Cleveland · 2026–27 school year
Cleveland Cavaliers x
Rhymes With Reason
The Cavaliers are bringing music-powered vocabulary learning and team rewards to Cleveland-area students for a fourth year.
Explore the partnership
Partnership snapshot
Cleveland-area students with access
Year of the partnership
Ohio
School year
The Assignment
Who
Cleveland-area students, including learners at Barack Obama Elementary, will access Rhymes with Reason.
The plan
Students work through literacy modules, earn achievement badges, and can unlock prizes and Cavaliers experiences.
The goal
Build vocabulary, reading skills, and confidence through the power of music.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are partnering with Rhymes with Reason for a fourth year. For the 2026–27 school year, the current partnership page says 500 Cleveland-area students will have access to the music-powered literacy program.
At Barack Obama Elementary, students can earn badges in vocabulary modules and use their progress toward Cavaliers prizes and team experiences. The partnership debuted at E Prep Cliffs with arena host Ahmaad Crump and DJ Steph Floss.
Impact in Progress
Maple Heights assessment result · current program outcomes pending
Students with access
Point iReady vocabulary gain
Point comparison gain
2026–27 outcomes
Partnership in Action
Students learning and celebrating with the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
Maple Heights assessment
Participating Maple Heights students gained 16 scaled-score points on the vocabulary section of the iReady reading benchmark, on average; nonparticipants gained 7 points.
Watch the assessment story on Vimeo“We’re seeing a huge improvement in both the reading and writing ability of the students who are using Rhymes with Reason. I see them using new words in essays and assignments. When I ask students where they’re learning these words, they tell me it’s through music and the Rhymes with Reason programming.” — Jessica Jason, 7th Grade Intervention Specialist, Milkovich Middle School
News and updates
About Barack Obama Elementary
Cleveland, Ohio
Barack Obama School is a public school located in Maple Heights, OH, which is in a large suburb setting. The student population of Barack Obama School is 441 and the school serves 4-5.
From Principal Sutton, "At Obama Elementary, everything we do is guided by one mission: Preparing Students to Earn the Crown by Pursuing Excellence Every Day
The Crown is more than a symbol; it represents the future our students are preparing to earn. It reflects the knowledge they gain, the character they develop, the confidence they build, the resilience they demonstrate, and the opportunities they create through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. Every lesson learned, every challenge overcome, and every act of kindness brings our students one step closer to earning their crown."
Rhymes with Reason’s culturally relevant, music-powered approach to closing the vocabulary and reading gap serves as a refreshing learning experience for youth in grades 2 through 12.
Bring this to your community
Partner with Rhymes with Reason to bring music-powered vocabulary learning to more students.