PowerSchool Login & How To's

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is an essential tool for families to stay connected with their student’s experience at Arlington High School. It provides access to schedules, grades, attendance records, and important school forms. We encourage families to log in regularly and use the portal to stay informed and support their student’s progress.

Start of the Year: Annual Update Required

Each fall, all families are asked to complete the Back to School Update via the portal. This verifies and updates key information including:

• Contact details and emergency contacts
• Health and medication information
• Permissions for student photo use, technology access, and school policies

Families will receive an email when the form becomes available. It can be accessed at https://aps.powerschool.com/public.
For support with logging in, contact Jeff Snyder [email protected] 781-316-3572).

Throughout the Year: Grades and Attendance

We advise families to use the grade portal thoughtfully:

• Early in the term: Teachers are still entering initial grades. Daily monitoring is not recommended.
• Midterm: A good time to review progress and, if needed, have a conversation with your student or reach out to teachers.
• End of term: Check final grades and teacher comments.

Attendance Monitoring

Students who accumulate seven (7) or more absences in a term may receive an FA (Failure due to Attendance), even if they were otherwise passing. Deans will issue notices, but families can also track this directly in the portal.

Support Resources

Students who are struggling have access to:

• The Learning Center, a staffed tutoring space open daily from 8:10–3:00
• Weekly teacher office hours on Thursdays from 2:15–3:00 (additional hours may also be available)

We want families to use PowerSchool as a tool for staying connected—not a source of stress. It is most effective when used periodically and in partnership with students.

PowerSchool is an important communication tool that allows families to monitor student academic progress, attendance, and behavior. These guidelines are designed to help families use PowerSchool effectively to support student learning and independence.

Access & Privacy

• Accounts: Each student and guardian will receive their own unique PowerSchool login. Do not share login information with others.
  
  
• Student Independence: Encourage your child to log in and review PowerSchool with you regularly to build accountability and self-advocacy skills.

Check-In Frequency

• Midpoint & End of Term: We recommend families check PowerSchool at the midpoint of each quarter and again at the end of each term to monitor progress and identify any concerns.
  
  
• Promoting Student Ownership: Rather than checking frequently, use these key points in the term as opportunities to review progress together with your child, help them set goals, and encourage them to follow up with teachers when needed.
  
  
• Allow Time for Updates: Please allow teachers time to grade and enter assignments. Grades are not always updated in real-time.
  
  

Understanding Grades & Comments

• Grades Are Dynamic: Grades in PowerSchool reflect a snapshot in time and may change as new assignments are added or updated.
  
  
• Missing Work: A blank space usually means the assignment hasn't been entered yet. A zero indicates the assignment was missed or not turned in.
  
  
• Teacher Comments: Read comments for feedback or explanations. If something is unclear, encourage your child to speak directly with the teacher first.
  
  

When to Reach Out

• Student First: Encourage your child to advocate for themselves by speaking with the teacher about concerns or questions.
  
  
• Family Follow-Up: If a concern remains after your child has reached out, families may contact the teacher via email. Allow up to 48 hours for a response during the school week.
  
  

Attendance Monitoring

• Daily Checks: Review attendance weekly to monitor for patterns or discrepancies. Absences or tardies should be reported through the school’s attendance line or email.
  
  
• Address Concerns Promptly: Frequent absences and tardies can impact learning. Reach out to school counselors or administrators for support if needed.
  
  

Our Shared Goal

Our goal is to help students develop independence, responsibility, and a growth mindset. Using PowerSchool as a supportive tool—not a surveillance system—helps us work together to foster academic success and personal growth.

• Progress Reports: Elementary schools provide progress reports three times a year through PowerSchool. These reports offer a snapshot of how your child is doing across key learning areas. Look out for communication from your principal. 

• Attendance Tracking: You can view your child’s attendance records in real time, helping you stay on top of any absences or tardies.

• Contact Information: Make sure your contact details—like phone number and email—are always up to date in PowerSchool. This helps us reach you with important updates and ensures you're receiving school communications.