four hours each school day, students engage with their favorite video games such as Minecraft, Fortnite and Overwatch at the school’s professional-grade esports arena. Students are tasked with using esports to showcase their teamwork, communication, entrepreneurship, public speaking and financial literacy skills.
Students may work on communication and teamwork skills while playing Fortnite or practice public speaking by providing esports commentary, known as shoutcasting, for esports tournaments, Sydes said.
The esports academy teaches students how to develop their own video games. Students have competed for scholarships in international gaming competition Games for Change by creating a video game that addresses world hunger or climate change, NextGen Academy guide Hardu Virks-Lee said.
The school uses AI to evaluate and grade students' performance in displaying these skills. Students showcase their work to their parents upon passing a session and are provided feedback on how to improve if they fail.
To access these gaming experiences, students must complete two hours of academic coursework each day using a self-paced AI program that aims to help students learn at an accelerated pace.
The backstory
Price founded Alpha School in 2014 to provide expedited, personalized instruction for students using her 2 Hour Learning Platform. The platform uses an AI tutor to help students learn the common core curriculum at their own pace. Students can learn twice as fast and advance multiple grade levels, Price said.
Instead of traditional teachers, classes are led by guides who specialize in building relationships with students and providing them emotional and motivational support.
This school year, Alpha School expanded with three new specialized academies in the Austin area. Price said she was inspired to open an esports school after she discovered some Alpha School students were unmotivated to learn but loved gaming and esports.
“We decided to run a program where we wanted to see how much they could catch up academically,” Price said about introducing esports into the classroom. “These kids went up two grade levels in all of their academic subjects in six months.”
The impact
Espie and Michael Siddall said they enrolled their fifth grade son at NextGen Academy so he could better utilize his time and explore his interests. While attending various types of private and public schooling in years past, their son struggled to enjoy school and stay engaged.
Michael Siddall said his son now looks forward to attending NextGen Academy. The couple said they appreciate the personalized attention and support their son has received as well as his growth in his public speaking. time management and decision making.
By teaching students through esports, NextGen Academy can better relate to, motivate and reward students for their growth, Sydes said. Some students that have come to the school behind grade level are now approaching and surpassing grade level in certain subjects, NextGen Academy guide Josh Goldstein said.
“When a kid loves something and they're motivated, you're able to influence them and push them to do things that they don't believe they're capable of doing,” Sydes said.
Stay tuned
NextGen Academy is looking to grow its enrollment as it currently serves four students, Sydes said.
The academy recently began offering an after-school program where ages 5-19 can join a competitive esports team for $300-$500 a month. The school now provides tutoring services for $50 an hour using the 2 Hour Learning Platform.
With an annual tuition of $25,000, these new offerings may allow more students to access NextGen Academy, Sydes said. More financial aid options will become available as the school grows, Price said.
Alpha School is looking to continue expanding by opening a charter school in Bastrop in 2026 and a virtual charter school in Arizona, she said.
