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Top 20 School Mobile App Review

Navigating the school mobile app landscape these days requires a pretty large map. In our own diligence to find the right mobile app partner to co-develop a fully integrated mobile app-website solution, we found so many vendors with a wide range of deliverables. I feel for the school communications lead who’s trying to make sense of it all.

The good news is that getting a mobile app for your school isn’t that difficult. There’s a long list of quality providers who can create a functional and appealing app specifically for your school and your community.

Now, if you think that having a mobile responsive website is sufficient for reaching your audience on their devices, think again. Data shows that’s probably not the case. A 2014 study from Nielsen shows that when it comes to mobile browsing, 88 percent of it is done through an app, while only 11 percent of browsing by American adults is done via the internet. If you’re solely relying on your website for mobile communications, you could be missing the boat.

Get a free school mobile app planning and guide here.

Like me, your whole life is probably on your phone: calendar, contacts, emails, financial information, social profiles, and let’s not forget Google Maps. We all rely on our phones in some capacity for so many daily tasks. Your students, parents and teachers are no different. They’re just as reliant on their devices as you are on yours. That means that when they look online for school-related information, they’re probably doing so on their phone. If not, they should be.

Start with our top 20 school mobile app list

When you begin your search for a mobile app provider, narrowing – much less selecting one – could be a little tricky. This round-up article should make things easier. We’ve listed some of the most popular educational app developers with some high-level information about what makes them unique. Once you get the big picture of providers, you might want to download the School Mobile App Planning Guide we’ve compiled to help you make an informed decision about the right mobile app approach.

Mobile app developers can be segmented into three categories:

• Bundled
• Stand alone
• Do-it-yourself

With a bundled provider, the app comes in a package with a host of other services, such as website development, content creation, and even email and social media services. A standalone provider will let you purchase the app development without committing to other solutions. And finally, a DIY provider gives you a framework for creating your own app, but leaves much of the execution to you.

Bundled school mobile apps

These providers offer mobile apps as part of a broader package of web communications tools that can be purchased together or separately.

SchoolMessenger

SchoolMessenger offers a robust notification system that allows you to push out important notifications to your audience via text, phone, email, and social media. The company also offers website development and host of other digital solutions. Apps at SchoolMessenger come in two forms. One is the InfoCenter, which comes free with SchoolMessenger’s other notification solutions. InfoCenter is a non-branded, generic app that your teachers, students, and parents can download. The app will deliver any messages that you want to distribute.

The other option is a custom designed school app that features your own branding and specific content. Your app could include activity schedules, important notifications, grades, supply lists, and any other information that you feel is important. Custom built apps are an add-on cost to the notification package.

BlackBoard

You’re probably familiar with many of Blackboard’s other education solutions. Blackboard now offers app development as part of its suite of services. Blackboard apps can feature much of the information you would expect, such as notifications, grades, lunch information, and more.

If you’re already using Blackboard in the classroom or to communicate with parents, then a Blackboard-developed school app could be a seamless integration for you. Also, Blackboard allows you to drill deep with information and notifications. For instance, you could set up the app to send a parent notification if a student’s grade drops below a certain level. A little over a year ago, Blackboard acquired ParentLink, adding a nifty mobile app to its ever-broadening reach in the K-12 world.

SchoolGlow

SchoolGlow prides itself on affordability and development speed. Their apps have most of the features you want, like notifications, news updates, schedules and calendars, grade access, lunch information, and more.
However, SchoolGlow offers those features at an affordable annual rate. Turnaround time is weeks instead of months. What you gain in cost savings and development speed, though, you may give up in terms of customization.

Campus Suite

Our new app development service allows you to seamlessly integrate your website content and notifications with your app. Teachers can push out announcements or assignment updates. Coaches and activity organizers can get important information to their teams. And parents can quickly access any information they need about their child’s education.

Stand alone school mobile apps

These providers typically let you purchase the app development without committing to other, more comprehensive web communications solutions.

SchoolInfoApp

As their name suggests, SchoolInfoApp focuses on one thing and one thing only – apps for schools. They offer a wide range of options and features. If you’re operating on a budget, you can use an unbranded app based on a template. Or you can pay more for a custom app that is branded to your school or district. If you’re only looking for an app, without any other web development or content solutions, then SchoolInfoApp could be a good choice.

Crescerance

Crescerance develops only custum apps, so you can be sure that it will have the features you want and will include your school’s branding. Also, Crescerance gives you a marketing kit when your app is complete. The kit has printed posters, flyers, and other collateral you can use to encourage your students, parents, and teachers to download the app.

YourMobileSchoolApp

Like some of the other providers on this list, Yourmobileschoolapp.com focuses only on mobile apps for schools. They can customize features, design, and much more. For a low budget, quick turnaround app, you may opt to use one of their templates. However, if you’re willing to invest more money and time, they can develop an app specifically to meet your needs.

appmakr4schools

appmakr4schools offers many of the same types of apps and features that other developers offer. However, they can also build apps for specific purposes, such as an app exclusively for alumni, an app for your school’s football team, or even an app for fundraising.

ischoolbox

iSchoolbox is another affordable, stand alone app provider that can either build you a custom app or provide an affordable option based off of a template.

Dublabs

Dublabs builds apps exclusively for schools and offers many of the same features that you will find with other providers. They also offer an easy-to-use backend dashboard so you can quickly make changes to your app content.

mylyapp.com

Again, you’ll find notifications, news, grading, calendars, and many other features with mylyapp.com. One appealing feature is the app’s ability to identify which parents and students don’t have the app and then use text or email to send alternative notifications to those recipients.

schoolapptitude.com

Schoolapptitude.com offers a robust set of features, including the ability to pay for lunches via the app and scheduling for, volunteer activities, PTO meetings, and parent-teacher conferences.

schoolway

Schoolway offers apps with a fairly narrow focus. Their apps function more as a one-way notification service rather than a robust content platform. However, they could be a good choice if you’re looking for an affordable messaging system.

whizfish

Whizfish may be the most affordable option on this list that isn’t a DIY solution. If you’re on a tight budget and notifications are your biggest priority, whizfish could be a good choice.

Do-it-yourself school mobile apps

These providers give you a framework for creating your own app, but leave much of the execution to school staff or other suppliers.

ibuildapps

They provide the platform and you fill in the blanks. An app from iBuildapps may not be branded or full of content, but it will function and it will be extremely affordable.

mymschool.com

This is a DIY option that is geared toward the educational industry. You can customize the app with your logo and your color palette. You can also choose from a menu of pre-built app features.

schoolmobileapps. com

Again, this is a DIY option that allows you to choose from a menu of features and also allows for limited design customization. It does have the ability to integrate with your website for content integration.

powerschool.com

Powerschool’s app solution is a non-branded, non-customized platform where you simply enter in the information relevant to your school. When your parents, teachers, and students download the app and log in, they see the relevant information. A good starter option for schools on a budget.

mobileschoolapps.com

Mobileschoolapps.com advertises app development and launch within 24 hours, so they could be the choice for you if you’re in a time crunch. Like many other DIY options, you’ll choose the features you want and then plug information into a template.

schoolmobile.com

Schoolmobile.com offers one of the broadest ranges of features among the DIY options. They also offer some customization features so you can integrate your brand into the app.

Conclusion

Finding the right mobile app provider for your school may be an intrepid journey, but it’s also an important one. The last thing you want to do is invest money into a solution only to find out that it’s the wrong provider or platform for you. Take the time to research your options and make sue it’s a good fit.

Once your app is developed and launched – if done right – you’ll find that your students, parents, and teachers will appreciate the new technology. Your audience has gone mobile; it’s part of their daily routine. Make your school app part of it too.

If mobile is the future, then the future is already here. It’s time you meet them there.

• 7 Must-Have Features for your School Mobile App
• 3 Keys to Consider before Selecting a School Mobile App
• How a School Mobile App Can Help Reach Parents

Posted by
Jay Cooper

Marketing director and content strategist for Campus Suite, Jay’s a former school public relations specialist who’s helped businesses, schools and colleges use the power of web communications to improve their image, generate support, and optimize relationships. Reach him at [email protected].

20+ Good School Review Examples • Eat, Sleep, Wander

Maybe this reviews post is one of the most important for the future of our kids. Parents spend days if not months, searching the web for schools for their children, and part of that search is reading reviews. Our well crafted Good School review examples will make the job easier to those that need to write one.

Reviews are important. The more reviews the school has, the better. This is making the search easier, but also gives safety to new parents. By seeing good feedbacks, they build trust before even visiting the school.

Negative reviews are the protection, but those feedback in another article.

Legend for Good School Review Examples

• Principal name – (PN)
• School name – (SN)
• Teacher name – (TN)

01. I attended this school nearly a decade ago and have only great things to say about my experience. The teachers are amazing, the curriculum is second to none and each child is treated with care.

My son is attending this school as well. If you have any doubts please go and see (PN) and she will put you at ease. I am blessed that some of the same teachers who taught me are teaching my children as well.

02. My daughter has attended (SN) for three years now. She absolutely loves the school and the staff. Her teachers are a great encouragement and and the academic program is great.

03. My children LOVE this school – from the teachers to the students to the challenging curriculum. (SN) integrates compassion into their teaching standards, emphasizes the importance of values, and builds leaders through each of their classes and lessons.

Though it is a small school, it allows for a lower student to teacher ratio, giving children more confidence when asking questions, engage in group activities, and opportunities for one-on-one time with the teachers.

Teachers are passionate about seeing their students succeed. They are so great about sharing moments of pride they see within your child – their good behaviors and achievements; and they know the importance of getting the parents involved should an issue arise, and do it in a very respectful, approachable manner.

Great team – great school!

04. Our experience at (SN) has been exceptional. The teachers are truly invested in my children’s education and their growth as learners. Adjustments are made as needed to meet the needs of the student. Small class sizes and leveled learning have enabled my children to gain confidence in their learning abilities.

The administration is open minded and think outside the box to make (SN) a successful educational experience for the students. (SN) is committed to the whole child. They teach value lessons, communication and leadership skills. Patriotism is also present in their activities. (SN) Education has been a very positive experience for our family.

• See also: Good Feedback for Teacher Examples
• See also: 20+ Art Gallery Review Examples
• See also: 30 Examples of Mission Statements for Schools (2022)

05. My son, like all children, was born with a “love of learning”. As he started progressing in the school district, he became bored, complacent, and restless. His “love of learning” quickly deteriorated and began to manifest as behavioral issues that included acting out and apathy toward learning.

The answer was simple. Find a school that challenged him enough to feed his “love of learning”, acknowledge his individuality, and guide him to “do the right thing”.

I found this in (SN).

(SN) brings out the best in every child by tapping into their individual strengths, while creating an environment of kindness, responsibility, and leadership. Our family is so grateful for our (SN) family.

06. Great school!!! My kids are very happy to be at this school. Teachers are very nice and helpfull. This school is home for our family.

07. My daughter went to this school from grade school through 8th grade. She is now in high school. We are so grateful that she was able to be at (SN) for those years. She learned valuable leadership skills while learning at her own pace (no cookie-cutter education there!).

If you want to give your child(ren) a stellar education while they are nurtured to be their best, most confident selves then I encourage you to seek out this school.

08. Smaller class sizes, teachers who care, and my daughter actually likes to learn at (SN). Wonderful with special needs. Catered to the needs of your child. More affordable than other private schools. Go check them out!

09. I feel so comfortable and at ease with taking my daughter to (SN). Its a lovely place. It is sparkling clean and tidy at all times of the day. It smells so plesant. I would be willing to bet that it has the biggest outdoor play yard of any other daycare/preschool in the city.

The teachers such as (TN) are engaging, lively and energetic. She is patient and encouraging with both kids and parents.

If you are looking for a place for your child in this general area, I highly recommend you stop in for a tour.

10. The teachers are super sweet and amazing. I’ve never worried about might son while he’s under their care and guidance.

10. The teachers are super sweet and amazing. I’ve never worried about might son while he’s under their care and guidance.

More Good School Review Examples on the next page…

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School Resources Review – OECD

The School Resources Review aims to help countries make resource decisions that support quality, equity and efficiency in school education.

The Review provides country-specific and comparative analysis on the use of financial, physical and human resources in school systems. It offers policy advice on how to govern, distribute and manage resources so that they contribute to achieving countries’ educational objectives.

Areas of Work

Thematic comparative reports

Our thematic comparative reports synthesise the Review’s major findings on school resource policies. The reports bring together evidence from research and country practice to explore policy options for governments to consider. 

Working and Learning Together: Rethinking Human Resource Policies for Schools

Responsive School Systems: Connecting Facilities, Sectors and Programmes for Student Success

The Funding of School Education: Connecting Resources and Learning

Working papers

Our literature reviews provide in-depth discussions of research findings on specific themes that are relevant to the Review.

More time at school: Lessons from case studies and research on extended school days

Not enough hours in the day: Policies that shape teachers’ use of time

Innovating teachers’ professional learning through digital technologies

Policies to support teachers’ continuing professional learning

Learning in rural schools: Insights from PISA, TALIS and the literature

Regulating Publicly Funded Private Schools

Budgeting and Accounting in OECD Education Systems

Student Learning Time

Learning Support Staff

School Size Policies

The School Resources Review

Featured Data

Presentations

OECD School Resources Review – Project Overview 2020 from EduSkills OECD

Publications

Chile Country Review

01 December 2017

Thematic Report on Funding

26 June 2017

Uruguay Country Review

5 December 2017

Denmark Country Review

14 November 2016

Czech Republic Country Review

19 October 2016

Austria Country Review

09 June 2016

Estonia Country Review

06 April 2016

Lithuania Country Review

25 March 2016

Slovak Republic Country Review

19 February 2016

Portugal Country Review

 6 December 2018

OECD Reviews of School Resources Review

Responsive School Systems 

22 October 2018

OECD Reviews of School Resources

Colombia 2018

18 July 2018

OECD Reviews of School Resources Review

Working and Learning Together

14 November 2019

Podcasts