How to make mutants interesting in a setting similar yet different to X-Men?

I’ve been wanting to work on a story about individuals in a school for a while, because I feel like the experience and interactions I’ve had could be applied to a high school or college setting in writing. However, plain slice of life isn’t really my thing. Fantasy is my bread and butter. So the obvious solution is to combine the two, a magic high school or college. Or mutants.

Only problem with that is:

A) Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters

B) Harry Potter

C) The Magicians

I had one idea in particular to get around copying, which was an academy modeled after strict Catholic schools where students are tortured to unlock their abilities. Something about how the extreme circumstances triggers something in their brain. But this feels a bit too dark? The torture would likely be a large part of the overall plot because it’s how powers are derived, but I’m not sure this is the direction I’d want to go.

I had another idea for mutants, but that takes place after a nuclear apocalypse which doesn’t resolve the desire for a school setting.

Is there any to resolve this without outright copying?

Edit: Same with demi-gods and avoiding Rick Riordan