FAQ's About PowerSchool

Q: What is PowerSchool and what would I use it for?

A: The PowerSchool program is a complete student management system that we use in the district to track many different kinds of data about our students. Student names, addresses, family information, health information, attendence, grades, courses, schedules and more are all oragnized and maintained using this program. Teachers use it primarily for keeping attendance and for keeping track of students grades. Then at the end of each marking period, the guidance department uses PowerSchool to print report cards.

Q: Is there a manual I can borrow to learn more about PowerSchool?

A: Unfortunately no, however there is a section in the Faculty and Staff Technology Handbook with information on how to get started. You can also get help on how to use the program in the online help feature. You can explore the help guide and use the program simultaneously.

Q: What is the difference between PowerSchool and PowerGrade?

A: PowerSchool is the "master program" that handles all student data. The PowerSchool database is accessed by using the Internet Explorer program, which requires that you are connected to the school network. The PowerGrade program is a small utility that you can use when you are away from school. It allows you to enter assignments and grades for students, then when you return to school the data gets uploaded to the server.

Q: How do I print a copy of my students grades and/or averages?

A: The eClass Grades program has a lot of options for printing student reports. Most options can be accessed from the Style menu. Once you have set all the options the way you want them you can save a special "style file" which you can use the next time you want to print the same style of report. Note that there are several predesigned style files which you can use if you wish. Just go to the File menu and choose Open Style..., in the dialog box choose the Sample folder, choose one of the sample style files, then go to the File menu and choose Print. Then in the print dialog box click the Preview button to see what the report looks like. Use this technique to try all the styles to see if there is one that fits your needs.