Alma Review - why 4.2 stars?

Shlomi Lavi / updated: Mar 01, 2023

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What is Alma?

Alma School Management Software is an innovative education technology solution that helps schools and educational institutions manage their administrative and academic operations in a more streamlined and efficient manner. Alma's cloud-based platform offers a range of features and tools that are designed to help schools automate various processes, improve communication between teachers, students, and parents, and enhance student performance.

Alma School Management Software was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Portland, Maine. The company has grown rapidly over the years and now has over 100 employees serving more than 2,000 schools across the United States.

Alma School Management Software is designed for K-12 schools and is especially suitable for smaller schools that may not have access to large budgets or resources. The platform is user-friendly and can be easily customized to meet the unique needs of each school.

Here are some of the top features and benefits of Alma School Management Software:

1. Student Information Management: Alma's platform offers a comprehensive student information management system that allows schools to track student data, including attendance, grades, and performance, all in one place. The platform also offers customizable report cards and transcripts, making it easier for teachers and administrators to manage and communicate student progress to parents and guardians.

2. Classroom Management: Alma's classroom management tools allow teachers to manage their classrooms more effectively by organizing assignments, creating lesson plans, and tracking student progress. Teachers can also communicate with students and parents in real-time through the platform, making it easier to keep everyone informed and engaged.

3. School Administration: Alma's platform offers a range of administrative tools, including scheduling and calendar management, billing and invoicing, and student enrollment and registration. These tools help schools streamline their administrative processes and reduce the amount of time and resources required to manage day-to-day operations.

4. Parent and Student Portal: Alma's platform also includes a parent and student portal, which provides access to important information such as grades, attendance, and schedules. Parents can communicate with teachers and school administrators through the portal, making it easier to stay informed and involved in their child's education.

In conclusion, Alma School Management Software is a powerful and user-friendly platform that offers a range of tools and features designed to help K-12 schools manage their administrative and academic operations more efficiently. With its comprehensive student information management system, classroom management tools, administrative tools, and parent and student portal, Alma is a great choice for schools looking to streamline their operations and improve student performance.

Who is it best for?

Alma School Management Software serves K-12 schools and educational institutions across the United States. The software is designed to cater to the unique needs of smaller schools, including private and charter schools, that may not have access to large budgets or resources.

Here are some examples of typical customers that use Alma School Management Software:

1. Charter Schools: Alma School Management Software is popular among charter schools, which often have limited resources and need to manage operations in a more cost-effective and efficient manner.

2. Private Schools: Private schools also use Alma to manage their administrative and academic operations. The platform's customizable features make it easy for schools to tailor the software to their specific needs.

3. Independent Schools: Independent schools of all sizes use Alma School Management Software to automate processes such as scheduling, grading, and attendance tracking, which helps them to better serve their students and families.

4. Faith-Based Schools: Faith-based schools use Alma to manage their administrative and academic operations while also staying true to their values and mission.

5. Public Schools: Even public schools, which may have larger budgets and resources, use Alma School Management Software to improve efficiency and streamline operations.

Some well-known companies that use Alma School Management Software include the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, Maine, the Promise Academy Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Brooklyn Lab Charter School in Brooklyn, New York.

Main features and functionalities

If you run a K-12 school or educational institution, Alma School Management Software can help streamline and automate a variety of administrative and academic processes, saving you time and increasing efficiency. Here are some of the ways that Alma can help your business:

1. Centralized Data Management: With Alma, you can centralize all of your student data, from attendance and grades to medical information and disciplinary records. This makes it easy to access important information and reduces the risk of errors or data loss.

2. Streamlined Scheduling: Scheduling classes, teachers, and students can be a time-consuming task, but Alma's scheduling tools make it easy to create and adjust schedules with drag-and-drop functionality.

3. Integrated Communication: Alma includes a variety of communication tools, including parent and student portals, teacher dashboards, and messaging capabilities. This helps keep everyone in the loop and promotes collaboration and transparency.

4. Robust Reporting: Alma provides real-time data and analytics that help administrators and teachers make informed decisions about student progress, school performance, and resource allocation.

5. Customizable Features: Alma's flexible platform allows schools to tailor the software to their specific needs, with custom fields, integrations, and workflows. This means that you can create a solution that fits your unique business requirements.

Overall, Alma School Management Software can help your business run more efficiently, save time, and improve student outcomes.

What is the actual cost?

The cost of license starts at $500 per year. ITQlick pricing score is 6 out of 10 (10 is most expensive). Access ITQlick pricing guide for Alma.

Pros

• User-friendly interface: Alma School Management Software is known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface that can be easily navigated by both teachers and administrators.
• Comprehensive feature set: Alma offers a wide range of features that cover all aspects of school management, from attendance tracking to grade book management, parent-teacher communication, and more.
• Customizable reports: With Alma, users can easily create custom reports and dashboards to track and analyze student performance, attendance trends, and other key metrics.

Cons

• Limited customization: While Alma offers many features, some users may find that the software is not as customizable as some of its competitors.
• Pricing: Alma pricing model may not be as flexible as some of its competitors, which could be a drawback for smaller schools or districts with limited budgets.
• Learning curve: Some users have reported that it can take some time to fully learn and utilize all of Alma features, which may be a barrier to adoption for some schools or districts.

How it stacks up?

Access a head to head analysis of Alma vs alternative software solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)