From First Adopter to Full-Stack Student Success
Uncommon Schools was the first network to adopt Overgrad. A decade later, they became one of the first to extend it through postsecondary completion, replacing legacy systems that had become costly to maintain.
Overgrad's founding partner
Replaced with one unified system
From high school through degree completion
The Journey
Uncommon hesitated to replace their legacy setup because of the disruption they assumed it would cause. What surprised them was that Overgrad didn't just simplify their systems—it unified their work. Within weeks, they had a single, end-to-end view of student progress that allowed teams to operate more efficiently without losing clarity or personalization.
📊 The Early Days: Spreadsheets That Couldn't Scale
When Uncommon first partnered with Overgrad, their college advising process lived in spreadsheets. Match lists, application tracking, and counselor assignments were all managed manually. As the network grew, the spreadsheet-driven approach became unsustainable. They needed a system that could scale with their ambitions.
🔧 The Salesforce Era: Powerful but Expensive
For alumni and postsecondary tracking, Uncommon relied on a decade-old Salesforce instance. While it worked, it required dedicated technical staff to maintain, expensive consultants to modify, and constant manual data entry to keep current. The total cost of ownership had grown far beyond the licensing fees.
🔀 Two Systems, One Mission
The disconnect between high school advising in Overgrad and alumni tracking in Salesforce meant handoffs, duplicate data entry, and gaps in visibility. Staff couldn't easily see which high school interventions led to college success. The systems served the same students but didn't talk to each other.
The Solution
In 2024, Uncommon became one of the first networks to use Overgrad for the full student journey, from high school advising through postsecondary completion. One platform, one record, one team.
Unified Student Records
Students no longer exist in two separate systems. High school milestones, college applications, enrollment verification, and degree progress all live in one record. Staff can finally see the complete picture.
- Single student record from 9th grade through degree completion
- No more handoffs or duplicate data entry between systems
- Historical context informs current interventions
Automated Postsecondary Tracking
Overgrad's National Student Clearinghouse integration replaced months of manual data pulls. Alumni enrollment, persistence, and graduation data now syncs automatically, giving the team real-time visibility into outcomes.
- Automatic NSC data sync replaces manual CSV downloads
- Real-time alerts when alumni stop out or transfer
- Persistence dashboards update daily, not quarterly
Eliminated Legacy System Costs
The decade-old Salesforce instance required expensive consultants for any modifications and dedicated staff to maintain. Consolidating into Overgrad eliminated these ongoing costs while improving functionality.
- No more Salesforce licensing, consulting, or maintenance fees
- Staff time redirected from system maintenance to student support
- Changes and reports that used to require consultants now self-serve
The Results
The transition saved them time, money, and headaches. But more importantly, it gave them something they never had before: a complete view of what happens to their students after they graduate.
Unified Platform
From high school advising through degree completion, everything now lives in one system. Staff see the complete student journey without switching between tools.
Consultant Invoices
Retired the decade-old Salesforce instance. No more waiting weeks for simple changes or paying hourly rates for basic reports.
Alumni Visibility
Automatic NSC integration means staff know within days when an alumnus stops enrolling, not months later when it's too late to intervene.
Not Months to Go Live
Despite concerns about disruption, the migration was faster than expected. Staff were productive in the new system within weeks.
Uncommon's journey with Overgrad reflects what's possible when a platform grows alongside its partners. From replacing spreadsheets in the early days to unifying their entire K-20 operation in 2024, Uncommon has helped shape Overgrad into the system it is today.
The 2024 Migration
Salesforce Data Migration
Overgrad migrated a decade of alumni data from Salesforce, including enrollment history, outreach records, and degree progress. All historical context preserved and linked to existing student records.
NSC Integration Setup
Connected Overgrad directly to the National Student Clearinghouse, eliminating the manual data pulls that had consumed hours of staff time each month.
Team Training & Salesforce Sunset
Staff trained on the unified system, with workflows configured to match their existing processes. Salesforce subscription cancelled, eliminating ongoing costs.
The outcome: Uncommon now operates with one system, one record per student, and complete visibility from enrollment through employment, all while spending less than they did on Salesforce alone.
Ready to Unify Your Student Success Systems?
See how Overgrad can replace fragmented tools with one platform that grows with you, from advising through outcomes.