Quick Overview
- 1#1: PowerSchool - Comprehensive student information system with robust integrated calendars for managing school events, academic schedules, and parent notifications.
- 2#2: Infinite Campus - Cloud-based SIS featuring interactive calendars for student schedules, school events, and real-time parent and student access.
- 3#3: Google Workspace for Education - Free collaborative calendar tool tailored for schools to share events, schedules, and assignments seamlessly across staff, students, and parents.
- 4#4: Canvas LMS - Learning management system with a dynamic calendar for tracking assignments, events, meetings, and academic deadlines.
- 5#5: Skyward - Student management platform offering customizable calendars for bell schedules, events, and gradebook integration.
- 6#6: Blackbaud K-12 - Education management solution with advanced calendars for event planning, RSVPs, and community engagement in private schools.
- 7#7: Microsoft 365 Education - Productivity suite including Outlook Calendar for schools to manage hybrid schedules, meetings, and shared events securely.
- 8#8: Finalsite - School website platform with powerful event calendars for public sharing of schedules, athletics, and community activities.
- 9#9: Veracross - Integrated school management system providing unified calendars for admissions, academics, and extracurricular activities.
- 10#10: Edlio - Website and communication platform featuring embeddable calendars for school news, events, and parent engagement.
Tools were chosen based on a blend of critical factors: feature depth (including integration capabilities, real-time updates, and stakeholder access), usability (intuitiveness for diverse users), reliability (data security and performance), and overall value (aligning with educational goals and budgetary considerations), ensuring they meet the demands of 21st-century schools.
Comparison Table
This comparison table examines leading school calendar software options, including PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Google Workspace for Education, Canvas LMS, Skyward, and other tools, to assist schools in evaluating features, usability, and integration. Readers will discover how each platform performs across key metrics, helping them identify software that aligns with their operational needs and student communication goals.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PowerSchool Comprehensive student information system with robust integrated calendars for managing school events, academic schedules, and parent notifications. | enterprise | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 2 | Infinite Campus Cloud-based SIS featuring interactive calendars for student schedules, school events, and real-time parent and student access. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 3 | Google Workspace for Education Free collaborative calendar tool tailored for schools to share events, schedules, and assignments seamlessly across staff, students, and parents. | other | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 4 | Canvas LMS Learning management system with a dynamic calendar for tracking assignments, events, meetings, and academic deadlines. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 5 | Skyward Student management platform offering customizable calendars for bell schedules, events, and gradebook integration. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Blackbaud K-12 Education management solution with advanced calendars for event planning, RSVPs, and community engagement in private schools. | enterprise | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 6.9/10 |
| 7 | Microsoft 365 Education Productivity suite including Outlook Calendar for schools to manage hybrid schedules, meetings, and shared events securely. | enterprise | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | Finalsite School website platform with powerful event calendars for public sharing of schedules, athletics, and community activities. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 9 | Veracross Integrated school management system providing unified calendars for admissions, academics, and extracurricular activities. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 10 | Edlio Website and communication platform featuring embeddable calendars for school news, events, and parent engagement. | specialized | 7.6/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.0/10 |
Comprehensive student information system with robust integrated calendars for managing school events, academic schedules, and parent notifications.
Cloud-based SIS featuring interactive calendars for student schedules, school events, and real-time parent and student access.
Free collaborative calendar tool tailored for schools to share events, schedules, and assignments seamlessly across staff, students, and parents.
Learning management system with a dynamic calendar for tracking assignments, events, meetings, and academic deadlines.
Student management platform offering customizable calendars for bell schedules, events, and gradebook integration.
Education management solution with advanced calendars for event planning, RSVPs, and community engagement in private schools.
Productivity suite including Outlook Calendar for schools to manage hybrid schedules, meetings, and shared events securely.
School website platform with powerful event calendars for public sharing of schedules, athletics, and community activities.
Integrated school management system providing unified calendars for admissions, academics, and extracurricular activities.
Website and communication platform featuring embeddable calendars for school news, events, and parent engagement.
PowerSchool
enterpriseComprehensive student information system with robust integrated calendars for managing school events, academic schedules, and parent notifications.
Unified Insights Calendar with bi-directional syncing across SIS portals, external apps, and automated parent alerts
PowerSchool is a leading comprehensive student information system (SIS) with robust school calendar features, enabling administrators to create and manage bell schedules, events, holidays, and academic calendars in one platform. It offers real-time syncing and visibility through parent/student portals, mobile apps, and integrations with Google Calendar and iCal for seamless communication. Ideal for K-12 districts, it ensures alignment between scheduling, attendance, and overall school operations.
Pros
- Seamless integration with full SIS for unified data and scheduling
- Real-time updates and notifications via portals and mobile apps
- Scalable for districts of all sizes with extensive customization
Cons
- Steep learning curve for initial setup and advanced features
- High cost suitable mainly for larger districts
- Overkill for schools needing only basic calendar tools
Best For
Large K-12 school districts requiring an integrated SIS with advanced calendar management and parent/student accessibility.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically $10-25 per student annually depending on modules and district size; requires quote.
Infinite Campus
enterpriseCloud-based SIS featuring interactive calendars for student schedules, school events, and real-time parent and student access.
Seamless SIS integration where calendar events automatically sync with attendance tracking and parent notifications
Infinite Campus is a comprehensive K-12 student information system (SIS) with robust school calendar features, enabling districts to manage district-wide, school-specific, and classroom calendars seamlessly. Administrators can create events, set recurring schedules, and integrate calendars with attendance, grading, and communication tools for real-time updates. Parents and students access personalized calendars via web portals and mobile apps, receiving automated notifications for events, holidays, and deadlines.
Pros
- Deep integration with SIS for unified attendance, grading, and calendar management
- Mobile apps and portals for easy parent/student access and notifications
- Highly customizable multi-level calendars supporting events, bell schedules, and RSVPs
Cons
- Complex interface with a steep learning curve for new users
- Overkill and expensive for schools needing only basic calendar functionality
- Limited standalone use without full SIS implementation
Best For
Large K-12 school districts requiring an all-in-one SIS with advanced, integrated calendar tools.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing per student or district-wide contracts, often $5-15 per student annually plus implementation fees.
Google Workspace for Education
otherFree collaborative calendar tool tailored for schools to share events, schedules, and assignments seamlessly across staff, students, and parents.
Granular sharing and permission controls for calendars, enabling role-based access for teachers, students, and parents in real-time collaboration
Google Workspace for Education is a comprehensive productivity suite that includes Google Calendar as its core school calendar tool, allowing educators and administrators to create, share, and manage class schedules, events, holidays, and school announcements. It supports real-time updates, color-coded calendars, and integration with other Google apps like Classroom and Meet for seamless scheduling and communication. Ideal for schools seeking an integrated ecosystem, it enables easy collaboration among staff, students, and parents through shared calendars and automated notifications.
Pros
- Free for qualifying educational institutions with unlimited storage options
- Seamless integration with Google Classroom, Meet, and other Workspace tools
- Intuitive interface with real-time syncing and mobile accessibility
Cons
- Lacks specialized school features like bell schedules, attendance tracking, or parent portals found in dedicated tools
- Requires reliable internet and may raise data privacy concerns for some districts
- Customization for complex school calendars is limited compared to niche software
Best For
Schools and districts already embedded in the Google ecosystem needing a simple, collaborative calendar without additional costs.
Pricing
Free for eligible K-12 and higher education institutions (Fundamentals edition); paid Plus edition at ~$4/user/month for advanced admin controls and more storage.
Canvas LMS
enterpriseLearning management system with a dynamic calendar for tracking assignments, events, meetings, and academic deadlines.
Automatic calendar population from course assignments and due dates, ensuring synchronized schedules without manual entry.
Canvas LMS by Instructure is a comprehensive learning management system with an integrated calendar feature tailored for educational environments, enabling users to schedule assignments, events, quizzes, and meetings across courses. The calendar automatically populates due dates from syllabi and supports syncing with external calendars like Google Calendar for seamless access. It offers customizable views, color-coding by course, and mobile app integration, making it a centralized hub for school scheduling within an LMS framework.
Pros
- Deep integration with course assignments and syllabi for automatic event population
- Syncs with Google Calendar and iCal for cross-platform access
- Mobile app provides on-the-go notifications and updates
Cons
- Primarily an LMS tool, so full setup required even for calendar use
- Learning curve for users not familiar with LMS interfaces
- Institutional pricing can be high without a free standalone calendar option
Best For
Educational institutions already using Canvas LMS that need an integrated calendar for managing class schedules, assignments, and events.
Pricing
Free for individual teachers (limited features); institutional pricing is custom subscription-based, often $10-20 per active student annually.
Skyward
enterpriseStudent management platform offering customizable calendars for bell schedules, events, and gradebook integration.
Bidirectional calendar sync across admin, teacher, parent, and student portals tied directly to student data
Skyward is a comprehensive K-12 student information system (SIS) with robust school calendar features, enabling administrators to manage events, bell schedules, and academic calendars district-wide. It provides real-time synchronization across web portals, mobile apps, and parent/student access points for seamless visibility into school happenings. While not a standalone calendar tool, its integration with grading, attendance, and communications makes it a powerful all-in-one solution for educational scheduling.
Pros
- Deep integration with SIS modules like attendance and grading for unified data
- Real-time notifications and mobile access for parents and students
- Scalable for large districts with customizable event management
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users due to enterprise complexity
- Higher pricing suited better for mid-to-large districts than small schools
- Limited standalone calendar flexibility without full SIS adoption
Best For
Mid-to-large school districts needing integrated calendar tools within a full SIS platform.
Pricing
Custom subscription pricing, typically $10-20 per student per year, with district-wide contracts and implementation fees.
Blackbaud K-12
enterpriseEducation management solution with advanced calendars for event planning, RSVPs, and community engagement in private schools.
Real-time bidirectional sync across all school portals, ensuring instant updates for events and schedules without manual intervention
Blackbaud K-12 is an enterprise-grade school management platform with a robust calendar module designed for scheduling events, bell schedules, academic calendars, and extracurricular activities. It integrates seamlessly with student information systems, attendance tracking, and parent/student portals for real-time updates and notifications via email, SMS, and mobile apps. This solution supports complex multi-campus environments and ensures all stakeholders have synchronized access to school-wide schedules.
Pros
- Deep integration with SIS, grading, and communication tools
- Customizable event templates and recurring schedules
- Real-time mobile access for parents, students, and staff
Cons
- Complex setup and steep learning curve
- High implementation costs and ongoing fees
- Overkill for simple calendar needs in small schools
Best For
Mid-to-large K-12 schools requiring a fully integrated management system with advanced calendaring.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically $10-$30 per student annually, with minimums starting at $10,000+ for full suite.
Microsoft 365 Education
enterpriseProductivity suite including Outlook Calendar for schools to manage hybrid schedules, meetings, and shared events securely.
Seamless calendar syncing with Microsoft Teams channels for class schedules and automated meeting invites
Microsoft 365 Education is a comprehensive productivity suite designed for schools, featuring calendar tools via Outlook and Microsoft Teams for managing schedules, events, holidays, and academic calendars. It supports shared calendars across staff, students, and parents, with features like recurring events, reminders, and RSVPs. The platform integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft apps for a unified school management experience, though it's more of a general suite than a dedicated calendar tool.
Pros
- Excellent integration with Teams and Outlook for shared school-wide calendars
- Free tier available for qualifying educational institutions
- Robust security, compliance (e.g., FERPA, GDPR), and scalability for large districts
Cons
- Setup for advanced calendar sharing can be complex and admin-heavy
- Overkill and less intuitive for schools needing only basic calendar functionality
- Limited customization compared to dedicated school calendar apps
Best For
Large schools or districts already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem seeking integrated scheduling with productivity tools.
Pricing
Free A1 plan for verified academic institutions; A3/A5 plans from $2.50-$8/user/month for advanced features.
Finalsite
specializedSchool website platform with powerful event calendars for public sharing of schedules, athletics, and community activities.
Real-time dynamic calendar embedding across school websites with automatic updates and category-based filtering
Finalsite provides a robust school calendar solution integrated within its comprehensive web platform for K-12 schools, allowing seamless management of academic schedules, events, and extracurricular activities. It supports multiple calendar views (day, week, month), recurring events, RSVPs, and iCal/Google Calendar syncing for easy parent and student access. The calendar publishes dynamically to school websites, ensuring real-time updates and mobile responsiveness.
Pros
- Seamless integration with Finalsite's CMS for effortless website publishing
- Advanced event tools like RSVPs, ticketing, and multi-category filtering
- Mobile-optimized with iCal feeds and push notifications via app
Cons
- Not a standalone calendar tool; requires Finalsite platform commitment
- Custom pricing can be expensive for smaller schools
- Moderate learning curve for advanced customizations
Best For
K-12 schools already using or planning to adopt Finalsite's full website and communication suite.
Pricing
Custom quotes based on school size; typically $5,000–$15,000+ annually for the platform including calendar features.
Veracross
enterpriseIntegrated school management system providing unified calendars for admissions, academics, and extracurricular activities.
Unified master calendar that automatically syncs events across academic, athletic, and extracurricular modules with role-based permissions
Veracross is a comprehensive ERP platform for independent schools that includes robust school calendar software for managing events, academic schedules, and communications. It enables centralized calendar creation with support for multiple views, recurring events, resource booking, and real-time syncing across web, mobile apps, and family portals. The system integrates deeply with other modules like SIS, admissions, and athletics for a unified experience.
Pros
- Deep integration with SIS, admissions, and other school modules for seamless data flow
- Mobile app and family portal for real-time access and notifications
- Advanced customization including permissions, resource conflicts, and multi-calendar support
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to the platform's complexity
- High cost may not suit small schools or those needing only calendars
- Customization requires technical expertise or support
Best For
Mid-to-large independent K-12 schools seeking an all-in-one management system with powerful, integrated calendar capabilities.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically $20,000–$100,000+ annually depending on school size and modules.
Edlio
specializedWebsite and communication platform featuring embeddable calendars for school news, events, and parent engagement.
Dynamic calendars fully embedded into school websites with automatic syncing and real-time parent notifications
Edlio is a school website and communication platform that includes robust calendar tools for managing events, schedules, and announcements across K-12 institutions. It enables seamless creation of dynamic calendars with Google Calendar sync, RSVP capabilities, and automated notifications to keep parents, students, and staff informed. The software integrates calendars directly into customizable school websites, ensuring mobile accessibility and real-time updates for enhanced community engagement.
Pros
- Seamless integration with school websites for embedded calendars
- Google Calendar sync and mobile-responsive design
- Built-in notifications and RSVP features for parent engagement
Cons
- Custom pricing requires sales quotes and can be expensive for small districts
- Full platform may overwhelm users needing only calendar functionality
- Limited advanced customization options compared to dedicated calendar tools
Best For
K-12 schools wanting an all-in-one website builder with integrated calendar features for streamlined communication.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing; typically $2,000–$10,000+ annually depending on school size and features.
Conclusion
The top tools provide diverse solutions, with PowerSchool emerging as the leader for its seamless integration of student management and calendar features. Infinite Campus and Google Workspace for Education stand out as strong alternatives—each tailored to specific needs, from real-time access to collaborative sharing. Together, they highlight the importance of a robust calendar system in modern education.
Explore PowerSchool to unlock streamlined management of events, schedules, and parent communication, or consider Infinite Campus or Google Workspace for your unique school requirements.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison