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The Best Learning Management Systems for Schools

Get the best learning management systems for schools for your business. Compare product reviews, pricing below. Read our buyer's guide for more help.

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Canvas LMS Screenshot

Canvas LMS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)
Canvas LMS by Instructure is built to make teaching and learning easier for everyone, from the littlest learners to college faculty to business leaders. This LMS is designed for: K-12; Higher Education; and Business. Teachers and professors can…
Client OS
Mac, Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Moodle Screenshot
Moodle is an Open Source Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It has become very popular among educators around the world as a tool for creating online dynamic web sites…
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Brightspace Screenshot

Brightspace

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
D2L’s Brightspace Core is an LMS for K-12, higher education, and corporate learning environments. This platform combines the powerful tools, services, and support you need to deliver a best-in-class teaching and learning experience for faculty and…
Client OS
Web, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Blackboard Screenshot

Blackboard

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Blackboard is a learning management system which personalizes your learner’s experience. This LMS lets you reliably connect your learners and educators in a virtual classroom that’s ready for one-on-one discussion, large lectures and everything in…
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Schoology Screenshot

Schoology

Schoology, now owned by PowerSchool, is a learning management system (LMS) designed for entire school districts. This software brings everyone together— students, teachers, coaches, parents, administrators —with one communication and collaboration…
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
TalentLMS Screenshot

TalentLMS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
TalentLMS delivers top training to businesses by providing a full-featured LMS. Build learning experiences people will love and get complete control of your training. Start with your existing training materials or build courses from scratch. All of your…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$59/month
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Tovuti LMS Screenshot

Tovuti LMS

Tovuti LMS is a top ranked learning management system software. This next-generation LMS software is the fastest and easiest way to offer engaging online learning experiences. Build as many e-learning courses and lessons as you need and gate those lessons…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$450/month
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Docebo Learn LMS Screenshot

Docebo Learn LMS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Docebo Learn LMS is the top cloud-based LMS with AI superpowers designed to make students, customers, partners, and employees love their learning experience. Align the training needs of your organization with those of your learners by using…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$1,600/month
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Absorb LMS Screenshot

Absorb LMS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Absorb LMS software empowers organizations to train employees with the skills needed to stay modern and relevant in today’s fast-paced world. Make learning and development your competitive advantage by integrating an award-winning learning management…
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
PowerSchool SIS Screenshot

PowerSchool SIS

★★★★★
★★★★★
(8)
PowerSchool SIS is a student information system for educational institutions. The solution helps drive efficiency in your K-12 educational institution by monitoring daily operations, reporting tools, gradebook management, and real-time insights into…
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Kiddom Screenshot

Kiddom

★★★★★
★★★★★
(1)
Kiddom is a K-12 school operating system for teachers, schools and districts. Kiddom has two separate versions depending on the need which focuses around the end-user being a school/district or a teacher. Academy helps enable your school, program…
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Twine Screenshot

Twine

Twine school management software empowers private schools, academies, and charter schools by simplifying daily processes, parent communication, and online classrooms. We help schools improve family satisfaction and maximize enrollment by enabling…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$100/month
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Populi Screenshot

Populi

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Populi is a web-based college management software that offers an all-in-one fully integrated experience for your school management needs. Populi includes a full-featured LMS, tracks applications, handles financial aid, takes online donations, builds…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$199/month
Client OS
Web
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Infinite Campus Screenshot

Infinite Campus

★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)
Infinite Campus is a student information system (SIS) that works on both Windows and Mac operating systems. Infinite Campus prides itself on integration, as it provides additional capabilities beyond SIS including: Learning management software (LMS); Food…
Client OS
Mac, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
Google Classroom Screenshot

Google Classroom

★★★★★
★★★★★
(1)
Google Classroom is your all-in-one place for teaching and learning. This easy-to-use and secure LMS platform helps educators manage, measure, and enrich learning experiences. Use Google Classroom to bring all your best learning tools together in one…
Client OS
Mac, Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted
Calimatic Screenshot
Calimatic is an End-to-End Education Management Software Solution for Educational Institutions & Online Tutoring Businesses. Designed for Schools, Academies, Learning Centers, Universities & Online Tutoring Businesses to Transform Learning & Fuel…
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$4/user/month
Client OS
Web, iOS, Android
Deployment
Cloud Hosted

We searched and searched, but we couldn’t find any products in our database that match your criteria. Perhaps our team of software experts can help? They’d be happy to provide a list of free learning management systems for schools recommendations that meet your exact requirements.

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Learning Management Systems for Schools Buyer’s Guide

What is LMS for Schools?

Learning management systems for schools, generally shortened to just "LMS", use software to provide classes, lessons, or training programs entirely online. These e-learning systems can be used by elementary, middle, and high schools all the way up to colleges and universities.

Educational LMS can allow for teachers to host synchronous courses with 5, 30, or more students while balancing student-teacher interaction in the virtual classroom. Additionally, these online learning systems offer intuitive user interfaces to help children as young as 3 participate in class, along with non-traditional students who may not have as much experience with remote learning.

Whether you're looking for a LMS for a K-12 school district or a university master's program, there is a learning management system for your educational institution.

Note: If you are looking for an LMS to use in a corporate setting, check out these business-oriented LMS software products.

Canvas LMS Software for Schools
Canvas LMS shows published and unpublished courses.

Features of LMS for Schools

  • Alternating asynchronous and synchronous learning: Allow students to take courses at their own pace or set offer real-time classes at set times
  • Course automation: Create classes which can be taken from start to finish with minimal administrative duties
  • User management: Control how users, both students and faculty, interact with courses, assignments, tests, and other learning material
  • Program enrollment: Set conditions, such as prerequisite courses, for student enrollment in classes; create avenues for exceptions based on teach or administrator permissions
  • Authoring tools: Generate custom content for each lesson, such as general coursework , tests, and quizzes
  • Content management: Control all types of content used for your digital learning; update online content, remove outdated material, and more; build accessible content libraries for future use
  • Image, video, and audio file hosting: Upload all types of learning material for use in courses on your learning platform
  • Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM): Share information between different e-learning applications, such as an internal training course and a nationally certified program
  • Progress tracking: Continually monitor how users are progressing through coursework; record performance metrics for tests and assignments; interact directly with students for collaborative learning outreach
  • Gamification: Encourage students to perform better or submit assignments on-time by offering interactive or "game" style teaching such as interactive leaderboards
  • Attendance: Take daily attendance on virtual students
  • Grade books and report cards: Gain metrics on test results, assignment submissions, and user activity

Best Benefits of LMS for Schools

Implement an LMS for your school in order to enjoy these benefits:

More Online Courses and Capabilities

More schools than ever before have realized the value of at least offering some degree of virtual classes to students. By adopting online learning into the curriculum, classes could continue as long as possible even during lockdowns and quarantine. And an LMS is necessary for facilitating those online classes.

LMS software may also include or integrate with student information systems (SIS) tools for monitoring individual student performance over time. In higher education, this can allow remote students to apply for classes anywhere in the world. The SIS keeps track of which students are physically present, who isn't, and if anyone is following a hybrid learning model.

In every school, clear communication is key for ensuring students understand assignments. LMS software provides ways for remote students to send messages such as emails or texts to their teachers directly. And LMS platforms even include tools for posting webinars to social media, increasing student engagement even on mobile devices. These additional avenues to reach students and encourage learning are just a few of the major benefits provided by learning management systems.

Improve Student Feedback

Many schools and universities have adapted rather well to online instruction. One major concern, however, is the loss of person-to-person interaction in physical classrooms between teachers and students. How can a teacher properly assess student competency without meeting face-to-face?

LMS platforms provide virtual classrooms which offer chat, audio, and video communication tools. Teachers can still see their students and interact in meaningful ways. Some products even include integration with video communication tools such as Zoom or Skype.

Finally, teachers and professors can review online assignments and submit grades to a digital report card instantaneously. Students can then access the learning platform and see gradebook updates in real-time. No more waiting for a list to be posted outside a classroom door or a report card to be sent home in the mail. By continuously measuring student progress, those who are at risk of falling behind can address potential issues or ask for extra credit assignments before failing completely.

Create New Content

Blackboards are no longer the norm in school settings. Even whiteboards, their common replacement, are no match for the rise in interactive digital boards in classrooms. Teachers can now offer interactive, multimedia course content to increase student engagement through LMS platforms.

Authoring tools allow teachers and professors to make custom content and share with other educators. For example, administrative staff can design templates for all teachers within the district to use to keep all official school documents consistent. Everything from lesson plans to grading rubrics can be shared with LMS software.

Moodle LMS for Schools
Use Moodle software to edit and update courses.

Increase Student Enrollment

LMS for schools has one more benefit: the ability to increase your enrollment. Since students are no longer confined to schools within their geographic area, they can attend almost anywhere. With an LMS, your educational institution can offer classes to students anywhere in the world, gaining more funds from tuition or district budgets.

LMS platforms offer two types of classes: synchronous and asynchronous. The former allows teachers or professors to set times for classes and hold them in real-time for students. This is useful for school districts which have a mix of in-person and remote lessons. The latter allows educators to pre-record lectures or lesson plans and allow students to work based on their availability.

Each has its own benefits. Synchronous classes are best for K-12 school districts which need to serve younger students during traditional school hours. Asynchronous is often used for older or more advanced students. For instance, higher ed. Institutions may use asynchronous courses to draw in students who cannot attend classes during regular school hours. In particular, asynchronous classes can accommodate the schedules of non-traditional students or working professionals who are part of employer incentive programs.

D2L Brightspace LMS
Gamification tools by D2L Brightspace can encourage student performance.

Current LMS Trends

The 2020 school year was deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of students all over the world were sent home and teachers had to adjust the syllabus to fit online lessons. The solution was quickly developed learning management systems.

As described above, most schools now offer at least some level of online learning. Several even had limited systems in place for certain student situations. With schools reopening for in-person classes, some institutions are allowing students to pick if they want to be back in the classroom or remain virtual for any reason. However, many have realized hybrid systems could be far more effective with new LMS software.

The features most schools want include:

  • Remote student monitoring: How do you know a student is "present" if they don't have a camera? How can you monitor whether they have additional, non-school related tabs open?
  • More accessibility: Additional accessibility functionality increases ease of use for students and staff alike
  • Wi-Fi hotspots: If students live in rural areas, provide an ideal learning environment during the school day with specially designed hotspots at home

Perhaps the biggest trend is the rise of blended learning, the aforementioned hybrid models which incorporate virtual and in-person classes. This allows students to alternate between either option, depending on their needs. For example, a student who is required to undergo a mandatory quarantine period can continue classes online with minimal disruption through a hybrid system.