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Schoology Learning vs. PowerSchool Student Information System

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Schoology Learning

    Score9.7 out of 10
    N/ASchoology aims to combine as many parts of the learning process as possible into a single platform for K-12 students. By doing this they aim to simplify the learning experience for students, parents, and teachers.N/A

    PowerSchool SIS

    Score8.4 out of 10
    Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
    The PowerSchool Student Information System covers administrative needs, such as scheduling, attendance, reporting, data management, faculty management, emergency/medical and health management, registration, and more for K-12 schools and districts. It is easy to use and boasts an industry-leading gradebook, PowerTeacher Pro. Users enjoy a fully web-based SIS that is flexible, configurable, and scalable with real-time updates on any operating system, browser or device.N/A
    Pricing
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Editions & Modules
    Schoology Basic
    Free
    Schoology Enterprise
    Contact sales team
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsReach out to the vendor for pricing options based on your needs.—
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Considered Both Products
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Schoology was selected by my district. I like Schoology thus far. However, it is limited because teachers need subscriptions to access and add their classes. I prefer to use Edmodo to connect my students with their global peers to communicate, collaborate, and create.
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Schoology has far more options than any of the above three as far as communication, dissemination of information, and assignment and test updates and tracking. Moodle was fairly primitive in its design; Blackboard is a bit clunky in its use, and, while Google Classroom is …
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Schoology surpasses the alternatives, in our situation, because it interfaces directly with our SIS (PowerSchool). This feature saves time for teachers and provides quick grading updates. Schoology also has a robust LTI interface that allows outside tools to be connected.
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Schoology is easier and more robust then any other learning management system I have ever used. It is also available for free to teachers that has almost all of the features available. Blackboard was terribly user unfriendly. Canvas was too limited for me. Moodle was only …
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    We looked at several program and we liked Schoology the best. I have used Blackboard as a college instructor, so I didn't feel that it was appropriate for the K-12 platform. I also felt that Canvas was Blackboard like, so we didn't pick it either. Schoology reminds me of a …
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Teachers have used different course management systems and learning management systems over the years. Our pilot went well and Schoology will be a great common tool for our school to use.
    Incentivized
    Chose Schoology Learning
    Schoology outperforms all other learning management system platforms. Its interface and platform are intuitive and easy to learn how to use. Plus, it has an abundance of features that make differentiation possible and powerful.
    Incentivized
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Chose PowerSchool SIS
    We only used PowerSchool Student Information System in the entire district for many years.
    Incentivized
    Chose PowerSchool SIS
    We used a different grade management system over 5 years ago that was efficient but not as user-friendly as Powerschool. I cannot remember the name of that application. Our school system has been using PowerSchool for over 5 years and so far it has served our purpose. Each year …
    Incentivized
    Chose PowerSchool SIS
    Each of the above products has great features, but PowerSchool has features that each of the above products has, all in one system. This means that you could more easily use JUST PowerSchool without needing extensions and other systems to supplement features. This is less …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    77%
    Would buy again
    10 Answers
    95%
    Would buy again
    18 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    73%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    14 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    77%
    Happy with the feature set
    10 Answers
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    17 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    71%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    5 Answers
    90%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    9 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    67%
    Implementation went as expected
    6 Answers
    92%
    Implementation went as expected
    12 Answers
    Features
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Learning Management
    Comparison of Learning Management features of Schoology Learning and PowerSchool Student Information System
    Feature
    Schoology Learning
    5.6
    40 Ratings
    38% below category average
    PowerSchool Student Information System
    -
    Ratings
    Course authoring4.738 Ratings00 Ratings
    Course catalog or library4.727 Ratings00 Ratings
    Player/Portal8.229 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning content5.633 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile friendly6.438 Ratings00 Ratings
    Progress tracking & certifications7.334 Ratings00 Ratings
    Assignments4.740 Ratings00 Ratings
    Compliance management9.123 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning administration2.133 Ratings00 Ratings
    Learning reporting & analytics4.637 Ratings00 Ratings
    Social learning4.635 Ratings00 Ratings
    Student and Faculty Administration
    Comparison of Student and Faculty Administration features of Schoology Learning and PowerSchool Student Information System
    Feature
    Schoology Learning
    -
    Ratings
    PowerSchool Student Information System
    8.5
    3 Ratings
    3% above category average
    Integrations with 3rd-Party Education Technology00 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Online Registration Management00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    District Communications, such as messaging and alerting00 Ratings8.12 Ratings
    Roster Management00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Platform Customization00 Ratings7.73 Ratings
    Teacher Self-Service00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Student Data Security00 Ratings9.43 Ratings
    Community Support00 Ratings7.43 Ratings
    Class Scheduling00 Ratings9.43 Ratings
    State and National-level Reporting00 Ratings7.12 Ratings
    Compliance Support00 Ratings7.62 Ratings
    Teacher and Parent Mobile Application00 Ratings8.03 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Small Businesses
    Google Classroom
    Score8.1 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Sakai
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Axonify
    Score10 out of 10
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    2.9
    (113 ratings)
    9.0
    (32 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    4.5
    (6 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    3.7
    (9 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    Availability
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    6.4
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    1.0
    (9 ratings)
    8.5
    (12 ratings)
    Online Training
    4.5
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    3.6
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Schoology LearningPowerSchool SIS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Schoology does the job well enough, but there are enough areas of contention that make advanced use of the system unwieldy. District staff does not have easy reporting ability to determine adoption and use of the platform without having to export to another program for analysis. The reliability of the system is a huge pain point as we need to deliver the curriculum but cannot count on it being available when we need to use it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    PowerSchool Student Information System is a cool software that can be highly recommended to anyone who is living in the educational management space. It is proven that this software can reduce your manual workload massively if you use it right. Plus it is really worth the price you pay. Especially if you are in the administrative field, this software will help you to minimize manual efforts put into student registrations, staffing recruitment, and main resource management processes.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • Assessments - Much more interactive and have more grading options than Google Forms
    • Auto-rostering - We are able to use Infinite Campus to automatically roster classes and there are no extra steps
    • Family/Guardian access - Schoology allows families to have a sign in and see student grades & work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • PowerSchool houses student or staff information that can be easily accessed by those teachers and administrators who need the information. This allows everyone to go to one place to access information.
    • Parents can view their child's grades at any time with their protected login on a parent portal. This allows teachers to keep parents informed and involved in their child's progress at school. When everyone works together it increases our students' chance for success.
    • PowerSchool offers videos to train new users. When we have new employees, the videos can be accessed at any time the employee needs as opposed to them waiting for someone to help them.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • While this product constantly seeks to make improvements, certain features need tweaking. As educators enroll in various courses, these course tend to accumulate. If the educator is not an administrator of the course, it is next to impossible to get out.
    • Switching from one course/group to another course/group takes several steps. Not always easy to find the course/group needed.
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • Does not consistently communicate with related software such as Illuminate for Special Education Students.
    • Drop down menus frequently refresh as data is entered which slows down the user's ability to enter information.
    • Icons are sometimes unclear and not easily understandable. Word labels for some items might be more effective.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    While we have taken time to re-evaluate our selected 1:1 devices, Schoology's impact on student learning is unquestioned. Students are able to connect with other learners, create and share products of their learning, and develop their digital fluency through their use of Schoology.
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    We would be starting over at square one if we did not continue our PowerSchool subscription. We do not have a program in a place that would take its place.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    It's very easy to use Schoology. As with any LMS, it helps to learn some tips and tricks prior to getting started. But, each item is clearly indicated within the platform. If I want to add materials, it is right at the top of my screen. If I want to view the calendar, it is indicated to the right of my screen. Navigating a course and the platform is quite straightforward. Additionally, the benefit of Schoology's help center and user community makes asking and answering questions quick and easy.
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Great features, but it can feel very cumbersome at times
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Generally good, but issue self-reporting has become a problem. When there are issues, it can be 20 minutes to an hour before it gets noted on the status page
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Course saves or transfers can take several minutes and up to an hour
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    We have county-level support and district-level support, but their HELP page offers everything that is needed to answer questions and to find "how-to" information for staff. This includes video and written directions for every available feature. Schoology has also worked with our district to improve their product.
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Overall, I have not had to use support for PowerSchool Student Information System because our school district gives us training in each area in which we will be utilizing PowerSchool Student Information System. In terms of in-user support, I feel that there is mild to moderate user support that is built into PowerSchool SIS.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Too surface level with no follow-up. A
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    Sit and get with very little hands-on time. 5 minutes to try out a feature/question type, etc. is not enough time. Once your training is done, there is no option for new employees to get that training without having to rebook and pay for the training again. If you pay for basic training, that should be available to a district to use in the future.
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    I have taught using both Edmodo and Google Classroom. While both were easier than Schoology was to get in the beginning, Schoology is infinitely more powerful than either of them was. I can do so much more, and differentiate so much easier using Schoology than I could with either of my previous LMSs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    I have heard good things for Infinite Campus and Skyward. I would [evaluate] each of them and see what fits your needs. Each has their strengths and weaknesses and so picking the right one for your needs is important. PowerSchool [Student Information System] does have some great features, but lacks some fundamental reports and functions to make it top notch.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    We use it 5-12 so scalability is not an issue but sharing materials between departments including common assessments is difficult without paying for add-on features
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    No answers on this topic
    Return on Investment
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • Using Schoology to build a foundation for a blended learning model has helped increase my students ABC rate between 15-20% in all classes!
    • Using Schoology is forcing my students to become responsible for their own learning!
    • The only negative thing I have encountered is the students resistance to change!
    Read full review
    PowerSchool Group LLC
    • It has created shortcuts for all staff members, saving us time.
    • In creating shortcuts and combining many different systems into one, it is saving our school money.
    • It has created a safety net for teachers because grades and student information is stored electronically, which means teachers not having to worry about losing or misplacing their grade books.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Schoology Learning Screenshots

    Screenshot of Example of Schoology’s course dashboard.

    PowerSchool SIS Screenshots

    Screenshot of Student attendanceScreenshot of Standards-based gradingScreenshot of At-risk dashboardScreenshot of Parent view of student schedule