Faith-based school SIS · Roots in tuition management
FACTS handles billing beautifully.
The rest is more of a working theory.
FACTS is a tuition management product that added SIS features over the years. It does billing for faith-based K-12 schools. When schools need the SIS underneath to actually work, the limits show up fast – users describe it as cheap at headline price, expensive in time lost.
Alma gives faith-based and private schools a complete platform: a real SIS, real family engagement, and billing that integrates – instead of a billing tool retrofitted with everything else.
Where FACTS falls short of an SIS
“This system is trash. It is cheap, whatever funds you think you are saving is made up for with time lost. NOT a true SIS.”
– Verified review – Capterra
“Despite the theoretical flexibility of the platform, it’s plagued by poor design, dead ends, and does not meet the immediate needs of our faculty or staff.”
– Verified review – Capterra
“As a teacher, it does not have logical tools that allow easy navigation. Each tool requires a separate click and opens a new tab.”
– Verified review – Capterra
Alma vs. FACTS
FACTS is a billing tool. Alma is the SIS your school needs.
Alma was built as an SIS first – with the depth FACTS’ billing-first origins couldn’t deliver.
| Category | Alma | FACTS |
|---|---|---|
| Intuitive, modern interface | ||
| Streamlined teacher gradebook | ||
| Built-in AI analytics | ||
| Integrated LMS | ||
| Drag-and-drop report card design | ||
| Standards-based grading | Limited | |
| Family portal included | ||
| Full SIS functionality | Billing-focused | |
| API available | Limited | |
| Transparent pricing | Quote-based | |
| Responsive support | Lacking | |
| Guided implementation | Limited |
Why faith-based schools choose Alma over FACTS.
Alma’s core is the SIS – so gradebook, attendance, academic workflows, and family engagement all work the way your school actually runs.
A complete SIS, not a billing add-on
FACTS started as a tuition management platform and built outward. Alma started as a student information system. The difference shows in every workflow your teachers and administrators use daily.
Gradebook teachers will actually use
FACTS users consistently report that gradebook navigation requires too many clicks and too many open tabs. Alma’s gradebook is designed to reduce the time teachers spend in the system, not increase it.
Standards-based grading that works
FACTS has documented limitations with standards-based grading – including no way to notify parents of missing assignments. Alma’s SBG tools are built into the core platform, not bolted on.
Built for faith-based schools
Alma serves faith-based and private K-12 schools across the country. The platform supports the flexibility those schools need – custom report cards, configurable grading, and a family portal that reflects your community.
“We needed a system that could handle our unique structure as a faith-based school. Alma understood that from day one and built our implementation around it.”
– Principal, Faith-Based K-12 School
The bottom line
FACTS has the billing down.
Alma has everything a real SIS needs.
Designed for educators, not administrators
Alma’s interface is built around how teachers and counselors actually work, not around database architecture. Every click is intentional.
AI that surfaces answers, not more reports
BeaconAI turns raw SIS data into early warnings and actionable insights without requiring a data team to make sense of it.
A partner that picks up the phone
Alma customers consistently call out support as a standout differentiator. Real people, fast responses, no ticket black holes.
Implementation that respects the school year
No multi-year rollouts. No mid-year chaos. Alma’s onboarding is structured to get schools and districts live and confident before students arrive.
Ready to face the facts about what your SIS should be?
See how Alma compares in a personalized demo built around your school’s needs.
