I currently spend a lot of time using Excel and I’m looking to improve my skills for future job opportunities in my district. Being able to use SQL would make me more effective at generating advanced reports, but I currently don’t have access to it.
I use SQL every day. I recommend learning Oracle SQL to improve your skills.
The usage really depends on the tasks you’re handling, like creating reports, developing new plugins, or customizing functionalities. PowerSchool uses a unique version of SQL, so diving into PD+, PowerSchool University, or attending their conferences can be highly beneficial. The possibilities are endless once you master their SQL.
@marvinjohn
That sounds great, exactly what I’m aiming for. I’m planning to attend PowerSchool University next summer and will definitely take those classes.
Although I don’t use PowerSchool, I’ve seen many international schools in Southeast Asia, including American ones, leveraging PowerBI. You might also want to explore using pandas in Jupyter notebooks for more dynamic Excel-like reports. But yes, learning SQL is essential.
I wish PowerSchool had an API. From what I’ve seen, it seems like there’s no proper security, only direct database access, which limits extension possibilities and contributes to its poor performance.
ScholarlySpark said:
I wish PowerSchool had an API. From what I’ve seen, it seems like there’s no proper security, only direct database access, which limits extension possibilities and contributes to its poor performance.
Actually, PowerSchool does have an API.
@Olivia
From my experience with their support and documentation, and the hoops you need to jump through for access, it feels very insecure and limited. If you have more positive insights, I’m all ears.
@ScholarlySpark
The API’s usability really depends on your role. As a PowerSchool database analyst at a school, it’s fairly accessible and standard for APIs.
Olivia said:
@ScholarlySpark
The API’s usability really depends on your role. As a PowerSchool database analyst at a school, it’s fairly accessible and standard for APIs.
That’s good to know. I’ve been thinking about creating a mobile app for grading that integrates with Google Classroom. If the API supports user-level restrictions and allows distribution of apps developed with it, I might reconsider.
Olivia said:
@ScholarlySpark
It does support both those features.
Well, I might give it another look then. The default user interface could really use some improvement.
Given the current focus on cybersecurity and insurance, only larger districts tend to host PowerSchool on-site with direct SQL access. Many are moving to cloud solutions and utilizing built-in reporting tools instead.