I believe it. From the third grade to the eight grade, kids lose ground.
School is a sink or swim proposition for many, and I will confess that I spent most of the time sinking, but I made up for that later on in life, after high school, because I personally took the initiative to learn new things and to learn many things I hated to do in school or had trouble understanding. I only wish that I had the luxury of having the internet when I was in school.
I was smart, but I wasn't the brightest kid in my graduating class, but many tell me today I'm very intelligent, even going so far as to say I know too much, that I am a walking book of knowledge. LOL
This I believe is the biggest reward, save for being an ego booster.