The NCAA and the Houston Local Organizing Committee have teamed up with HISD to help promote and inspire reading growth for third grade students.

93 HISD elementary campuses have been selected among 391 schools to participate in the 2022-2023 Read to the Final Four competition, a literacy-based initiative to promote the benefits of reading. 

The program, launched during the 2016 Men’s Final Four in Houston, was created to support the NCAA’s commitment to education and leave a lasting impact in its tournament host cities.

This year, more than 39,000 students across 11 school districts are participating in the program to earn bragging rights.

Winning schools will be announced Friday, March 31, at a special event taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center where the school with the most participation and minutes logged will receive a cash prize of $5,000. 

Second, third, and fourth place winners will receive a cash prize of $2,000.

As of Jan. 17, this year’s Read to the Final Four program has accounted for 21,867,705 minutes read, 17,627 total readers, 902 classes, and 185 schools. 

Out of the participating HISD campuses, Cunningham Elementary School, Rucker Elementary School, and Rogers Elementary School, advanced to the “Round of 32” bracket.

Tijerina Elementary School will move on to the “Round of 16” bracket.

Check back here each Monday to see which schools have advanced to the next round.