Few organizations can boast the timeline of innovations and market forming directives produced by Excelsior since its founding in 1986. 

From the first electronic gradebook in 1987; the first gradebook to integrate with test scanners in 1988; the first integration between an electronic gradebook and traditional SIS systems in 1989; the first network-based gradebook system in 1990 (allowing teachers greater mobility and flexibility); the first Windows-based gradebook in 1991; the first parent connection to student performance also in 1991; the first electronic gradebook to track student performance in a standards-based environment; the first large, scalable gradebook system; to the first zero footprint gradebook built using AJAX technologies, Excelsior’s list of innovations continues. 

Pinnacle Education Solutions has evolved over Excelsior’s many years in the education marketplace to meet the modern challenges presented by educational institutions:

First and foremost, Excelsior is committed to continually improving our software—our solutions are never stagnant and are always being further enhanced, developed, customized and maintained by a team of highly qualified and dedicated Excelsior in-house software engineers utilizing the latest development tools. 

Second, a multi-tiered implementation team is assigned to each new customer account by Excelsior to oversee the success of the staff development and training requirements. Working with direct feedback from customers, this dedicated team designs a program of installations, staff development, training, templates, custom reports and timelines that meet the required goals, expectations and budget levels required for each unique customer. This implementation team stays on the project throughout all initial phases of implementation. 

Third, Excelsior has always been a leader in support after the sale.  Scaling support to large scale implementation and training of an enterprise-wide grading and productivity suite is most often as equally challenging as scaling the software solutions.  Excelsior’s innovative on-line and DVD based just-in-time learning and support solutions make the large scale ability and functionality of vendor support not just a promise, but a reality. Excelsior’s proven scalability in some of the very largest school districts in the U.S. including Miami-Dade and Broward Counties (FL), Montgomery County (MD), as well as the State Department of Education in Wyoming, along with many other large districts across the country serve as direct examples of Pinnacle’s successes. 

Today, Excelsior’s products serve nearly 1,000 school districts throughout the US. Customers range in size from small one- and two-school districts with enrollments under 1,000 students to some of the largest school districts in the country.