Searches

PowerSchool is a relational database with many tables that are interconnected. Most of the data that you will search is stored in the Students table. A search requires three components:

Field, Search Code, Related Search
Comparator
Argument

Search Field

Searches are entered into the Search Field on the start page. You can enter a last name or a student_number directly into the search field for results. You can click on the add icon for any results you want to add to your Current Selection. Stored Searches and field names will also appear in search results.

You can also choose fields from the All dropdown to search some commonly used fields.

Click on the help icon to the right of the Search Field for more information on searches, including details on comparators and search prefixes.

Click on the Search Menu dropdown to change your search parameters to Contacts or Staff. You will only have the items you have access to.

Quick Search

You can also use the Quick Search feature to search for a student using a name or student_number on any PowerSchool page. The Quick Search returns results for Students, Staff, Contacts, and Pages.

View Field List

Click on the View Field List link under the search field to see a list of fields you can search. Once the window opens, you can search within the list to narrow your results. The list includes fields from the Students table, Student Search Codes, and Related Searches.

Student Search Codes are treated like fields when used in a search and require a comparator and an argument. Example: *enrolled_in = 08960000

The Related Searches section includes details about what information is searched and which comparators can be used. Example: IncidentCount > 1

Click on the field, search code, or related search to populate it into the search field, then continue building your search using a comparator, then an argument.

Quick Reference Card

PowerSchool-SIS-Basics.pdf

This quick reference card covers searching using fields, search comparators, and search codes. Additional information on searching in PowerSchool can be found in the System Help in PowerSchool.

Advanced Search Pop Out

A pop-out window will appear on the right. You will now have a Search Results section in the pop-out window and the Current Student Selection section on the main page. (it will be greyed out).

Current Student Selection

Students will be added to your selection from the Search Results section.

Once you have the group of students that you need to work with, close the Advanced pop-out window. You can now choose a function from the Special Functions dropdown to work with this group of students.

Search Results

You will use the Set, Add, Subtract, and Within buttons to alter the Current Student Selection.

Add - Click to add the selected students in the Search Results section to the current selection. Selected students appear in the Current Student Selection section.

Subtract - Click to remove the selected students in the Search Results section from the current selection. Selected students no longer appear in the Current Student Selection section.

Within - Click to adjust the current selection to only the selected students in the Search Results section. Only the selected students appear in the Current Student Selection section.

Set - Click Set to make the selected students in the Search Results section th e current selection. Selected students appear in the Current Student Selection section.

Select Students By Hand

Enter a search in the search field. The results will appear in the Current Student Selection.
You can then choose any of the students using Select By Hand. Click Select By Hand below your results - select the checkbox to the left of the name to deselect it. All of the results will be checked by default.
When you have the students you need selected, click Update Selection.

You can now enter another search in the search field to add more students, or you can choose a function from the Special Functions dropdown.

The Search Results section will not change until you enter another search in the search field.

Include Inactive Student/Staff Results

Selecting this option in Smart Search Options will include inactive students in your smart search results list, but will not include them in the Current Student Selection. You will still need to use a forward slash / to include inactive students in your Current Student Selection.

Stored Selections

You can use Stored Selections to save a group of students. It saves a group of students even if data changes. You can use this option for summer withdrawals which you will need to no show after the rollover. You can even publish a stored selection if others at your location need to work with that same group of students. Detailed instructions can be found in the PowerSchool System Help.

Stored Searches

A Stored Search saves the criteria of a search and is run each time you use it. It's best to use Stored Searches for compound searches that you need to use multiple times. Stored Searches are saved district-wide. When you create a stored search, begin the search name with the abbreviation for your school. Also, do not edit Stored Searches that you did not create.

MultiSelect

This customization allows users to create a specific selection of students or staff without selecting each record by hand. MultiSelect allows users to easily copy & paste values for the available fields. This is useful if you have an existing list of students or staff data.

Page updated

Report abuse