Database Concepts
PowerSchool is a web-based, Oracle relational database application. It functions in real time, displaying information the instant it is updated within the system.
Each database is comprised of
tables, records, and fields
- Tables contain columns and rows that store a collection of data items. Tables relate to each other and are linked by matching the Primary Key field in one table to the Foreign Key in a related table field record.
- Records contain fields for the student's first name, last name, address, phone number, and so on. All of these individual pieces of data are stored in an individual field. Each record in a table contains a unique identifying (ID) field, also known as a Primary Key.
Structure, Data, Keys, & ID's
Table Structure
Each PowerSchool table has a name, followed by a number contained within brackets (i.e. Students [001]).
Beneath each table name is a list of the individual fields it contains. Within this list of fields is the table's Primary Key field.
Arrows coming from the Students [001] table identifies the Primary Key within the students table and the Foreign Key (matching) field in the relating table.
- The ID field (Primary Key) in the Students [001] table is related to the StudentID field (Foreign Key) in (but not limited to) the follow tables:
- Attendance [157]
- Log [008]
- CC [004]
- StoredGrades [031]
- Fee [146]
- The SchoolID field (Primary Key) in the Students [001] table is related to the School_Number field (Foreign Key) in the Schoolid [039] table
- The Student_Number field (Primary Key) in the Students [001] table is related to the Student_Number field (Foreign Key) in the Log [008] table

Data Types
Each field in a table will have a data type. The following list is an example of several data types used within PowerSchool tables.
Type | Description |
---|---|
String | Text with a maximum of 20 characters |
Text | Text with a maximum of 256 characters |
Integer | Number before the decimal point |
Real | Number including the decimal point |
Clob | Custom field, contained within the Students [001] table |
Boolean | True/False, Yes(1)/No(0) |
Date |
Primary Keys & PowerSchool ID's
Each record in a table contains a unique ID field called a Primary Key. Tables relate to each other and are linked by matching the Primary Key field in one table to the Foreign Key in a related table field record.
Things to Remember:
- Primary Key is the main identifier in a table
- It identifies a unique record in that table
- Primary Keys can not be null
- Primary Keys are linked to Foreign Keys in a related table
- PowerSchool uses several different ID fields as Primary and Foreign Keys
