When their middle schoolers were struggling with behavior and discipline issues and to develop healthy interpersonal relationships with each other, educators in the Duquesne City School District (Pittsburgh, PA) decided to try a new strategy: with funding from a Tugboat Grant by Remake Learning, DCSD implemented the House System, a program developed by the renowned Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta and used by school districts around the world to boost students’ self-confidence, emotional resilience, and sense of belonging.
Just like students in Harry Potter are sorted into houses like Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, in the House System, Duquesne City students were each placed into one of several “houses” that represent a positive personality trait like friendship, bravery, or kindness. Students earn points for their House through positive behaviors and achievements like compassion, teamwork, and academic excellence. A healthy spirit of competition encourages each House to try to earn the most points by the end of the school year, and the Tugboat Grant enabled DCSD to provide prizes and a House store for students as rewards.
The impact of the House System on DCSD 7th and 8th graders’ attitudes was profound: when comparing discipline referral data from the 2023-2024 school year to the 2024-2025 school year (when the House System was implemented), the district saw a 74% reduction in behavior incidents and referrals. In addition, some 8th graders’ attendance even improved over their 7th grade rates.
“I'm not sure I could have ever anticipated how well the implementation of the House System could have gone,” said Duquesne City School District Superintendent Sue Mariani. “The students truly bought into the family-like atmosphere we were trying to replicate within the House System. Middle school students who are developmentally navigating complex social identities benefit from the emotional scaffolding the House System provides. For example, two students involved in a hallway altercation were asked to resolve the issue during a House Meeting, with the guidance of a staff mentor. The structure of these peer-led restorative conversations allowed both students to express how they felt, reflect on the impact of their actions, and reach a mutual resolution — something that would have previously resulted in a suspension or office referral. In another case, a student struggling with exclusion from a peer group used the House system’s point-based recognition to build confidence and new friendships within her House. The emphasis on community over cliques shifted how she responded to social setbacks, promoting resilience and emotional growth.”
Named for the idea that big change starts with small efforts — much like a tugboat helps a larger ship change its course — 2025 marks the third year of Remake Learning’s Tugboat Grant initiative. Started in 2023 as part of Future Driven Schools, the initiative has awarded funds totaling nearly $2.5M for educational innovation throughout Southwest Pennsylvania.
“Tugboat Grants offer school districts the opportunity to test small ideas that can lead to big changes, not just for their own students, but also for the entire Southwest Pennsylvania learning ecosystem. When an idea succeeds in one district, other educators can learn from that success and adapt it to fit their own district’s needs. Every small win contributes to a rising tide that helps lift all districts over time,” said Tyler Samstag, Director of Remake Learning.
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