PowerSchool SIS vs Arbor School MIS

PowerSchool SIS8.9Visit Arbor School MIS8.2Visit

Higher score PowerSchool SIS #1 in K-12 Student Information Software 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 6 features Visit PowerSchool

vs

Arbor School MIS #7 in K-12 Student Information Software 8.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 6 features Visit Arbor

• PowerSchool SIS fits best

  Districts needing a configurable, established SIS

• Arbor School MIS fits best

  Schools seeking admissions, family apps, and support

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Side by side

Feature	PowerSchool SIS 8.9/10 Visit ↗	Arbor School MIS 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	8.2
Ranking	#1 in K-12 Student Information Software	#7 in K-12 Student Information Software
Best for	Districts needing a configurable, established SIS	Schools seeking admissions, family apps, and support
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Community	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001	ISO 27001, GDPR, 2FA
Integrations	6 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PowerSchool SIS 2/6 · Arbor School MIS 2/6
Attendance tracking	✓	✓
Gradebook and transcripts	✓	✓
Course scheduling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Parent/guardian portal	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Online enrollment	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
State reporting	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Mobile access	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines records, attendance, grading, scheduling, and payments Offers configurable fields, interfaces, and ad hoc reporting Supports cloud and self-hosted deployment with mobile access	Covers attendance, assessment, behaviour, progress and statutory reporting Parent Portal, mobile app, payments and admissions support family services Named integrations, third-party API access and web, iOS and Android support
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales The breadth of modules may exceed the needs of simpler schools Deployment and configuration choices may require district-level planning	Annual pricing uses school and per-pupil fees supplied during contracting Parent portals, payments and classroom tools require higher-tier packages Cloud and mobile deployment excludes schools requiring on-premises hosting
Our verdict	PowerSchool SIS brings student records, attendance, grading, scheduling, reporting, family communications, and school payments into a configurable system for K–12 schools and districts. Its stated audiences include public, charter,… Read the review →	Arbor School MIS is a cloud-based management information system for primary, secondary, special, alternative provision and pupil referral schools. It combines attendance registers, behaviour and progress tracking, assessment management,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• PowerSchool SIS — where it wins

  • Combines records, attendance, grading, scheduling, and payments
  • Offers configurable fields, interfaces, and ad hoc reporting
  • Supports cloud and self-hosted deployment with mobile access

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales
  • The breadth of modules may exceed the needs of simpler schools
  • Deployment and configuration choices may require district-level planning

• Arbor School MIS — where it wins

  • Covers attendance, assessment, behaviour, progress and statutory reporting
  • Parent Portal, mobile app, payments and admissions support family services
  • Named integrations, third-party API access and web, iOS and Android support

  Where it doesn't

  • Annual pricing uses school and per-pupil fees supplied during contracting
  • Parent portals, payments and classroom tools require higher-tier packages
  • Cloud and mobile deployment excludes schools requiring on-premises hosting

• PowerSchool SIS8.9/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad SIS for K–12 records, teaching workflows, family access, and reporting.

  Visit PowerSchoolFull verdict →
• Arbor School MIS8.2/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad cloud MIS for schools needing admissions, family engagement and integrations.

  Visit ArborFull verdict →