GC Education Analytics K–12 Master Scheduler vs TimetableMaster

GC Education Analytics K–12 Master Scheduler is a browser-based tool for building and refining master schedules, from elementary cohorts to high school block schedules. It supports elementary, middle, high, K–8, and 6–12 configurations. Scheduling models include self-contained, departmentalized, partner/platooning, split-band, traditional daily, A/B block, 4x4 semester, trimester, team-based, modified block, rotating drop, and multiple-variant schedules. Users can place sections by cohort and automatically generate elementary Art, Music, and PE rotations for homerooms. Constraints include teacher-period locks, unavailable times, room requirements, and course priorities. Real-time conflict counts and placement logs show where sections landed or why placement was not possible. Teachers and courses can be imported from CSV, and schedules exported as CSV for an SIS or printing. The scheduler runs in the browser without accounts or servers, keeps school data on the user’s machine, and saves work in browser IndexedDB. It uses a background Web Worker and offers teacher, room, and master-grid review views. The page describes it as a free beta with no sign-up, installation, or cost.

TimetableMaster generates school timetables and handles substitutions, staff leave, calendars and student course choices. Its generator places lessons around teacher availability, room capacity, building transitions and workload limits, with a drag-and-drop editor for changes. When staff are absent, it ranks possible cover teachers using subject familiarity, availability and existing cover workload; it can assign and notify a substitute in one click. Staff can request full or half days off, and approved leave feeds into cover planning. Calendars include holidays, exams, events and activities. The student-choice module gathers course preferences, creates sections, assigns faculty and rooms, and produces conflict-free schedules for individual students. Integrations include Veracross, PowerSchool, ManageBac and SchoolBase; other systems can exchange CSV or Excel files. TimetableMaster generates an import file for a school's SIS importer rather than writing directly into the SIS. A Pro trial runs for 10 days without a credit card, but PDF and Excel timetable downloads require a paid plan. The desktop app requires an internet connection; offline mode is described as coming soon.