OutGrade

OutGrade is an educational technology platform that focuses on competency-based assessment and progression planning. It is designed to help schools evaluate student mastery across core domains and determine readiness for next-grade content, beyond traditional grade-level placement. The system emphasizes individualized learning paths, remediation when needed, and accelerated opportunities for advanced learners.

OutGrade originated from a collaboration among several universities and school districts seeking to shift away from time-based progression toward mastery-based progression. Development began in 2016, with pilots in multiple districts starting in 2018. By 2021, a scalable cloud deployment was offered with data governance controls and standards-aligned item banks.

Its core features include adaptive assessments aligned to standards; competency mapping that ties student results to skills rather than grades; real-time analytics and dashboards for teachers, principals, and families; personalized learning recommendations; and integration with existing student information systems and learning management systems. The platform supports privacy controls, role-based access, audit trails, and compatibility with major standards frameworks.

OutGrade supports both cloud-based and on-premises deployments. It offers reporting tools for remediation and enrichment planning, classroom-ready feedback, and professional development resources for educators on interpreting data and adjusting instruction.

Adoption has been strongest in districts seeking to implement mastery-based approaches. Proponents argue that it improves placement accuracy and equity by focusing on demonstrated mastery. Critics raise concerns about the workload required for teachers, potential data privacy risks, and uneven access to technology.

Related concepts include competency-based education, mastery learning, and adaptive assessment.