It's been said, it pays to do well in school, but now the D.C. school system will soon pay their middle school students for their achievements in the classroom.

"I think anything that gives a motivation to go to school is a worthwhile investment," said Karen Perry.

Professor Roland Fryer of Harvard University came up with the idea to give middle schoolers cash based on different criteria, including attendance, completing homework, behavior and grades. Now, 2,700 sixth-through-eighth grade students at 14 middle schools who meet the criteria will be rewarded with up to $100 a month under the program called Capital Gains.

Eligible students will be able to earn $2 per point up to a monthly maximum of $100. Fryer says students will also receive "financial literacy" training to help them make sensible decisions about the money they earn.

The schools are spread across all wards of the city, except Ward 3.

"This is just one way to give kids rewards in families who likely can't afford those things. We're going to be dealing with high poverty schools here," said schools chancellor Michelle Rhee. She believes middle school is the most critical time to give kids an extra push to hit the books and go to school. "This is the time for a radical intervention."

Less than 40 percent of D.C. students are proficient in math and reading, according to standardized testing. D.C. officials say the program has already shown positive results in cities like Chicago and New York. They say if it's successful here, they would like to expand it to all of the District's 28 middle schools.

Many students, perhaps unsurprisingly, support the idea.

"They told us that we [were] oing to get paid for coming to school, but only if we had good behavior," Gabrielle Wingard, a student, said Friday.

"I think that would be great because a lot of kids, they need a lot of motivation and that would be a big motivation to some," added Denise Calloway, a parent.

But some parents and students question whether forking over cash for good behavior is sending the right message.

"I think kids should want to come to school and do good," student Aaron Young said. "They shouldn't need to be bribed to do good in school because you need school."

The program will cost $2.7 million over the entire academic year; the cost will be split between the District and a Harvard University grant.