Gradelink

Gradelink is a school information system that brings academic, administrative, and billing workflows together. It is best suited to schools that want one system serving staff, families, and students. Its broad scope is appealing, but the subscription cost, setup fee, and Standard Service requirement for the mobile app matter when weighing it.

Overview

Gradelink spans attendance, scheduling, gradebooks, report cards, transcripts, student records, and tuition billing. That breadth can reduce the need to manage academic and financial work in separate systems, though schools should weigh the subscription against the range of functions they actually need.

The product serves administrators, admissions and business offices, teachers, parents and students, and dioceses or districts. Personalized phone and email support, staff training, help-site access, and automatic software updates are included. Gradelink says it imports school data and configures report cards, GPA, attendance, terms, gradebooks, and transcripts within 5–10 business days after receiving requested materials.

Key features

Academics and student records

Attendance, class scheduling, lesson plans, gradebooks, standards-based grading, report cards, and transcripts connect routine classroom work with school records. Demographic and medical records, student photos, and IEP tracking extend that recordkeeping beyond grades. This combination is useful for schools seeking a shared academic record across teachers and administrators.

Billing and integrations

Accounts receivable, billing statements, automated lunch billing, incidental billing, and multiple tuition rates cover several recurring school charges. Included integrations span Apple School Manager, FACTS Tuition Management, Google Classroom, Microsoft School Data Sync, and NCEA reporting. Google Classroom grade syncing is available to all users at no added charge, while ClassLink automatically syncs rosters.

Family access and safeguards

The iOS and Android Student/Parent app shows schedules, grades, attendance, and upcoming homework, but it requires Gradelink Standard Service. Web and mobile connections use SSL encryption, backups run nightly to local and remotely encrypted storage, and each school has a separate database. Gradelink’s terms say it will not sell School Personal Information or use or disclose it for commercial or marketing purposes.

Pricing

Gradelink is a paid monthly subscription, with enrolled student count affecting the SIS quote. The listed SIS price is $106 / mo, plus a $275 one-time setup; the quote calculator example is for 25 enrolled students. The subscription can be canceled at any time without penalty.

• Gradelink Student Information System: $106 a month, billed $106 / mo, plus $275 one-time setup. This is the core choice for schools needing the SIS; student count affects the quote.
• Gradelink Payments: free, billed $0/mo. Transaction fees may be covered by the school or passed to families, so the zero monthly price does not settle who bears payment costs.
• SmartSend Pro add-on: $16.67 a month, billed $16.67/mo, for unlimited texts, emails, and voice messages. It requires Gradelink SIS, making it an option for schools that need those communications within the system.
• EnrollMe add-on: $20.83 a month, billed $20.83/mo, plus $497 setup, for online enrollment and custom forms. It also requires the standard service, so its added cost makes most sense for schools needing those enrollment tools.

There is no free SIS plan. The cheaper Payments option is not a substitute for the SIS, and both listed add-ons require it; schools should budget for the core subscription and applicable setup costs.

Platforms

Gradelink supports Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The Student/Parent app is specifically available on iOS and Android, subject to the Standard Service requirement.

Who it's for

Gradelink is a strong fit for schools that want academic records, student information, tuition billing, integrations, and family-facing mobile access in a school-focused system. Its support and data-import setup can help schools adopting a system across several roles. It is less suitable for buyers seeking a free SIS, or families expecting mobile access without the school’s Standard Service.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Academic, student-record, and billing functions share one SIS, covering work across teaching and business offices.
• Pro: Google Classroom grade syncing costs users nothing extra, and ClassLink automates roster syncing.
• Pro: Personalized phone and email support, staff training, and a stated 5–10 business-day setup window give schools concrete implementation support.
• Con: The $106 / mo SIS subscription comes with a $275 setup charge, and enrolled student count affects the quote.
• Con: The mobile app requires Standard Service, limiting its usefulness as a standalone family-access option.
• Con: EnrollMe adds a $497 setup fee on top of its monthly price, while Payments may shift transaction fees to families.

Alternatives

feKara is worth considering for schools seeking a free plan or a listed Monthly Unlimited plan at $39.50 a month for 600 students and unlimited teachers. CircleUp is a freemium option with a free tier for up to 10 families, event management, and class registration; its free tier charges a 0.5% CircleUp LLC fee for Stripe payments.

OpenEMIS Admissions offers free, open-source software with no licensing fees for buyers focused on admissions. Fedena is a freemium alternative with a free trial and a Standard plan priced at $999 a year; it may suit schools comparing annual pricing and module bundles.

PowerSchool Behavior Support is another paid school software option. Klasstra offers a free trial and a Starter plan at ₹9,999 a year, with stated caps of 300 students, 15 teachers, and 5 admin users. ADMS is another paid school-management option. Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT uses custom quote pricing, with implementation, training, and ongoing support potentially included.

Browse School Management Software or Student Information Systems for more options.

Verdict

Choose Gradelink if your school wants academics, records, billing, integrations, and family access under one school-focused SIS, with support and setup included. Look elsewhere if a free plan or low upfront cost is essential, or if you need a mobile app independent of Standard Service.