Adding students to a class

Once you've created your classes, you can import students by pasting a class list from almost any source. ClassSeats helps you choose which parts of the list are first names, last names, and optional gender information before anything is added.

Step 1: Start from the setup guide

If the setup guide is collapsed, click Expand to see your next recommended setup step.

After your seating arrangement and classes are complete, the setup guide recommends Import Students.

Collapsed setup guide with the Expand button highlighted — Expand the setup guide to return to your setup checklist.

Click Import Students to open the student import window.

You can complete setup steps in a different order if you need to. This article follows the recommended first-class flow.

Expanded setup guide with Import Students highlighted — Import Students is the recommended next step after classes are created.

Step 2: Choose a class and paste your list

In the Paste a class list window, choose the class you want to import students into. If you need to adjust your class list first, click Manage Classes.

Paste your roster into the box, then click Next. You can paste from a spreadsheet, school roster system, email, document, or another list.

Paste a class list window with the current class selector and an empty paste box — Choose the class, then paste your roster into the text box.

If you have more than one class, use the class selector at the top of the window before importing.

Make sure the selected class is the class where the pasted students should be added.

Class selector inside the Paste a class list window with multiple class options — Select the class that should receive the imported students.

Your pasted list can include extra information, such as student IDs, birthdays, counselor names, room numbers, bus numbers, IEP or 504 notes, ELL flags, or language details.

You will choose the important parts in the next step. Extra details can be ignored.

Paste a class list window with roster text including extra columns — Extra details are fine. You will choose what matters next.

Step 3: Match the columns once

This is the main shortcut: you only need to match the pieces for one student. ClassSeats then uses that same pattern for the rest of the pasted list.

Drag the name and gender chips from the sample row into the matching spaces: First name, Last name, and Gender.

Gender is optional. Use it only if you want ClassSeats to support gender-balanced groupings.

Leave anything extra where it is. ClassSeats will ignore the pieces you do not use.

Column matching window with first name, last name, and gender chips assigned — Match one sample row, and ClassSeats applies that pattern to the whole list.

Step 4: Review and import

Before importing, quickly scan the student list. You can edit names, set or skip gender, remove rows, and use Swap first/last if the names are reversed.

When everything looks right, click Import students.

Review import table with editable student names, gender choices, remove buttons, and Import students button — Review the import, make any quick fixes, then import the students.

See the full import process in under a minute.

Tip You do not need a perfect roster format. Paste what you have, match the important pieces once, and let ClassSeats ignore anything it does not need.

Next: Creating groupings (placing students into seats)