Social worker Dan Maigler had a problem.
He was worried about a student and their unhealthy obsession with grades. Maigler eventually figured out a way to see how many times this student was checking Powerschool.
When he checked, the number was through the roof: 62 times a day.
Powerschool, founded in 1997, was originally made to be a helpful tool for students, parents, and teachers. But for some the constant focus on grades can be toxic.
“The function of Powerschool is to help students see where they’re at and to be able to make changes if they need to, not to drive themselves crazy by checking and re-checking,” said Maigler.
When a Powerschool notification arrives on a phone screen, it displays the grade from the class. If a student is not happy with a grade they have, the notification could change the whole course of their mood.
“Everytime I get a notification, my heart drops,” said senior Tess Uihlein.
For some, the notifications were so corrupting that they took matters into their own hands.
“I turned mine off a year ago. No regrets,” said senior Lizzy Grace.
These notifications can also prompt students to open their accounts more, encouraging them to look at the grades of other classes as well.
“When we check anything more than twice a day, we realize that that’s not a benefit of knowing what your grade is, that’s it’s kind of becoming an obsessive behavior,” said Maigler.
Teachers and staff do not intend for students to be stressed when they put a grade in, but unfortunately for many, Powerschool notifications seem to have this effect.
Expectations to get good grades and go to college can increase stress and anxiety. This generation is more stressed than previous ones, and students most often point to school and grades.
“My parents expect me to get good grades, but it’s not just about what my parents want; I want to go to a good college,” said freshman Suryan Patel.
Parent access to PowerSchool is not the best for students as well. If a student sees their grade drop, they might not even be worried about the class, but even more so their parents’ reaction.
Math teacher Mrs. Kristen Logas lets her students see their test and quiz grades before she puts them into Powerschool, so they can have a conversation with their parents and process their grade before it actually goes into the “grade book.”
“I always say it’s my students’ grade, not their parents’,” said Logas.
Although many feel that Powerschool pressures them, there are a few people that aren’t bothered by the corporation.
“I check my grades once a week,” said sophomore Mac Atzeff.
It seems that LFHS has tried to find a way to make Powerschool less toxic, but there is no way of going back as technology is constantly evolving.
“It would be great if Powerschool only updated once a week, so that no one would have to worry about it,” said Maigler.
This however could leave students playing the waiting game, and leading themselves into even more stress.
Whether it’s fully turning off Powerschool notifications like senior Lizzy Grace does, or letting your students know their grade before putting it in, like Mrs. Logas, there are solutions to the stress, anxiety, and pressure felt by Powerschool.
