Your Essential Sycamore Year-End Closeout Checklist

Preparing for the end of the school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With Sycamore’s Year-End Closeout Checklist, school administrators can efficiently finalize grades, clean up student data, and roll over to the new academic year with confidence. Whether it’s reviewing transcripts, promoting students, or exporting reports, this guide walks you through every step to close out your school year in Sycamore the right way.

How to Prepare for Year-End Closeout in Sycamore

As the academic year comes to a close, schools using Sycamore can take proactive steps to ensure a smooth and efficient year-end closeout process. Closing out the school year in Sycamore isn’t just about wrapping up grades—it’s about preparing the entire school for a seamless transition into the next academic year. From finalizing student data to archiving records and planning for fall, there are critical tasks to complete that will benefit your staff, students, and families.

To make this process easier, we’ve created a comprehensive Year-End Closeout Checklist for Sycamore. Whether you’re a seasoned administrator or preparing for your first year-end rollover, this guide provides everything you need to ensure a clean and confident transition.


Why the Year-End Closeout Matters

The Year-End Closeout is a crucial part of school operations within Sycamore. It officially wraps up the current academic year by locking in grades, archiving student data, promoting students to the next grade level, and clearing the system for a fresh start. This ensures accurate transcripts, clean class rosters, and minimized errors heading into the next school year.

When handled properly, your team can:

  • Maintain organized academic records
  • Reduce system clutter and eliminate outdated data
  • Ensure smooth student promotions and graduations
  • Set the school up for a successful new year

Let’s dive into the steps you should take before initiating the closeout process.


 Year-End Closeout Preparation Checklist

 1. Review Academic Records

Before initiating the closeout, ensure that all academic records are complete and accurate.

  • All grades entered and finalized
    Teachers should confirm that every assignment and exam grade is recorded. Use gradebook reports to ensure nothing is missing.
  • Report cards generated and distributed
    Confirm that report cards are finalized and available to parents/students.
  • Attendance fully entered and verified
    Run attendance reports to catch any blank or missing entries.
  • Discipline incidents resolved and recorded
    Make sure all incidents are logged and statuses are updated appropriately.
  • Transcripts finalized for graduating students
    Ensure that any students graduating or transferring have complete, accurate transcripts saved and distributed as needed.

 2. Update Student and Staff Data

Ensure your student and staff records are up to date before closing out the year.

  • Verify student profiles are complete
    Check that required fields are filled out (e.g., birthdates, guardians, emergency contacts).
  • Update student statuses
    Graduate, withdraw, or retain students based on year-end decisions.
  • Check for duplicate or inactive records
    Use filters or reports to identify and clean up unused entries.
  • Confirm next-year grade levels
    Make sure student grade levels are correctly assigned for automatic promotion.
  • Review staff assignments and permissions
    Ensure teaching roles, admin access, and course assignments are up to date.

 3. Run and Export Year-End Reports

Generate and store key documents that reflect the academic year’s activities.

  • Generate grade reports and transcript summaries
    Store these electronically or print them for student records.
  • Export student attendance and discipline logs
    Useful for reporting and historical archiving.
  • Download any custom exports or data reports
    Utilize Sycamore’s Data Export tool to pull specific datasets (i.e., enrollment, tuition, parent contacts).
  • Backup key files
    Save final report cards, financial reports, and rosters to your school’s internal server or cloud drive.

 4. Prepare for the New School Year

Lay the groundwork for a successful academic year ahead.

  • Confirm the next academic year settings
    Review the school year dates, terms/semesters, and holidays.
  • Update grading scales or curriculum changes
    If your school is adjusting how it grades or what courses it offers, now is the time to update.
  • Edit or add new classes for next year
    Set up course offerings, class capacities, and teacher assignments.
  • Review tuition rates and financial settings
    If applicable, update tuition plans and financial aid settings for the coming year.
  • Update lunch menus and schedules
    Especially important for schools using Sycamore’s lunch ordering system.

 5. Communicate with Your School Community

Transparency helps everyone prepare for the transition.

  • Send a final notice to teachers
    Remind them of grading, attendance, and other finalization deadlines.
  • Notify families
    Let parents and guardians know how to access final grades, report cards, and transcripts.
  • Provide a re-enrollment update
    Share steps for registering returning students and enrolling new ones.
  • Offer training or documentation for staff
    Prepare staff for next year’s system updates, especially if new features or procedures are being introduced.

 6. Initiate the Year-End Closeout in Sycamore

Once all preparation steps are complete, it’s time to officially roll over the system.

To begin:

  1. Go to Site Admin > Year-End Closeout
  2. Follow the step-by-step wizard, which includes:
    • Archiving the current year
    • Promoting students
    • Graduating seniors
    • Resetting calendars and class schedules
    • Clearing out old assignments and resetting gradebooks (if selected)

Note: Only users with the appropriate permissions will be able to access and complete the closeout.


Wrapping Up: A Well-Prepared Closeout Sets the Stage for Success

The Year-End Closeout Process is more than a formality—it’s a strategic time at the end of the school year to clean house, organize your system, and step into the new year with confidence. With the right preparation, you can save your staff hours of cleanup in the fall and start the new school year with accurate rosters, clean data, and a clear plan forward.


Year End Closeout Preparation Q&A Sign Up

Still have questions? We have answers! To address any additional questions or concerns you may have about the Year End Closeout Process, consider yourself cordially invited to the Year End Closeout Preparation Q&A Sign Up. This will give you an opportunity to have your questions answered directly by trained and knowledgeable Sycamore support representatives. In doing so, this will help you prepare for a successful year-end closeout and allow you to have a restful and relaxing summer. We can hear the beach calling your name already!

To learn more about the Year-End Closeout Process and how to close out school years in Sycamore, please schedule a discovery call with our team. We look forward to hearing from you!

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