Schools teach differently. A Montessori school assesses very differently from a college-prep high school. A standards-based elementary school reports differently than a traditional K-8. An IB school evaluates against rubrics, not letter grades. When your SIS forces every school into a single grading framework, teachers either work around the platform (creating shadow gradebooks) or dilute their pedagogy to fit the technology. Neither serves students well.

Alma supports standards-based grading natively. Configure the specific proficiency scales your school uses (1-4, 1-5, M/P/D/A, or custom). Attach state academic standards or Common Core to individual assignments and assessments. Generate standards-based report cards showing progress on each standard, not just a composite grade. Report card layouts are configurable per grade level or division. Teachers see and enter progress the way they teach.

Mastery-based schools track student progression through defined competencies rather than time-based grade levels. Alma supports competency tracking with configurable proficiency levels, prerequisite structures, and student-paced advancement. Transcripts can display demonstrated competencies alongside or instead of traditional letter grades. This supports competency-based schools, credit recovery programs, and Mastery Transcript Consortium-aligned approaches.

IB schools have distinct requirements: PYP transdisciplinary reporting, MYP criterion-based assessment across ATL (Approaches to Learning), and DP predicted grades with CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) tracking. Alma supports IB workflows including MYP criterion rubrics, DP coursework and predicted grades, and CAS documentation. Ask specifically about IB customer references during evaluation - real IB schools using the platform are the best proof of fit.

Montessori schools use observation-based reporting, individualized progress records, and multi-age classroom structures (typically 3-year age spans in Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary). Alma supports narrative report cards, observation logs tied to individual students, and multi-age enrollment. Montessori-specific reporting can be configured to match your school's approach - AMS, AMI, or independent Montessori variations.

Yes - and this is critical for many schools. Elementary grades might use standards-based reporting while middle school uses hybrid, and high school uses traditional letter grades for transcript purposes. Alma supports configuring grading approaches by grade level, department, or individual course. This flexibility is one of the specific reasons schools that don't fit the traditional mold consistently choose Alma over competitor platforms.

CTE programs need pathway tracking, industry credential attainment, and Perkins reporting where applicable. Dual enrollment and early college programs need to track college credits alongside high school credits, sometimes with different grading scales for each. Alma handles pathway tracking, credential documentation, and dual credit reporting so students receive accurate transcripts reflecting both their K‑12 and college coursework.

Yes. Many schools evolve - shifting toward standards-based grading, adopting mastery elements, or updating report card formats to reflect new philosophy. Alma is configurable enough that these transitions don't require an SIS migration. Historical records preserve the grading format they were originally captured in, so a student's third-grade standards-based report card remains available even if the school later transitions to a different approach.