A report card is an important part of a student’s life. It is the only way parents, guardians, teachers, and school administrators can know if their students are learning what they are supposed to learn. A report card gives a snapshot of the various levels of knowledge that a student has attained for each subject matter on different periods or occasions, such as semester or term reports. Therefore, it is essential to understand what features need to be included in a report card template and how software can help create the initial template.

What Features Does a Good Report Card Template Consist Of?

First, you need to know the top six features a good report card template consists of.

#1: Appropriate Font Size & Type 

The font size should be large enough so that a parent can read it even from a distance. The report card templates should have the school name, subject names, sections, and grades in bold print to make them stand out. You can use different fonts but maintain a consistent style for all of the information on the template.

#2: Comprehensive Subject Sections  

The different subject sections should list all of the topics taught in that particular class. Each topic should have a corresponding letter grade and explanations about why it received the grade that it did. They should be organized and easy to read.

#3: Key Features to Explain Grading Scales & Percentages

You need to include a section that helps explain the grading system and what you are scoring your students on. Make sure this section mentions percentages and decimals so that everyone understands these terms. A small area somewhere on the report card will do. A boxed-off section with everything a parent needs to know is much needed.

#4: Separate Sections for Homework and Classwork

The report card template needs to have separate sections for homework, classwork, quizzes, and tests. You can add additional sections such as attendance or participation if you like, but make sure that the main 3-4 sections are always present in your template design!

#5: The Grades Need to Be Easy to Read and Understand

Ensure that all the different grades on the report card template can be easily read and understood. You can include a column that explains the grade in words next to the letter grade itself so that parents fully understand what their students need to work on when they return home from school each day.

#6: The Report Card Should be Easily Customizable

You should make sure that your report card template is easily editable and customizable so that you can add additional information as needed. This will help the document’s formatting if any new items must be added or removed from the initial three-four main sections discussed above. If you need a report card comments section, there should be an easy way to add one!

These are just six of the many features you may consider for your report card template. Ensure that you evaluate your grading needs before creating a template.

Online School Report Card Software to Simplify Report Card Creation

Now that you know what features a good report card template consists of, it is time to learn about the top five benefits of school report card software!

#1: Ease of Use

The best software should be easy to use by anyone who has access to it. This means you should be able to upload the template file and then edit it while logged in. It should be simple yet effective!

#2: Dynamic Reports that Can Be Customized According to Your School’s Needs

Every school will have different types of grading scales, time periods for each class, and student details. You need to be able to edit the template according to these factors to fit your needs! Software that offers customization and flexibility makes all the difference in the world.

#3: Flexible Schedules

Every school has its own schedule for reports and grades. You can get more flexibility if you choose software that allows for individual assignment submission dates, grading periods (semester or term), and enrollment windows for each student.

#4: Automatic Updates

The best school report card software available in the market should have an easy design to edit in real-time. This means that you can add, edit, or remove items from the template in a matter of minutes. It should also allow for auto-populating information from other files you upload to your account.

#5: Easy Integration with Learning Management Systems

If you are using an LMS to store student grades and assignments, then your school report card software should be able to integrate with it. This can save you a ton of time and energy! It would be best if you were sure that all of your information is shared between software so that creating new reports or grading tasks goes quickly and smoothly.

These are the top five reasons why school report card software makes sense for any organization looking to simplify their grading and reporting. Don’t waste time with manual report card generation!

Advantages of Online Reports Cards Over Paper Report Cards

Finally, it is time to look at the top five advantages online report cards have over traditional, paper report cards.

#1: Always Accurate

With online report cards, you will never have to worry about information getting lost or mixed up between different documents. There is no risk of paper jams or ripped pages that can leave vital information illegible. You have real-time access to all of your student data, so any changes are made quickly and easily!

#2: Access Anytime, Anywhere

If you choose an online report card template and service to create your reports, you will be able to access them from anywhere you have internet access. This means that parents or teachers can log in and see their students’ grades at any time during the grading period.

#3: Convenient, Time & Cost Savings

Forget about printing out multiple copies of report cards and spending hours trying to organize them. An online report card saves you time and money while providing customized reports that match your grading criteria.

#4: Save Space and Resources

Traditional paper report cards mean having huge piles of papers that must be stored somewhere. However, if you use an online grading service, you can access your reports anywhere without storing anything!

#5: Secure Access

Finally, the most secure school report card software means that only authorized users can access their grades and assignments. As a result, you know precisely who has seen what at all times, so you never have to worry about any sensitive information getting into the wrong hands.

Now you can see it is quite clear why an online school report card software provides so many more benefits than traditional paper report cards!

Whether you are a teacher or parent, software that allows easy report card creation and grading is much more convenient than traditional methods. Student report card grades are essential to understanding how well a child performs in school. Make sure to choose the best school report card software available in the market so your teachers and students can access their grades and assignments whenever they need them!

SchoolCues is an all-in-one school management system for small schools with limited budgets and resources. Our solutions include admissions and enrollment, online payments, student information system, gradebook, communications, parent engagement, donations and fundraising, alumni management, and more. Schedule a demo with us today.