It was only her fifth day of school and Zury Murcia found herself standing in front of a strange, multicolored wheel with an auditorium full of her new Riveroaks Elementary classmates cheering her on.

“You’re going to spin the wheel, and it’s going to land on a color,” explained music teacher Corey Hill. “Whatever color it is, that’s what house you’re going to be in, alright?”

This Baton Rouge elementary school has four houses — Altruismo, Amistad, Isbindi and Reveur — and each has its own signature colors — black, red, green and blue, respectively. These houses compete with each other continuously throughout the year, amassing points when students achieve academically and behaviorally. They include adults as well as children.

This Harry Potter-esque “house system,” developed by the Atl

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