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Music from an ’80s playlist spills into the hallway outside an Edison Academy classroom. Inside, colorful LED lights shine over students and staff playing decades-old video games, laughing and taking a break from spring testing.

The Edison Arcade was imagined, designed, built, and operated by students in the academy’s cyber and electrical classes. Its lineup ranges from Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and old-school Mario to 2014 FIFA and a 10-year-old version of Just Dance projected onto a wall.

Classes can reserve roughly half-hour visits when students have downtime. More than 100 sessions were booked after the arcade opened earlier in May.

Cyber teacher Aaron King developed the idea after finding it difficult to engage some students with the curriculum during his first year at Edison. A lifelong gamer who moved into teaching two years ago, King wanted a hands-on project that would turn classroom theory into practical experience.

Grant funding came from Educate Fairfax, the PTSA and the Foundation for Applied Technical Engineering. King then took students to George Mason University to see a similar program before work began at Edison.

Cyber students collaborated with electrical classes to design and construct the arcade, while engineering students helped build cabinets for the games. The finished space opened to the broader Edison High School community for the final weeks of the school year.

Students manage the entire operation, gaining experience with budgeting, maintenance, security, customer service and other aspects of running a business. The cyber class also monitors and maintains a board-game table and a plastic axe-throwing lane for visitors who want a break from screens.

King sometimes joins visitors at the games and holds special Tuesday sessions for Edison employees.

Criminal justice teacher John Kayajanian brings his students whenever their schedule permits. He said the arcade gives them a chance to release stress and have fun at a demanding point in the school year.

Kayajanian also enjoys watching students encounter games from his childhood. Although they criticize the older graphics, he said, they still love trying classic Mario.

Tenth-grade cyber student Max Storm said he was surprised and excited when he learned the class would work on the project. He called the finished arcade a success and said building it had been a valuable experience.

The Edison Arcade is scheduled to operate through May 30.