Are class lists student records?

In the United States, federal student privacy guidance for service providers names class lists as an example of education records, and says records a provider holds for a school are still education records. Other countries have their own rules; ask your school which apply.

Does keeping data in the browser make a tool compliant?

No tool can promise that. Keeping student names on the device means there is no provider holding them, which removes one question from the review, but your school's rules about devices, backups and printing still apply.

How can I tell whether a website uploads what I paste?

Read its privacy page and look for an account: a service that saves your lists between devices must store them somewhere. A page that works with no account and says it has no server keeps them in your browser, and it keeps working with the network switched off once it has loaded.

Class placement without uploading student data, ClassSplit

Why it matters

Next year's class list is not just names. It sits beside reading levels, behaviour notes, learning plans and who should not sit with whom. US federal guidance for companies that serve schools names class lists as an example of education records and says a record a provider keeps for a school is still an education record; separate guidance limits access to school officials who need the record to do their job. Australia's privacy principles and the UK regulator's guidance on children's information set their own rules. The sources are listed below with the date they were read. None of this makes a tool unlawful to use; it means every copy of the list is something your school may need to account for.

What local only means

In a local only tool the page is a set of files. Once it has loaded, the paste, the balancing and the printing all happen on your computer. There is no account, so there is nothing on the other side to log in to, and nothing to delete when the year ends except what is in your browser and any backup file you saved.

Worked example: what the sample grade leaves behind

Load the sample grade in the class builder, build it, and look in the browser's storage for this site. There is one entry, classsplit.workspace.v1, about 15 KB for 60 students with 14 fields each: name, current class, grade level, gender, two bands, three flags, notes, friends and teacher requests, plus the id that links them. That is the whole footprint. Clearing the site's data removes it, and the backup file on the Drafts tab is the only other copy, saved wherever you choose.

How placement tools compare

The tools below were read on their public pages on 27 September 2026. Prices are as published then and change; check before you buy. ClassSplit needs no account and uploads nothing.

Class placement tools, as published
Tool	What it is	Price	Account	Student data
Class Creator	Web class placement for schools, with teacher input forms	AUD 2.50 per student per year before GST, plus optional premium support at AUD 200 a year	Yes, a school account	Student data is uploaded to the service
GeniusRoster	Web class roster builder with an AI assistant	Free up to 25 students and one class list build; Pro US$599 a year for up to 250; Unlimited US$999 a year	Yes	A CSV is uploaded to the service
Balanced Allocate	Web allocation tool with a class placement use case	14 day trial with no card, then AUD 19 a month for an individual or AUD 59 a month for a team of up to 5	Yes	Data stays in the session and nothing is stored, by its own description
Shibutz free tools	Free classroom tools: class size calculator, placement readiness quiz, random groups, seating charts	Free; class placement itself is a separate paid product	No for the free tools	Not a placement tool

School licensed tools add things a browser tool does not: teacher input forms, shared access for a team and support with a contract. If your school already pays for one, use it. ClassSplit is for the teacher or grade lead who needs balanced lists this week without an account or a procurement round.

Common mistakes

Trusting the word free. A free tier that needs an account and an upload still holds your list.
Forgetting the backup file. A file of student information on a personal laptop is still a copy. Keep it where the school keeps such files, and delete it when the year starts.
Typing more than you need. A name and a few bands balance a grade. Leave health and family details out of every tool.
Working on a shared computer. Browser storage belongs to the device. Clear the site's data when you are done.

Sources

Responsibilities of Third-Party Service Providers under FERPA, US Department of Education, Privacy Technical Assistance Center, August 2015. Names class lists as an example of education records, and says records a third party holds for a school are still education records. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Under FERPA, may an educational agency or institution disclose education records to any of its employees without consent?, US Department of Education, Student Privacy Policy Office. Records go only to school officials with a legitimate educational interest, meaning they need the record to do their job. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Australian Privacy Principles, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The 13 principles under the Privacy Act 1988 that set how covered organisations handle personal information. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Children's information, UK Information Commissioner's Office. UK GDPR guidance on children's personal information, including sharing it. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Class Creator pricing, Class Creator. Priced per student per year for a school, with optional paid support and a demo school rather than a free plan. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Class List Builder for Schools, GeniusRoster. A free tier for up to 25 students and one class list build, and yearly school plans. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Balanced Allocate pricing, Balanced Allocate. A 14 day trial, then a monthly subscription for an individual or a team. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Class Placement Allocation, Balanced Allocate. Says data stays in the session and nothing is stored; the product needs an account. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
Free Classroom Management Software and Teacher Tools, Shibutz. Free tools with no registration, including a class size calculator and a placement readiness quiz; placement itself is a separate product. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.

Last reviewed 27 September 2026. ClassSplit is not affiliated with any school, school district, education department, student information system or class placement software company.

Class placement without uploading student data