Several national and regional restaurant chains and brands offer complimentary items to students who demonstrate strong academic performance, typically by presenting a report card with good grades. These programs vary significantly in terms of eligibility requirements, participating locations, and the specific rewards offered. The availability of these promotions is frequently limited to select locations and may change without notice, making it essential for students and parents to verify participation with their local establishment before attempting to redeem an offer.
Overview of Available Offers
The primary rewards available for good report cards are complimentary food items, including ice cream, pizza, nuggets, and full kids' meals. The following list details specific offers reported across multiple sources, though it is critical to understand that participation is not universal.
- Baskin-Robbins: Participating locations may offer a free scoop of ice cream for good grades. Verification with the local store is required.
- Bob Evans: Select locations offer a free scoop of ice cream for students who receive good grades.
- Burger King: At select locations, students may receive one free hamburger or one free ice cream cone for good grades.
- Cheryl’s Cookies: Students may receive up to three free cookies for earning A's on their report card.
- Chick-fil-A: Participating locations may offer a free 8-pack of nuggets for a report card with all A's and B's. Some sources indicate a 5-pack may be offered. It is necessary to call ahead to confirm participation and the specific reward.
- Chuck E. Cheese: This brand offers a reward program for academic achievement. Students who earn a straight A report card can receive ten free Play Points by filling out a Super Student Certificate and presenting it at a participating restaurant.
- Cold Stone Creamery: A good report card may earn a free scoop of ice cream at participating locations.
- IHOP: Participating locations may offer a free kids' meal for good report card grades.
- McDonald’s: At participating locations, students in Kindergarten through 5th grade with straight A's may earn a free Happy Meal, while students in 6th through 12th grade may receive a free value meal.
- Melting Pot: This fondue restaurant offers a Three-Course Petite Feast for students who show their report card. The offer includes a cheese course, a pick-three entrée, and chocolate fondue. This offer requires the purchase of an equal or greater value entrée and a beverage. Participation is confirmed in specific states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI.
- Noah’s Bagels: Students in grades 1-8 can get one free bagel for every A on their report card. Signing up for the Noah’s Rewards club is recommended, and participation must be confirmed locally.
- Peter Piper Pizza: Participating locations (in TX, NM, AZ, CA, and MX) may offer a free 7-inch, one-topping pizza for good grades. Local verification is necessary.
- Pizza Hut: Elementary and Middle School students with at least 3 A's (or the equivalent) can receive one Personal Pan Pizza and a small soft drink or carton of milk. This offer is for dine-in only, and the student must be present with the original report card. Participation is at select locations.
- Qdoba: Participating locations may offer a free kids' meal for A's on a report card.
- Wendy’s: Some locations may offer a free treat for report cards featuring A's and B's. The report card must be presented to the cashier before ordering.
Program-Specific Initiatives
Beyond one-time redemption offers, some brands have structured programs designed to reward students for academic or reading achievements throughout the year.
- BOOK IT! Program: This is a specific, ongoing incentive program for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. It rewards students for meeting reading goals, not just for report card grades. Upon meeting goals, students earn free personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut. The program requires enrollment, and the value of the pizza is approximately $3 per redemption, though this may vary by location.
- Kudzoo App: This is a free mobile application available to middle school and college students. Through the app, students can build "Kudzoo cash" based on their academic performance, which can then be used for various rewards, including at restaurants and for concert tickets.
- Applebee’s “A is for Applebee’s” Reward: This program provides free kids' meal vouchers for students 12 and under who excel in academics or non-academic areas. Vouchers are typically distributed by teachers or libraries for good report cards or good behavior. The number of vouchers is limited each school year, so availability must be confirmed with the local Applebee’s.
Important Considerations and Eligibility Rules
The sources consistently emphasize that participation, availability, and specific offer details are determined at the local level. The following rules and considerations are common across most programs.
- Location Variability: Nearly all offers are contingent on the participation of the specific restaurant location. National chains do not mandate universal participation, so offers may be available in one city or state but not another. It is highly recommended to call the local establishment ahead of time to confirm they are honoring the report card reward.
- Proof of Grades: The original, physical report card is almost always required as proof. Some locations may accept a digital copy, but this is less common. The report card must clearly show the required grades (e.g., all A's and B's, or at least three A's).
- Age and Grade Restrictions: Many offers are limited to specific age groups or grade levels. For example, the Pizza Hut offer is for Elementary and Middle School students, while the McDonald’s offer has different tiers for Kindergarten-5th grade and 6th-12th grade.
- Redemption Timing: Most report card rewards are offered around the end of each grading period or semester. They are not typically available year-round. The BOOK IT! program, however, operates on a different schedule aligned with reading goals.
- Purchase Requirements: The Melting Pot offer explicitly requires the purchase of an entrée and a beverage to redeem the free Three-Course Petite Feast. Other offers generally do not require a purchase, but this should be confirmed for each specific location.
Additional Financial Rewards
While most rewards are food or entertainment-based, some sources indicate that financial institutions may also offer rewards for academic achievement. A tip mentioned in one source suggests that local banks and credit unions sometimes provide monetary rewards for good grades. This is not a restaurant or product brand offer, but it represents another avenue for students to be rewarded for their performance. As these programs are local and not standardized, students and parents would need to inquire directly with their local financial institutions.
Conclusion
A variety of restaurants and brands offer freebies to reward students for good report cards, providing a tangible incentive for academic effort. The most commonly reported rewards are complimentary food items like ice cream, pizza, and chicken nuggets. However, the key takeaway for consumers is that these offers are not standardized across all locations of a given brand. Participation is selective, and terms such as required grades, age limits, and purchase conditions can vary. Therefore, the most critical step for anyone seeking to redeem a report card reward is to contact their local restaurant or brand location beforehand to confirm that the offer is available and to understand the specific redemption requirements. For structured, ongoing rewards, programs like BOOK IT! and the Kudzoo app offer alternative methods for students to earn benefits based on their academic and reading achievements.