GradeQuick

The name of the grading spreadsheet our school uses is called GradeQuick. All teachers in the school use this for posting grades as well as for exporting grades for parents to view. Here is how it works.
You need to weigh each category. My grading is 10% classwork, 10% homework, 20% quizzes, 20% projects, and 40% tests. As you enter an assignment, you must label it with one of these categories and then it is weighted for you. What is also good about it is that it keeps a running record of the student's grades for the quarter. Parents obtain a password from the school and then can access their child's grades from home. I feel this prevents parents from constantly questioning the teachers. They can then ask their child why an assignment is missing!
Using GradeQuick is much easier than Excel becasue everything is already set up for the teacher. You do not need a formula because it is already there for you.
I always do a hard copy first, then enter the grades into GradeQuick. I always print a final copy for my records after the quarter is done.
With GradeQuick, you can view each quarter or the entire year. Students are always concerned about their current cumulative average for college transcripts or they have an "A" average in order to be exempt from the final exam.
Excel can produce charts and pie graphs. GradeQuick cannot do this. It can, however, print progress reports for parents to sign and return. The more I use it, the easier it becomes.
Another advantage is that students' names are already imported in the program for each class.
I also like the fact that there is a component where the teacher can list homework, projects, etc. I have a weekly schedule posted and update it weekly for each of my classes. If a student is absent, he/she can check edline (parent/student access component) to be current. Many students and parents have told me that this is helpful.
I really love GradeQuick. I was very intimidated by this at first and never used any spreadsheet for grading befroe this. I used the calculator and did my averaging manually. This is so much easier! I can never imagine returning to a claculator again. I also do not have to use an old-fashioned gradebook. I can just print out the spreadsheet with the grades which I keep in a three ring binder for parent conferences, administrative questions, etc.
I am very, very happy with GradeQuick. Even if my school changes programs, I will be happy to learn a new one because this is so much easier and less time consuming.