Is a classroom leaderboard free for teachers?

Yes. The free plan runs 2 boards with 15 students each, with real-time updates, a public link, projector display, and no credit card. That covers one class. Verified educators can also buy 12 months of Educator Pro for a one-off $79, which raises it to 50 students a board and adds your school logo and colours.

Do students need accounts to see the leaderboard?

No. The board has a public link that anyone can open on a phone, laptop, or whiteboard, and it updates the second you award a point. Only the teacher needs an account.

How do I stop a leaderboard demotivating the students at the bottom?

Rank effort or improvement rather than raw scores, reset the board every few weeks so nobody is permanently last, and call out the biggest climbers rather than only first place. A house-points board, where students contribute to a team total instead of competing individually, works well for the same reason.

Can students add their own points?

Yes, if you turn on self-scoring. Share a join link, students add themselves and log their own reading minutes or completed tasks, and you review the board rather than typing thirty names in.

How to Create a Leaderboard for Your Classroom

Jarred Hess, Founder of MakeTheBoard

February 24, 2026 · Updated September 7, 2026

A step-by-step guide to building a classroom leaderboard that motivates students, tracks progress, and makes learning fun. No technical skills required.

Students in a classroom raising their hands

Gamification is one of the most effective ways to boost student engagement. A simple classroom leaderboard turns everyday assignments into friendly competition, giving students a visible reason to stay on track and push a little harder.

In this guide we'll walk through creating a classroom leaderboard with MakeTheBoard, from setup to displaying it on your classroom TV.

Why use a leaderboard in the classroom?

Research consistently shows that game mechanics increase motivation. A leaderboard taps into that by giving students:

Visibility: everyone can see where they stand
Motivation: a clear incentive to improve
Recognition: top performers get public kudos
Accountability: progress (or lack of it) is transparent

The key is keeping it positive. Focus on growth and effort, not just raw scores, so every student feels they have a shot at climbing the board.

Step 1: Create your board

Head to MakeTheBoard and sign up for a free account. From your dashboard, click New Board and choose Leaderboard, or start from one of the ready-made leaderboard templates. Give it a name like "Mrs. Smith's Reading Challenge" or "Period 3 Math Stars."

Step 2: Add your students

Type each student's name and press Enter. You can add up to 15 students on the free plan, more than enough for most classrooms. If you teach multiple sections, create a separate board for each one.

Step 3: Customize the look

Pick your school colors using the color picker, or choose a background theme that matches the subject. A science class? Pick one of the darker themes. An art class? Go bright and bold. Students respond to boards that feel theirs.

Step 4: Update scores

Click any student's score to update it. Changes appear instantly for anyone viewing the board. No refresh needed. Award points for completed homework, quiz scores, participation, or anything else you want to incentivize.

Step 5: Display it

Open the board's public link on your classroom TV, projector, or interactive whiteboard. The board auto-updates in real time, so you never have to touch the display once it's running.

You can also share the link with students and parents so they can check standings from home.

Tips for success

Update consistently. A stale board loses its magic. Set a routine (e.g., every Friday).
Celebrate milestones. Call out students who jump five spots, not just whoever is #1.
Rotate themes. Start a fresh board each month or quarter to keep things exciting.
Pair with rewards. Even small incentives (homework pass, extra recess) amplify the effect.

Ready to get started?

Creating a classroom leaderboard takes less than a minute. Start on the classroom leaderboard page, and if you teach full time, check whether you qualify for Educator Pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes. The free plan runs 2 boards with 15 students each, with real-time updates, a public link, projector display, and no credit card. That covers one class. Verified educators can also buy 12 months of Educator Pro for a one-off $79, which raises it to 50 students a board and adds your school logo and colours.
: No. The board has a public link that anyone can open on a phone, laptop, or whiteboard, and it updates the second you award a point. Only the teacher needs an account.
: Rank effort or improvement rather than raw scores, reset the board every few weeks so nobody is permanently last, and call out the biggest climbers rather than only first place. A house-points board, where students contribute to a team total instead of competing individually, works well for the same reason.
: Yes, if you turn on self-scoring. Share a join link, students add themselves and log their own reading minutes or completed tasks, and you review the board rather than typing thirty names in.

Ready to create your board?

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