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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Skyward Student Management Suite

    Score8.6 out of 10
    N/ASkyward, headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, offers the Skyward Student Management System, a k-12 student information system which provides classroom tools (e.g. gradebook, attendance tracking, etc), Family Engagement tools with portal, as well as admin and student services task management.N/A

    Sparkrock

    Score9 out of 10
    Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
    Sparkrock’s cloud-enabled solution helps organizations manage their finance and accounting, human resources and payroll, human services case management, and donor and fundraising activities. According to the vendor, key benefits and features include: Finance Management with capabilities to help organizations increase transparency and reduce risk. Workforce Management to help front-line employees deliver services to clients, with tools that help them to be…N/A
    Pricing
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup fee$50,000 per installation
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Considered Both Products
    Skyward
    No answer on this topic
    Sparkrock
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    83%
    Would buy again
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    83%
    Happy with the feature set
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Student and Faculty Administration
    Comparison of Student and Faculty Administration features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    6.9
    4 Ratings
    19% below category average
    Sparkrock
    -
    Ratings
    Integrations with 3rd-Party Education Technology5.92 Ratings00 Ratings
    District Communications, such as messaging and alerting7.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Roster Management8.34 Ratings00 Ratings
    Platform Customization3.12 Ratings00 Ratings
    Teacher Self-Service6.33 Ratings00 Ratings
    Student Data Security8.74 Ratings00 Ratings
    Community Support3.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Class Scheduling9.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    State and National-level Reporting8.52 Ratings00 Ratings
    Teacher and Parent Mobile Application9.52 Ratings00 Ratings
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.4
    3 Ratings
    22% above category average
    Pay calculation00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration00 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Direct deposit files00 Ratings10.03 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    10.0
    2 Ratings
    28% above category average
    API for custom integration00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Plug-ins00 Ratings10.02 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.5
    5 Ratings
    12% above category average
    Single sign-on capability00 Ratings10.04 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions00 Ratings9.05 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.0
    4 Ratings
    18% above category average
    Dashboards00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    Standard reports00 Ratings9.04 Ratings
    Custom reports00 Ratings9.03 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    8.8
    5 Ratings
    13% above category average
    Accounts payable00 Ratings10.05 Ratings
    Accounts receivable00 Ratings9.05 Ratings
    Global Financial Support00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Standardized Processes00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.3
    2 Ratings
    15% above category average
    Inventory tracking00 Ratings9.02 Ratings
    Automatic reordering00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Location management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Subledger and Financial Process
    Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.6
    1 Ratings
    24% above category average
    Billing Management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Cash and Asset Management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Travel & Expense Management00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Period Close00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Project Financial Management
    Comparison of Project Financial Management features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.4
    1 Ratings
    21% above category average
    Budgeting and Forecasting00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Project Costing00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Cost Capture00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Capital Project Management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Customer Contract Compliance00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Project Revenue Recognition00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Grants Management
    Comparison of Grants Management features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.3
    1 Ratings
    23% above category average
    Award Lifecycle Management00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Procurement
    Comparison of Procurement features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.6
    1 Ratings
    30% above category average
    Bids Analyzed and Compared00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Contract Authoring00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Contract Repository00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Requisitions-to-Purchase Orders Integrated00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Supplier Management00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Supply Chain
    Comparison of Supply Chain features of Skyward Student Management Suite and Sparkrock
    Feature
    Skyward Student Management Suite
    -
    Ratings
    Sparkrock
    9.3
    1 Ratings
    24% above category average
    Forecasting00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Inventory Planning00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Performance Monitoring00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    Zoho One
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Zoho One
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Schoolmint Hero
    Score9.7 out of 10
    Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)
    Score4.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.6
    (17 ratings)
    9.0
    (9 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    7.0
    (2 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    6.0
    (2 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Skyward Student Management SuiteSparkrock
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Skyward
    There is nothing specific that I would say sets it apart from any other LMS, but once you are used to the user interface and various features, it does everything that is needed and integrates well enough with other software to function. Probably isn't necessary in a smaller setting, but for multiple building districts, it is certainly robust enough to handle data collection and storage.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    For all companies that want to improve the performance of their employees and increase productivity, this software helps all daily business tasks to be executed on time efficiently and smoothly. A very useful program that's why we don't stop using it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Skyward
    • Flexibility. This multitude of fields available makes it easy to capture data the way we want or need to.
    • Quick response to trouble tickets. The company strives to reach out to the customer within an hour and start the process of resolution.
    • User focused. Improvements to the system always look at how the end user experience can be enhanced.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    • Data collection - the system is robust and we can tailor it to collect the information we need.
    • Easily configurable - the system is easy to configure to meet our specific business needs.
    • Reporting and data extraction - the system allows for easy access to information that helps inform business decisions.
    Read full review
    Cons
    Skyward
    • Confusion when it comes to student grades- sometimes there are two different letter grades for a student for what is posted as "TR1" and "PR1." How does a teacher know which of these grades will be posted to a student's report card? How does a teacher know what the student's actual grade is for a particular course?
    • Switching between the Educator Access Plus and Student Management tabs can be complicated, especially for those new to the system. Why can't everything be in one place?
    • I recognize that Skyward logs out after a certain period of inactivity to preserve privacy of users, but is there a way to change those settings so that Skyward does not log out as frequently? It is difficult to keep having to log back in completely again.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    • Many of the improvements are being met with each upgrade. Altus Dynamics has an idea portal that customers can add ideas to and vote on other customer ideas. This means that most issues that come up are resolved with each new upgrade.
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Skyward
    It is the system I am most comfortable with, so having to learn a new system outweighs any problems I have with Skyward.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    We are already scheduled for our upgrade to NAV 2016 beginning in May 2016.
    Read full review
    Usability
    Skyward
    It takes some time to get used to navigating the features and layers, but once you know your way around it, it's pretty good.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    Complete workflow management to keep up to date and orderly the daily activities of employees. Allows for seamless cash flow, invoicing, general ledger, payroll, and inventory.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Skyward
    Overall great job, issues were taken care of. People in support do care.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    Complete tracking of employee performance, hours worked, attendance and absences, vacations, and overtime.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Skyward
    Yes, I was part of the implementation team.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Skyward
    I, personally, have not used other Student Management Systems, but having used Skyward, I do not necessarily feel any overwhelming desire to seek out the competitive software programs. Skyward does what it says it will and provides my school district with an easy and organized way to share and access all of the relevant student and family information we need. It serves it's purpose well and meets our needs.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    • Real-time data that is available at our fingertips
    • Flexibility of the system to address changing needs over time
    • Elimination of the huge administrative burdens that we were experiencing as a result of the previous system due to lack of integration
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Skyward
    • Overall, Skyward has had a positive impact. One way is the student information that is shared and available to see. If I need to know something about a student’s academic history, Skyward has it.
    • Another way it has impacted our district is the way it has streamlined all of our payroll information. I can see check histories, different parts of my salary, and the year-end totals all in one place.
    • Skyward has also made a big impact on our district by making it easier to communicate with parents. All the parents’ contact information is available and email is even included in the program.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Sparkrock
    • As a technician it's hard for me to say what effect the ROI has had on our organization, however our finance team seems satisfied on it. We look forward to deploying the staff dashboards for better financial tracking throughout our whole organization.
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Sparkrock Screenshots

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