Pearspark vs Transparent Classroom
For micro schools & small private schools · pricing verified July 2026 · written by the Pearspark team (how we compare)
The short answer
Transparent Classroom is purpose-built Montessori record-keeping at $2 per child per month — lesson tracking, observations, and parent updates. It isn't a full SIS: report cards, transcripts, scheduling, and library live elsewhere. Pearspark covers those school operations at $50/month including 20 students; some Montessori schools run both.
Pearspark
All-in-one platform for schools under ~100 students — records, academics, admissions, library, volunteers, scheduling, portal.
Pricing: $50/mo including 20 students, then $2.50/student/mo. No setup fees, no contract.
Transparent Classroom
Montessori record-keeping — lesson tracking, observations, and a parent window into the classroom.
Pricing: Transparent Classroom lists $2 per child per month, billed only for actively enrolled children, with unlimited classrooms and staff (as of July 2026).
What each costs at small-school sizes
| Students | Pearspark | Transparent Classroom |
|---|---|---|
| 25 students | $62.50/mo | $50/mo |
| 50 students | $125/mo | $100/mo |
| 100 students | $250/mo | $200/mo |
Transparent Classroom pricing from its published list rates as of July 2026 — see sources below. Always confirm current pricing with the vendor.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Pearspark | Transparent Classroom |
|---|---|---|
| Student records (SIS) | Partial | |
| Attendance | ||
| Gradebook & report cards | Partial | |
| Transcripts & GPA | ||
| Admissions pipeline | Partial | |
| Class scheduling & rooms | ||
| Lending library & checkout | ||
| Equipment & room booking | ||
| Volunteer tracking & check-in | ||
| Parent & student portal | ||
| Messaging | Partial | |
| Self-serve transcript & gradebook import | ||
| Tuition billing & payments | ||
| Published pricing (no sales call) |
= varies by plan or not published — check with the vendor. We mark unknowns as unknowns rather than counting them against Transparent Classroom.
Where Transparent Classroom shines
- The Montessori workflow, done properly: lessons presented → practiced → mastered
- Beloved parent window with photos and observations
- Fair month-to-month pricing that pauses over summer
Worth knowing
- Not a general SIS — traditional report cards, GPA, and transcripts aren't the model
- No admissions pipeline, library circulation, volunteers, or scheduling
- Less fit the moment a program adds non-Montessori upper grades
When Transparent Classroom is the better choice
For a pure Montessori program, Transparent Classroom's lesson-tracking is the genuine article and nothing general-purpose replaces it — if that's your entire need, choose it without hesitation. Schools tend to add Pearspark when operations grow around the classroom: admissions, a lending library, volunteers, and older students who need transcripts.
When Pearspark is the better choice
Pearspark is built for schools under about 100 students — micro schools, classical schools, Montessori programs, hybrid academies, and homeschool co-ops. Everything is included at one published price: student records, attendance, gradebook, report cards, printable transcripts with GPA, admissions, class scheduling, a lending library with barcode checkout, equipment booking, volunteer check-in, messaging, and a parent/student portal. Setup is self-serve, and built-in migration tools import your rosters, transcripts, and gradebooks from Transparent Classroom CSV exports with a dry-run preview.
Common questions
Is Pearspark a Montessori record-keeping system?
No — Transparent Classroom's presented/practiced/mastered lesson tracking is purpose-built for Montessori pedagogy and Pearspark doesn't replicate it. Pearspark covers the school around the classroom: enrollment, attendance, admissions, library, volunteers, scheduling, and (for older students) grades and transcripts.
Can a Montessori school use both?
Yes, and the pairing is natural: Transparent Classroom for classroom-level Montessori records and the parent window, Pearspark as the operational system of record. At $2/child and $2.50/student respectively, a 30-student school runs both for about $135/month.
Which is cheaper?
Transparent Classroom at every size ($2/child/month with no base fee vs Pearspark's $50 base + $2.50/student after 20) — but they're different tools. The cost comparison only matters if lesson-tracking is your only need; then Transparent Classroom wins outright.
See Pearspark for yourself
Poke around a real school — admin, teacher, and parent views — no signup, no sales call. Sample data resets daily.
Sources
Last reviewed July 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we'll fix it.