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This High School Principal Rewards Good Grades With $100 Bills

February 23, 2016

At Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Principal Harold Clay believes that academics are the real key to success. As an incentive for his students to excel in the classroom, he awards cash prizes.

KLFY News New Orleans

Last Friday, Clay handed out $100 bills to 33 students who had GPAs of 4.0 or higher.

"When kids are focused on iPhones and Jordans, I'm saying to focus on your education and I'm going to compensate you for it."

The message seems to have gotten across to many of those who were honored Friday.

"If you work hard in the class room someone is going to take notice, someone's going to take heed of what you're doing," said senior Korey Finnie.

The highest achievers weren't the only winners of the day. Nearly 400 Karr students were honored for having GPA of at least 3.5. Some were even given sports style varsity jackets and patches.

Principal Harold Clay / KLFY News

And just like sports, his students say it creates competition in the class room.

"You're seeing everybody else getting the patches and the checks and you want to get it too so you're going to work even harder than they do to get the patches and the jacket," student Kamri Butler added.

Edna Karr High School is ranked second best in the New Orleans Parish School District and also above 83.1% of high schools in Louisiana in academic performance.