NORTH LAS VEGAS — A newly formed nonprofit is piloting a program at two North Las Vegas elementary schools that rewards fifth graders for making the honor roll or achieving perfect attendance, organizers said this week. The effort aims to keep students motivated during a key academic transition and to build positive habits early.
Pilot targets the fifth-grade transition
Grabbing for Grades is running the pilot at Eva G. Simmons Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School, focusing on students in fifth grade. Organizers said the program recognizes classroom success with incentives designed to encourage continued effort as students approach middle school.
The program’s founder said acknowledging students’ accomplishments can help sustain motivation, and that rewards can be more effective than punishment at reinforcing desirable behavior.
"I definitely found out with my oldest that rewards definitely work better than punishment,"
The quote above came from parent Kimiko Fleming, a North Las Vegas mother of three, who spoke about positive reinforcement and the importance of building good habits during the elementary years. Fleming added,
"Elementary school is the perfect place to do this kind of stuff. It's easier to reward correct behavior when they are 7, 8, 10, versus a 16- or 17-year-old,"
Local context and district efforts
The nonprofit’s pilot arrives as the Clark County School District is launching its own pilot to address underperforming schools. That district program includes tutoring, after-school resources and an additional 19 minutes added to the school day.
CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert has emphasized the importance of transitional years for students, telling reporters in June that fifth grade is a pivotal point where students can be lost if they experience a different climate, culture or set of expectations when moving to middle school.
"That they're not experiencing different climate, culture, expectation when they move between, because that's where we lose some students,"
Grabbing for Grades’ founder said the nonprofit hopes its efforts will complement district initiatives and help bridge gaps in student engagement and achievement.
Parents back incentive approach
Parents like Fleming said rewards helped shape academic habits with older children and could do the same for younger students. She expressed hope that programs like this could help students reach their potential.
"Maybe this will help feed into that. Greatness can come from anywhere,"
Organizers said they plan to expand the program to other schools and grade levels across the valley, but growth will depend on securing additional sponsorships and community partners.
- Program name: Grabbing for Grades
- Pilot schools: Eva G. Simmons Elementary; Lincoln Elementary
- Target grade: Fifth grade
- Recognition: Honor roll and perfect attendance rewards
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pilot locations | Eva G. Simmons Elementary, Lincoln Elementary |
| Focus | Academic achievement and attendance for fifth graders |
| Expansion | Planned across the valley pending sponsors |
Program leaders are actively seeking sponsors to fund incentives and to broaden the reach beyond the current pilot. They describe the effort as one part of a wider community push to bolster student success as pupils navigate grade-level transitions.
As North Las Vegas families and educators weigh strategies to keep students on track, the pilot launched by Grabbing for Grades will be watched closely for early indicators of whether recognition-based incentives can improve motivation and outcomes during this sensitive stage of schooling.
