Best K-12 Student Information Systems

How Many K-12 Student Information Systems Products Does G2 Track?

Total Products under this Category: 340

Category Stats (Oct 2026)

  • Average Rating: 4.03/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
  • Top Trending Product: TUIO (+0.02%) - Among all products in this category, TUIO recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

Last updated: October 07, 2026

How Does G2 Rank K-12 Student Information Systems Products?

Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:

  • 30 Analysts and Data Experts
  • 3,100+ Authentic Reviews
  • 340+ Products
  • Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

G2 Grid® for K-12 Student Information Systems

G2 Grid® for K-12 Student Information Systems plotting products by satisfaction and market presence

Highlighted products: FACTS SIS (Student Information System), PowerSchool SIS, AdminPlus SIS, KINDERPEDIA, Gradelink, TUIO, Blackbaud Student Information System, and Veracross.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/k-12-student-information-systems/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=facts-sis-student-information-system&focus%5B%5D=powerschool-sis&focus%5B%5D=adminplus-sis&focus%5B%5D=kinderpedia&focus%5B%5D=gradelink&focus%5B%5D=tuio-tuio&focus%5B%5D=blackbaud-student-information-system&focus%5B%5D=veracross)

FACTS SIS (Student Information System)

FACTS Student Information System (SIS) connects every part of your school—from admissions to academics to parent communication—in one comprehensive system. Serving as the single source of truth for schools, it simplifies data management, improves efficiency, and helps schools focus on what matters most - their students. With FACTS SIS, schools benefit from features that benefit the entire community, including: - Attendance - Cafeteria management - Communication tools that automate messages to families via email, text or push notification - Health information management that allows schools to track vaccinations, medications, and medical conditions - Comprehensive reporting powered by FACTS' data analytics technology - Report cards that are customizable and easy to enter comments on - Behavior tracking, including automatic discipline event notices for families - Staff information management - Standards-based grading - Student and family information management - Transcripts ...and so much more! Even better? FACTS SIS becomes even more efficient and effective when paired with other platforms in our robust product suite. - Pair with FACTS Application & Enrollment to track application statuses and supporting documents in one place. - Pair with FACTS Tuition Management to optimize your school’s administrative and financial processes, including budgeting and forecasting. - Pair with FACTS Family Custom App and FACTS Parent Alert to send alerts via convenient push notifications and emergency communications directly to families. FACTS SIS is mobile-responsive, allowing families to access important information wherever they are, and offers one-click Spanish translation to ensure that all families can simply stay up-to-date with their school community. As with all FACTS platforms, FACTS SIS is backed by industry-best security, which is constantly updated, optimized, and tested by our dedicated cybersecurity team to guarantee your most important information is kept safe. When combined with our dedicated customer service, seamless onboarding, and over 35 years in the K-12 education industry, it's no surprise why 12,000+ schools trust FACTS to elevate the education experience.

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 118

How Do G2 Users Rate FACTS SIS (Student Information System)?

  • Ease of Use: 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind FACTS SIS (Student Information System)?

  • Seller: FACTS
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 1986
  • HQ Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    447 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Teacher
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 57% Small, 36% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About FACTS SIS (Student Information System)?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users praise the exceptional customer support of FACTS SIS, highlighting responsiveness and helpful resources available.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of FACTS SIS, finding it intuitive and efficient for both staff and parents.
  • Users highlight the user-friendly interface of FACTS SIS, enabling easy access to student information and records management.
  • Users appreciate the centralized information of FACTS SIS, making it easy to access student and parent data efficiently.
  • Users appreciate the ease of access to student information through FACTS SIS, enhancing their overall efficiency.
Cons
  • Users experience a noticeable learning difficulty with FACTS SIS, finding it less intuitive for occasional tasks and workflows.
  • Users find poor usability in FACTS SIS, with clunky navigation and frustrating limitations for first-time users.
  • Users often face technical issues with FACTS SIS, including loading errors and system flakiness that disrupt functionality.
  • Users find the poor reporting in FACTS SIS confusing, making it challenging to understand report purposes and visibility.
  • Users experience integration issues that complicate implementation, especially with non-traditional family setups and various software.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of FACTS SIS (Student Information System)?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About FACTS SIS (Student Information System)?

PowerSchool SIS

PowerSchool SIS is the leading student information system software solution for K-12 educational institutions, focused on driving your success. Power your operations with flexible, innovative, easy-to-use technology that plays a central role in your school or district.

Average Rating: 4.2/5.0

Total Reviews: 722

How Do G2 Users Rate PowerSchool SIS?

  • Ease of Use: 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind PowerSchool SIS?

  • Seller: PowerSchool
  • HQ Location: Folsom, CA
  • Twitter: @MyPowerSchool
    12,129 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    3,303 employees on LinkedIn®
  • Ownership: NYSE: PWSC

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Teacher, Technology Director
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 66% Medium, 17% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About PowerSchool SIS?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the centralized information in PowerSchool SIS, seamlessly accessing grades, assignments, and performance in one system.
  • Users appreciate the ease of access offered by PowerSchool SIS, enhancing connectivity for students, parents, and teachers.
  • Users value the easy integrations of PowerSchool SIS, allowing seamless syncing and data management across platforms.
  • Users value the easy customization of PowerSchool SIS, enabling tailored tracking and integration for diverse educational needs.
  • Users highlight the ease of use in PowerSchool SIS with its intuitive layout and user-friendly navigation.
Cons
  • Users find the learning difficulty of PowerSchool SIS challenging due to its complex navigation and non-intuitive design.
  • Users report technical issues with PowerSchool SIS, including glitches and an outdated interface that hampers usability.
  • Users find poor usability in PowerSchool SIS, often struggling with its complex and outdated interface.
  • Users face customization issues with PowerSchool SIS, finding it cumbersome to manipulate and modify essential fields.
  • Users are concerned about the high cost of PowerSchool SIS, emphasizing the need for careful consideration before investment.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of PowerSchool SIS?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About PowerSchool SIS?

AdminPlus SIS

AdminPlus® is an all-in-one K-12 Student Information System (SIS) and school management platform that helps schools manage student data, academic records, attendance, communication, reporting, and operational workflows from a centralized system. Designed for public, private, charter, religious, independent, and international schools, AdminPlus serves as the primary system of record for student, family, staff, and school information. The platform combines student information management, grade reporting, parent and student engagement tools, scheduling, financial management, analytics, and administrative reporting within a single integrated environment. Schools use AdminPlus to streamline daily operations, maintain accurate records, improve communication, and provide secure access to information for school staff, students, and families. Core capabilities include: Student Information Management: Manage demographics, enrollment records, attendance, discipline, health information, contacts, schedules, report cards, transcripts, forms, and student documentation in a centralized database. TeacherPlus Gradebook: Integrated online gradebook for grading, assignments, assessments, standards-based learning, attendance, progress reporting, classroom performance monitoring, and academic reporting. PlusPortals® Parent and Student Portals: Secure web and mobile access to grades, assignments, attendance, schedules, report cards, transcripts, school announcements, calendars, and other academic information. Scheduling and Academic Administration: Course scheduling, elementary scheduling, master schedule building, graduation tracking, academic planning, and transcript management. Student Billing and Tuition Management: Tuition billing, online payments, family account management, payment tracking, financial reporting, and administrative workflows. AdminPlus also includes a modern dashboard experience designed to provide school leaders with immediate visibility into key operational and academic data. Users can personalize dashboards with configurable data tiles and charts tailored to their role and responsibilities. School leaders, principals, administrative staff, and office personnel can view metrics such as attendance, tardies, academic risk indicators, missing schedules, incidents, grades, birthdays, student counts, and other important data without running individual reports. Drill-down capabilities provide access to detailed records, while export options support printing, PDF generation, and spreadsheet analysis. The platform includes reporting and analytics tools that help schools monitor enrollment, attendance, student performance, demographics, financial activity, and operational trends. Standard reports, ad hoc reporting capabilities, dashboards, and visual charts help users access information and make informed decisions using current school data. TeacherPlus Gradebook and PlusPortals are fully integrated with AdminPlus, creating a connected ecosystem that links classroom data, student records, and family communication. Information entered by teachers and administrators is synchronized across the platform, reducing duplicate data entry and helping maintain consistency throughout the school. Used by K-12 schools worldwide for more than 40 years, AdminPlus supports the management of student information, academic performance, school-to-home communication, financial operations, and administrative processes through a unified school management platform.

Average Rating: 4.0/5.0

Total Reviews: 99

How Do G2 Users Rate AdminPlus SIS?

  • Ease of Use: 7.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind AdminPlus SIS?

  • Seller: Rediker Software
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 1979
  • HQ Location: Hampden, MA
  • Twitter: @RedikerSoftware
    631 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    75 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Director of Technology
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 67% Medium, 32% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About AdminPlus SIS?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users praise the amazing customer support of AdminPlus SIS, highlighting quick and in-depth assistance when needed.
  • Users value the ease of accessing and managing student information, appreciating its reliability and integration capabilities.
  • Users value the comprehensive solutions of AdminPlus SIS, enabling seamless data management and efficient school operations.
  • Users value the efficiency of AdminPlus SIS, appreciating its speed and seamless data integration that reduces errors.
  • Users appreciate the wide range of integrations offered by AdminPlus SIS, enhancing efficiency and simplifying data management.
Cons
  • Users find limited features in AdminPlus SIS compared to the classic version, impacting specialized reporting capabilities.
  • Users face learning difficulties with AdminPlus SIS due to its complexity and multiple ways to complete tasks.
  • Users desire more customization options in transcripts and report cards for enhanced flexibility and functionality.
  • Users feel that AdminPlus SIS has poor reporting capabilities for customized forms, needing more advanced tools for specific needs.
  • Users express the need for more in-depth customization options for transcripts and report cards in AdminPlus SIS.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of AdminPlus SIS?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About AdminPlus SIS?

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Gradelink

Administrators, help your school save time, improve enrollment and fulfill its mission. Standards, grades, lesson plans, communication tools, reporting, Google Classroom integration and more — all in one integrated platform that's easy to use. Gradelink is entirely internet-based so you and your staff can work anywhere, making it ideal for bolstering distance learning. Plus you'll enjoy personalized training and support — at no additional charge.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 225

How Do G2 Users Rate Gradelink?

  • Ease of Use: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Gradelink?

  • Seller: Gradelink
  • Year Founded: 2001
  • HQ Location: Foothill Ranch, California
  • Twitter: @Gradelink
    340 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    29 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Principal, Teacher
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 84% Small, 13% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Gradelink?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the exceptional customer support from Gradelink, highlighting responsiveness and personalized assistance to maximize usage.
  • Users find Gradelink's ease of access beneficial, making navigation simple for staff, parents, and students.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of Gradelink, benefiting from personalized support that enhances their experience.
  • Users appreciate the great reporting features of Gradelink, facilitating efficient attendance tracking and student data management.
  • Users value the quick response of Gradelink's support team, ensuring timely assistance and effective communication.
Cons
  • Users find poor usability in Gradelink, with clunky features complicating scheduling and student information management.
  • Users express frustration over customization issues, particularly the lack of grade manipulation and tailored feature selection.
  • Users find Gradelink's features limited, noting clunky scheduling and a need for more customizable options for different divisions.
  • Users express concern over the high cost of Gradelink, particularly for additional features like texting options.
  • Users find Gradelink inefficient due to its rigid grading system, requiring tedious adjustments for final grades.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Gradelink?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Gradelink?

KINDERPEDIA

Kinderpedia is the complete digital platform designed for schools and kindergartens, helping them manage daily activities, communicate with families, and keep everything connected in one place. Built for K–12 education and early years settings, Kinderpedia supports schools in handling both academic and administrative work more easily, from attendance and lesson planning to communication and billing. Today, it is used by more than 2,000 schools in over 40 countries, supporting a growing community of educators, parents, and school leaders on four continents. The platform serves a diverse target audience, including teachers, school administrators, and parents. For educators, Kinderpedia simplifies the management of classes, lesson planning, and tracking student progress. Teachers can easily follow each child's development and share timely updates with parents, in a collaborative environment that enhances student learning. School leaders benefit from a comprehensive overview of institutional activities, allowing for better decision-making and resource allocation. Parents, on the other hand, gain insights into their child’s daily experiences, reinforcing the partnership between home and school. The platform also includes AI-powered tools that support teachers with insights into student progress and helpful content suggestions. These tools reduce repetitive work and help educators focus more on teaching, while making it easier to adapt learning to each child’s needs. On the operational side, Kinderpedia includes features for invoicing, payments, and financial tracking, giving schools better visibility and control over their finances. By bringing together educational, communication, and financial workflows, the platform helps schools run more smoothly without adding complexity. Ultimately, Kinderpedia is centred around the concept of connection, linking people, information, and processes to create a transparent, engaging, and well-organised learning environment. By facilitating collaboration among educators, parents, and students, Kinderpedia not only enhances the overall effectiveness of school management but also contributes to the educational experience and its outcomes.

Average Rating: 4.7/5.0

Total Reviews: 134

How Do G2 Users Rate KINDERPEDIA?

  • Ease of Use: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind KINDERPEDIA?

  • Seller: KINDERPEDIA
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2018
  • HQ Location: Bucharest, RO
  • Twitter: @Kinderpedia_app
    24 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    39 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Teacher
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 69% Small, 26% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About KINDERPEDIA?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the centralized information provided by Kinderpedia, enhancing efficiency and simplifying school management.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of KINDERPEDIA, highlighting its user-friendly setup and adaptable features for all.
  • Users appreciate the efficient communication features of KINDERPEDIA, enhancing interaction between teachers, students, and parents.
  • Users appreciate the effective parent communication features of KINDERPEDIA, facilitating seamless updates on student progress and events.
  • Users love KINDERPEDIA for its user-friendly interface, making communication and assessment effortless for both teachers and parents.
Cons
  • Users report technical issues with notifications, message retention, and language translation that hinder effective use of KINDERPEDIA.
  • Users find KINDERPEDIA has limited features, such as insufficient message functions and notification inconsistencies.
  • Users are frustrated by access limitations like browser-only tools, posting restrictions, and dependence on internet connectivity.
  • Users express frustration over customization issues, limiting individual timelines and automations, affecting overall usability.
  • Users find the limited customization options in KINDERPEDIA restrict their ability to personalize their experience effectively.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of KINDERPEDIA?

TUIO

TUIO is a cloud-based tuition and school management platform used by over 100,000 administrators, educators, and parents at childcare centers, private schools, Montessori programs, preschools, K-12 schools, and extracurricular programs across North America. The platform automates the work that consumes school offices: invoicing and payment collection run on schedule, with families paying by pre-authorized bank debit or credit card through their own parent portal. Enrollment moves online with custom forms, waitlists, and self-serve registration. Attendance & class management, student information (SIS) forms, donation tracking, and automated tax receipts round out day-to-day operations, while GL account mapping and QuickBooks integration keep accounting clean without manual rekeying. TUIO's support model is a genuine differentiator: unlimited, live, one-on-one support for staff and for parents at no extra charge — so your office doesn't become tech support for families. Most schools onboard in as little as 3 days. Pricing is transparent: TUIO Starter is free, with no monthly fees and no contracts. TUIO Professional is a flat $500 per year, per location — no per-student fees — adding attendance, SIS forms, GL exports, roles & permissions, and reduced transaction rates. Multi-year contracts can lock in your rate.

Average Rating: 4.9/5.0

Total Reviews: 55

How Do G2 Users Rate TUIO?

  • Ease of Use: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind TUIO?

  • Seller: TUIO
  • Year Founded: 2017
  • HQ Location: Toronto, Ontario
  • Twitter: @tuiopay
    37 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    15 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 69% Small, 31% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About TUIO?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users praise TUIO for its efficiency, making fundraising and management processes seamless and stress-free.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of TUIO, enjoying streamlined processes and clear communication for school-related tasks.
  • Users appreciate the easy customization of TUIO, allowing adaptations to fit specific needs effortlessly as they grow.
  • Users commend TUIO for its outstanding customer support, characterized by quick responses and effective problem-solving.
  • Users value TUIO's centralized information, simplifying management of enrollment, fundraising, and payment options effortlessly.
Cons
  • Users desire more customization options for TUIO to enhance effectiveness and align with their branding needs.
  • Users desire greater customization options for TUIO to enhance effectiveness and branding opportunities in their systems.
  • Users note a complex initial learning difficulty but appreciate support that aids in becoming familiar with TUIO.
  • Users find TUIO not intuitive, struggling with a complex learning curve and too many categories for navigation.
  • Users find TUIO not user-friendly, often overwhelmed by numerous categories and intricate editing processes.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of TUIO?

Blackbaud Student Information System

Blackbaud’s SIS is the ultimate data solution for private and independent schools. Give families and admins a 360° Student View with a fully integrated LMS, providing a holistic look at each student—from academics to activities, attendance to medical records, grades to graduation progress. The school-wide unified calendar showcases all events, schedules, and more, personalized so families only see what is relevant to their children. Our connected platform includes grading, course scheduling, and attendance tracking tools, cross-departmental reporting, and an industry-leading parent portal. Blackbaud’s SIS is the ultimate data solution for private and independent schools. Give families, and admins a 360° Student View with a fully integrated LMS, providing a holistic look at each student—from academics to activities, attendance to medical records, grades to graduation progress. The school-wide unified calendar showcases all events, schedules, and more, personalized so families only see what is relevant to their children. Our connected platform includes grading, course scheduling, and attendance tracking tools, cross-departmental reporting, and an industry-leading parent portal. Blackbaud’s all-in-one platform brings everything together in one system, empowering schools to streamline communication, facilitate collaboration, and engage families and caregivers in their children’s education. Through user-friendly interfaces, comprehensive data analysis, and personalized insights, our K–12 school software revolutionizes how families, students, and staff interact with schools.

Average Rating: 4.2/5.0

Total Reviews: 28

How Do G2 Users Rate Blackbaud Student Information System?

  • Ease of Use: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 7.2/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 6.8/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Blackbaud Student Information System?

  • Seller: Blackbaud
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 1981
  • HQ Location: Charleston, South Carolina
  • Twitter: @blackbaud
    32,521 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    3,272 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Primary/Secondary Education, Education Management
  • Company Size: 82% Medium, 14% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Blackbaud Student Information System?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the user-friendly navigation of Blackbaud Student Information System, facilitating easy access for all stakeholders.
  • Users appreciate the centralized information provided by Blackbaud, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for all stakeholders.
  • Users appreciate the easy integrations of Blackbaud Student Information System, enhancing collaboration and efficiency across various platforms.
  • Users appreciate the ease of access of Blackbaud Student Information System, simplifying navigation and information editing.
  • Users appreciate the user-friendly interface of Blackbaud Student Information System, making navigation easy for everyone involved.
Cons
  • Users find the learning difficulty challenging, especially for those not tech-savvy, complicating the initial setup.
  • Users report poor support from Blackbaud, with challenges in live chat and difficulty reaching effective technical assistance.
  • Users experience technical issues with the gradebook, affecting functionality and causing frustrations for faculty members.
  • Users find the system inefficient, experiencing slow updates and frustrating inconsistencies with saved preferences and the gradebook.
  • Users find the limited features of Blackbaud SIS hinder reporting and bulk communication capabilities across user accounts.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Blackbaud Student Information System?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Blackbaud Student Information System?

Veracross

Veracross is the one-person, one-record school management platform for K-12 private and independent schools. With our single-record database, the Veracross platform enables schools to access one shared source of truth to provide the data schools need, anytime, anywhere. More than 3000 private and independent schools in more than 60 countries run on Veracross solutions to support improved communication, enhanced learning, and a unified school experience. Veracross offers solutions for every department built upon our single database including admissions, academics, accounting and finance, tuition management, development and more! Each person in your community from applicant to alumni, parent to donor, has only a single record associated with them—for life—meaning that data doesn't get copied, pushed, or pulled to serve each department. Veracross serves everyone the information they need to do their job quickly, efficiently and accurately.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 36

How Do G2 Users Rate Veracross?

  • Ease of Use: 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 7.8/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Veracross?

  • Seller: Veracross
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2003
  • HQ Location: Wakefield, US
  • Twitter: @veracross
    490 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    252 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 86% Medium, 11% Small

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Veracross?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users love the quick response from Veracross support, enhancing their overall experience and knowledge.
  • Users commend the responsive and knowledgeable customer support of Veracross, enhancing their overall experience and learning.
  • Users appreciate the centralized information in Veracross, making management of academic and administrative tasks seamless.
  • Users appreciate the ease of access with Veracross, streamlining all essential information in one platform.
  • Users value the ease of use of Veracross, appreciating its seamless integration of various administrative tools and support.
Cons
  • Users face learning difficulties with Veracross due to its complexity and the self-paced nature of the implementation.
  • Users express frustration with poor support, especially regarding assistance after implementation and during data migration challenges.
  • Users face customization issues with Veracross, making it challenging to tailor the platform for specific school needs.
  • Users face significant access limitations, affecting support, integrations, and functionality across various modules in Veracross.
  • Users experience technical issues with Veracross, including lack of support and limitations on system modifications.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Veracross?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Veracross?

OpenEduCat

OpenEduCat: AI-Powered Education ERP for Modern Institutions OpenEduCat is a comprehensive, AI-powered, open-source Education ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform that helps schools, colleges, universities, and training institutions digitize and automate their academic and administrative operations from a single, unified system. Built on the robust Odoo/Flectra framework, OpenEduCat enables educational institutions to manage the complete student lifecycle from admissions to graduation while improving efficiency, collaboration, and decision-making. Designed for institutions of all sizes, OpenEduCat combines traditional ERP capabilities with intelligent AI-powered features to reduce administrative workload, enhance student engagement, and deliver actionable insights. Its modular architecture allows institutions to customize the platform according to their unique workflows, making it an ideal solution for single-campus schools as well as large multi-campus universities. OpenEduCat centralizes critical institutional functions, including admissions, student information management, academic planning, attendance, examinations, fee management, finance, communication, library management, hostel management, transportation, HR, and reporting. With all data available in one secure platform, administrators gain complete visibility across departments while eliminating manual processes and data silos. AI-Powered Features: OpenEduCat brings Artificial Intelligence into everyday campus operations, enabling institutions to work smarter and deliver better educational experiences. *AI-Powered Analytics & Dashboards for real-time institutional insights and data-driven decision-making. *Predictive Student Performance Analysis to identify at-risk students and improve academic outcomes. *AI Attendance & Performance Insights that detect trends, absenteeism patterns, and engagement levels. *Intelligent Report Generation for faster academic, financial, and administrative reporting. *AI Chat Assistant that provides instant answers to student, faculty, and administrative queries. *Automated Workflow Recommendations to reduce repetitive administrative tasks and improve operational efficiency. *Smart Notifications & Communication that personalize reminders and announcements for students, parents, and faculty. *AI-Enhanced Data Search for quickly finding student records, academic information, or institutional data. *Predictive Enrollment & Resource Planning to support admissions forecasting and institutional growth strategies. Key Features: OpenEduCat offers a complete suite of education management tools, including: * Student Information System (SIS) * Online Admissions & Enrollment Management * Course & Curriculum Planning * Timetable & Classroom Scheduling * Attendance Management * Examination & Grading Management * Learning Management System (LMS) Integration * Faculty & Staff Management * Finance, Fees & Accounting * Library, Hostel & Transportation Management * Parent, Student & Faculty Portals * Mobile Accessibility * Multi-Campus & Multi-Institution Management * Custom Workflows & Reporting * Third-Party Integrations via Odoo/Flectra Why Institutions Choose OpenEduCat: OpenEduCat helps educational institutions modernize operations while improving the experience for administrators, educators, students, and parents. Key benefits include: * Automate repetitive administrative processes. * Improve operational efficiency across departments. * Make faster decisions with real-time analytics and AI insights. * Enhance student engagement through personalized communication. * Reduce paperwork and manual errors. * Increase transparency with centralized institutional data. * Scale effortlessly from a single institution to multiple campuses. * Customize workflows without vendor lock-in through its open-source architecture. * Extend functionality using the extensive Odoo/Flectra ecosystem. * Strengthen collaboration between administrators, faculty, students, and parents. Whether you're managing a K-12 school, college, university, vocational institute, or training organization, OpenEduCat provides a secure, scalable, and future-ready education management platform. By combining powerful ERP capabilities with AI-driven intelligence, OpenEduCat empowers institutions to streamline operations, improve academic outcomes, optimize resource utilization, and build smarter, connected campuses prepared for the future of education.

Average Rating: 4.6/5.0

Total Reviews: 144

How Do G2 Users Rate OpenEduCat?

  • Ease of Use: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 9.1/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind OpenEduCat?

  • Seller: OpenEduCat Inc.
  • Company Website:
  • Year Founded: 2012
  • HQ Location: Ahmedabad, IN
  • Twitter: @openeducat
    373 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    32 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Higher Education
  • Company Size: 47% Small, 32% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About OpenEduCat?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the centralized information in OpenEduCat, streamlining access to vital student and faculty data.
  • Users value the modular and flexible features of OpenEduCat, simplifying management across key school functions.
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of OpenEduCat, highlighting its intuitive and user-friendly modular structure.
  • Users value the comprehensive solutions provided by OpenEduCat, achieving seamless integration and significant time savings.
  • Users appreciate the comprehensive features of OpenEduCat, which streamline administrative and academic processes effectively.
Cons
  • Users find the learning difficulty in setup and customization a challenge, needing extensive training and support.
  • Users note the limited customization options in OpenEduCat, affecting its adaptability for diverse institutional needs.
  • Users often face customization issues that require significant time and expertise, complicating the onboarding process.
  • Users experience technical issues with OpenEduCat, creating challenges during the onboarding process and affecting usability for non-technical staff.
  • Users find the setup difficulty of OpenEduCat overwhelming, especially for those lacking technical support or experience.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of OpenEduCat?

Classe365

Classe365 is your all-in-one educational management software suite, designed to simplify and enhance administration and learning for schools, universities, and academies. Trusted by over 6,500 customers in 130 countries, our platform is co-created with the invaluable input of our loyal users, who have helped shape our company into what it is today. Educational institutions can streamline their entire administration process with our comprehensive software suite. From capturing leads and managing enrollments with our CRM and admission modules to seamlessly enrolling students into our Student Information System, administrators can efficiently handle daily operations such as attendance, grading, scheduling, communication, resource management, and library services. Our integrated Financial Accounting modules simplify invoicing and online payment management. The Degree Audit module helps students stay on track with their learning goals, while the Graduation and Alumni modules ensure continued alumni engagement. Additionally, our newest AI module connects across all our modules to provide instant interactions with the data. At Classe365, we are committed to making education better, easier, and more inclusive. Contact Classe365 sales at sales@classe365.com for a demo session.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 23

How Do G2 Users Rate Classe365?

  • Ease of Use: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 9.8/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Classe365?

  • Seller: Classe365
  • Year Founded: 2013
  • HQ Location: Sydney, NSW
  • Twitter: @classe365
    1,145 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    7 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Higher Education
  • Company Size: 43% Small, 35% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Classe365?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users highlight the user-friendly interface of Classe365, enabling quick adoption and minimal training for their teams.
  • Users commend the outstanding customer support from Classe365, ensuring prompt solutions and enhancing the overall experience.
  • Users commend the ease of use of Classe365, appreciating its user-friendly interface and minimal training requirements.
  • Users commend the excellent support provided by Classe365, ensuring quick resolutions and a positive experience.
  • Users appreciate the comprehensive student management tools in Classe365, facilitating seamless tracking of academic and financial information.
Cons
  • Users wish for improved reporting and deadline flexibility, as current features don't meet diverse assessment needs.
  • Users experience slow performance with Classe365, noting loading delays and inconsistent chat support availability.
  • Users report technical issues like slow loading times and limited chat support for Indian timings affecting usability.
  • Users report access limitations when student numbers exceed 1000, causing server lag and inconsistent pricing.
  • Users report a lack of attendance and payroll module for staff and teachers, affecting overall management efficiency.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Classe365?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Classe365?

Teachmint

Teachmint X by Teachmint is an advanced digital board solution designed to revolutionize classroom and online teaching. Developed by Teachmint, it combines a high-quality interactive board with powerful built-in software, including EduAI, smart tools, and seamless whiteboard sharing. With features like multi-touch support, wireless casting, cloud-based lesson saving, and Google EDLA certification, Teachmint X empowers teachers to deliver engaging, efficient, and impactful lessons. It’s built for both in-person and remote learning environments, making it a complete teaching companion for modern educators. Whether you’re in a school or a coaching center, Teachmint X simplifies teaching and enhances student learning outcomes.

Average Rating: 4.9/5.0

Total Reviews: 37

How Do G2 Users Rate Teachmint?

  • Ease of Use: 9.7/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Analytics: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Teachmint?

  • Seller: Teachmint
  • Year Founded: 2020
  • HQ Location: Bangalore, Karnataka
  • Twitter: @teachmintapp
    1,020 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    656 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Higher Education
  • Company Size: 55% Small, 45% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Teachmint?

Skyward Student Information System

Our goal is the same as yours: get the right information in front of the right people at the right time. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that. Welcome to a better SIS and ERP experience.

Average Rating: 3.8/5.0

Total Reviews: 177

How Do G2 Users Rate Skyward Student Information System?

  • Ease of Use: 7.3/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Skyward Student Information System?

  • Seller: Skyward
  • Year Founded: 1980
  • HQ Location: Stevens Point, US
  • Twitter: @Skyward_Inc
    3,241 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    673 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Who Uses This: Teacher, Special Education Teacher
  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 54% Medium, 34% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Skyward Student Information System?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users find Skyward's ease of use invaluable, appreciating its intuitive access to financial and student information.
  • Users appreciate the centralized information provided by Skyward, facilitating easy access and efficient organization of student data.
  • Users appreciate the comprehensive features of Skyward, streamlining student paperwork and enhancing communication across staff and parents.
  • Users value the ease of access in Skyward, as it consolidates essential information for students and faculty.
  • Users benefit from easy integrations, allowing all essential information and tools to be conveniently accessible in one place.
Cons
  • Users find the learning difficulty of Skyward Student Information System to be a significant barrier to effective use.
  • Users find the poor usability of Skyward Student Information System frustrating, requiring training to navigate effectively.
  • Users find the poor support in navigating expense reimbursements frustrating and time-consuming for both teachers and themselves.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Skyward Student Information System?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Skyward Student Information System?

PowerSchool

TalentEd solutions support the entire K-12 employee life cycle with powerful tools and insights that boost efficiency, simplify workflows and enhance decision-making empowering districts to take education to new heights.

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 16

How Do G2 Users Rate PowerSchool?

  • Ease of Use: 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind PowerSchool?

  • Seller: PeopleAdmin
  • Year Founded: 2000
  • HQ Location: Austin, TX
  • Twitter: @peopleadmin
    1,211 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    33 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 63% Medium, 31% Large

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of PowerSchool?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About PowerSchool?

iGradePlus

An affordable School Management System for schools and districts and a free Online Gradebook for individual teachers. Easy-to-use, convenient, reliable, and secure. Offering a wide array of features for individual teachers, schools and districts. Features include student, class, and grade management, attendance and behavior tracking, custom report generation, and extensive student and parent communication features. Individual web portal accounts for students and parents are included with all subscriptions.

Average Rating: 4.9/5.0

Total Reviews: 46

How Do G2 Users Rate iGradePlus?

  • Ease of Use: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 9.5/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind iGradePlus?

  • Seller: iGradePlus
  • Year Founded: 2011
  • HQ Location: Ellicott City, Maryland, United States
  • Twitter: @igradeplus
    2,178 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    4 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Education Management, Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 78% Small, 15% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About iGradePlus?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the seamless accessibility of iGradePlus, making it easy to manage student information and communication.
  • Users value the centralization of student information in iGradePlus, simplifying reporting and communication with ease.
  • Users appreciate the centralized information in iGradePlus, making report generation and communication effortless and organized.
  • Users value the effective communication features of iGradePlus, enhancing interaction with students and parents effortlessly.
  • Users praise the comprehensive solutions of iGradePlus, finding it easy to organize and manage student information efficiently.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of iGradePlus?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About iGradePlus?

Ellevation Education

Ellevation web-based software platform for ELL educators and the English Learners , educators can review a student's proficiency level, accommodations and more, and monitor current, reclassified, and exited students.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 13

How Do G2 Users Rate Ellevation Education?

  • Ease of Use: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10)
  • Activity Dashboard: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10)
  • Cloud: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)
  • Analytics: 9.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Ellevation Education?

  • Seller: Ellevation Education
  • Year Founded: 2011
  • HQ Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Twitter: @ELLevationED
    8,160 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    183 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Primary/Secondary Education
  • Company Size: 62% Large, 23% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Ellevation Education?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Cons
  • Users find the poor usability of Ellevation Education frustrating due to excessive clicks to access essential information.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Ellevation Education?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Ellevation Education?

Emma Stein
ES
Researched and written by Emma Stein
Updated October 3, 2024

K-12 Student Information Systems Topics

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Learn More About K-12 Student Information Systems

What are K-12 Student Information Systems?

An effective Student Information System (SIS) is a crucial tool for enabling any modern K-12 school to function at maximum efficiency and get the best results for students. With schools handling reams of data and more demands for transparency and accessibility, K-12 SIS software products help administrators streamline communication across the institution. Countless daily tasks that were once completed manually by school staff are now automated and managed using SIS software, making these products vital tools for primary and secondary schools.

While Student Information Systems also exist for higher education institutions, this category includes products specifically designed to serve the unique needs of K-12 schools. There are similarities between both types of SIS software, but companies usually target one market or the other with their software because the institutions have such different needs. For example, parents are typically much more involved in schooling when their children are in primary and secondary grades, so SIS products for K-12 tend to incorporate more features for communicating with parents, such as messaging functions or online parent portals. K-12 classes also often have more frequent graded assignments, quizzes, and tests, and more stringent requirements to report test results to local and state education agencies. As a result, K-12 Student Information Systems often have robust assessment features that allow administrators to run a variety of analytical reports to get the clearest picture of their students’ achievement levels.

Key Benefits of K-12 Student Information Systems

  • Facilitates sharing of student information across departments
  • Enables greater communication between administrators, teachers, parents and students
  • Allows schools to assess students more effectively
  • Automates reporting on key school performance indicators

Why Use K-12 Student Information Systems?

Information management — K-12 administrators need student data for a variety of functions, including attendance, grades, contacting families, discipline, health records, and food service. A Student Information System houses all of this data in one integrated system, so there is a single source of truth no matter who is accessing the system. Having this information accessible in a digitized system reduces the amount of time staff spent maintaining records, makes daily tasks faster, and ensures records are accurate and up-to-date.

Streamlined communication — A key marker of a well-run school is that the entire school community has open channels of communication and is working together to help students be successful. K-12 Student Information Systems centralize contact information for parents and students, so teachers and staff can easily get in touch when the need arises. Most provide online portals for students and parents with self-service options for checking grades, attendance, or other information. Mass notification features provide a quick way of sending out important news or reminders to the entire community. Messaging functions allow students and parents to reach teachers to ask about grades or seek extra help, and give teachers a way to manage those requests. Mobile apps that accompany some SIS products have built-in messaging options that facilitate those lines of communication.

Assessment and reporting — Student learning and achievement is at the heart of everything a school does. K-12 Student Information Systems often have robust assessment features built in to keep tabs on how students are performing. Depending on the product, teachers can create assessments or analyze data from past assessments students have taken. The interconnected nature of an SIS allows that data to be shared across departments, so a teacher can input a student test score that might later be reviewed by a guidance counselor, a volleyball coach, or a vice principal. With the volumes of data in an SIS, administrators can run a range of reports on not only assessment results but attendance, demographic shifts, finances, and other topics.

Who Uses K-12 Student Information Systems?

From district office officials to a single student, people in a variety of roles may use different parts of a K-12 Student Information System.

Students — On a daily basis, students use an SIS platform to get updates on data like their grades and attendance. Built-in messaging functions on SIS websites and in their mobile apps also allow students to easily get in touch with teachers to ask questions or get help. Some students may use the platforms to print transcripts or get information for college applications.

Parents — Much in the way students use SIS platforms, parents access them most frequently to keep tabs on their student’s performance in school. Parents generally have access to parent portals or mobile apps that display student grades, attendance, and behavior records. They may also be able to manage the student’s extracurricular activities, student fees, lunch plan, and health or special education records.

Teachers — SIS systems are probably the most-used software tools in a teacher’s typical day. Teachers use SIS platforms to take attendance, input grades, message students or parents, record behavior issues, and manage special education documentation. Reporting functions allow teachers to analyze assessment data to help them determine how to adjust their lessons to better meet student needs. Messaging functions can also help improve communication with parents and students.

Non-faculty school staff — Front office staff use SIS data to contact parents, update addresses, print report cards, and schedule bus pickups. Academic counselors register students for required classes or use gradebook data to help students determine which colleges to apply to. Nurses, sports coaches, food service workers, disciplinarians, maintenance staff, and bus drivers may also use SIS software or pull data from it.

School administrators — At the administrative level, principals and vice principals use SIS software both to view data on individual students or teachers as well as to get high-level looks at the institution’s performance. Reporting functions allow administrators to analyze academic performance across different student groups. Mass messaging allows principals to blast important news to the entire school community.

Superintendents — For superintendents and other district-level staff managing multiple schools, an integrated SIS gives them the power to pull data from across the entire district. Reporting tools streamline the process of gathering data required by local, state, and federal education authorities, helping school districts maintain compliance with applicable reporting laws. Those reports can also reveal areas for improvement across the district, helping leaders shape their future plans.

Kinds of K-12 Student Information Systems

While many K-12 Student Information Systems have similar feature sets, SIS vendors have developed products that are intended to be used in specific school environments. Here are some of the markets SIS products target.

Large K-12 schools or school districts — More robust SIS systems can scale to handle the data needs of large institutions, managing data on potentially thousands of teachers and students. These systems often offer a variety of modules that manage functions for each of the departments that help keep larger schools running.

Small or independent schools — While some SIS systems can scale to manage either large or small institutions, other products are marketed specifically to smaller schools, independent schools, or charter schools. Often, these systems are customizable so they can be configured according to a small institution’s specific needs.

Private schools or parochial schools — These SIS products often incorporate functionality that is more commonly utilized by tuition-based private schools, managing tasks such as recruiting students, processing applications, and collecting tuition payments. Some also include tools to manage scholarships financial aid for students. For schools with ties to a religious institution, the software may integrate with church managementsoftware.

K-12 Student Information Systems Features

Admissions — Administrators can communicate with prospective students, accept applications, make admissions decisions, and eventually enroll students in classes using admissions functions in SIS platforms.

Student data management — At the heart of every K-12 SIS is its ability to gather and manage large amounts of student data, such as demographic information, home addresses, emergency contact numbers, standardized test scores, special education accommodations, and medical history.

Attendance — Teachers can electronically record which students are present, tardy, and absent, allowing parents to view that information remotely and get automated alerts if their child is marked absent.

Behavior management and discipline — For students who run afoul of the school’s code of conduct, administrators and disciplinarians can record details about the incident, which can be communicated to parents or saved for future reference.

Scheduling — Creating a master schedule is a complex endeavor involving thousands of potential combinations of classes, teachers, and students. Built-in scheduling tools automate that process, helping administrators avoid double-booking rooms or teachers and ensuring students take the classes that meet their needs and interests. Administrators can customize class names, set graduation requirements, and modify grade scales.

Gradebook — Recording student grades is an essential function of an SIS. Gradebook tools allow teachers to create assignments, enter scores, and print a variety of reports. In addition to gradebooks that offer the traditional A-F grading scale, some SIS products offer standards-based grading, in which students are assessed on their proficiency on certain target skills rather than assigned letter grades or percentages. Some gradebooks also have a database of state or national standards that educators can attach to certain assignments or assessments to make it easier to analyze results or report scores to education agencies.

Curriculum management — Sharing lesson plans or entire course curriculums is possible in SIS systems with built-in curriculum management features. These tools are also found in stand-alone curriculum managmentsoftware.

Learning Management System — Some SIS products have an integrated LMS, giving teachers the ability to send digital assignments and assessments to students. Using an LMS, teachers can track student activity and communicate with students about the assignments.

Student and parent portals — K-12 Student Information Systems provide online portals where students can log in to check their grades, review attendance records, message their teachers, or get other information. Parents have a similar portal that allows them to keep tabs on their child’s performance at school.

Fee management — To make paying student fees easier, many SIS products have built-in tools that automate billing and allow parents or students to pay those fees online.

Mobile apps — An app built for an SIS allows students and parents to more easily accomplish tasks they would otherwise be able to do in a web browser via the SIS portal, such as check grades or message a teacher.

Report generation — Because SIS systems manage large volumes of student data, the ability to run reports on a variety of indicators is a crucial function. Some of the most common data pulls administrators use are generating progress reports, report cards, or transcripts to communicate the grades that a student earned in a given term. Teachers or administrators can pull up assessment results and compare student performance across different time periods, demographics, or classes. School districts are required to report certain information about students and their performance to local, state, and federal education agencies, so having the ability to automatically generate reports that meet those compliance requirements can be a huge time-saver.

Assessment — Built-in assessment features allow teachers to create customized quizzes or tests, administer them digitally to students, and analyze the results.

Mass notifications — SIS systems often have integrated mass notification features, allowing administrators to quickly contact students or parents via email or text message.

Student services modules — Some non-academic staff members of schools, such as the school nurse or food service workers, use SIS software modules that specifically assist with those job functions. Integrating these functions helps ensure that student data is accurate and saves staff from having to enter the same information multiple times into different systems, reducing the potential for errors.


Potential Issues with K-12 Student Information Systems

Data privacy and security — Cybersecurity attacks have been increasingly targeting schools in recent years, underscoring the importance of protecting the large volumes of sensitive personal data that Student Information Systems harbor. Between 2016 and early 2020, there were at least 770 cybersecurity-related incidents involving K-12 schools, according to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, which tracks such incidents. The actual number is likely even higher, because that total only includes incidents that were publicly disclosed. Hackers have frequently targeted schools with ransomware attacks, breaking into the school’s systems and refusing to unlock the data unless the district pays the hacker a ransom. Such attacks can be crippling for institutions that rely on Student Information Systems to accomplish daily tasks, and at times ransomware attacks have forced school districts to close until the situation is resolved. When purchasing a Student Information System, administrators must ask hard questions about how the data they store on such systems will be protected from cyberattacks. If the data is stored on-premises, the institution’s IT staff must build in sufficient protections to avoid being the next victim of a K-12 cybersecurity attack.

Cost — Smaller institutions, such as an independent private school or charter school, have many of the same day-to-day needs as schools in larger districts, but may not have the resources to buy an SIS from one of the larger vendors. Vendors often charge a fee that varies depending on the number of students the school serves. Some products cater specifically to smaller institutions who may not be able to afford a product from a larger vendor.

Lack of integrations — While some Student Information Systems integrate with hundreds of other software products, others may not offer the same level of interoperability. Administrators who are considering purchasing an SIS should carefully research its integrations to ensure it is compatible with software they already use or are planning to use alongside the SIS. If the SIS doesn’t integrate well with other software, that could mean having to enter the same data multiple times in different systems, or school departments having multiple sets of different data if the records aren’t maintained in a single system. To avoid headaches down the road, integrations are key to establish in the beginning.