GradeGuard

Inspiration

About a year ago, I saw a ChatGPT commercial where a college student asked it to prioritize her assignments. The idea stuck in my head. I tried building it in Bubble, but it barely worked, so I gave up. Five months ago I tried Base44, and GradeGuard was the first thing I made.

What it does

GradeGuard helps students close the gap between knowing what they need to do and actually doing it. It turns assignments, tests, deadlines, difficulty, and workload into a clear daily plan.

How I built it

I worked on GradeGuard almost every day, usually with limited screen time. During the VoltHacks period, I rebuilt it as a React and Vite app on Vercel with Supabase and PostgreSQL. I added school account types, admin controls, privacy protections, data export, and a much better student experience. I used the OpenAI API for optional AI features and used ChatGPT and Codex to help me write, review, test, and improve code.

Challenges I ran into

The hardest part was moving from no-code tools to a real backend while keeping student data safe and making the app simple. I also had to make personal and school accounts work clearly without giving school admins access to things they should not see.

Accomplishments I am proud of

I moved GradeGuard off no-code platforms, built a working Supabase and Vercel version, tested every student account type, and created privacy controls for schools and administrators.

What I learned

I learned React, databases, authentication, testing, and release management. Most importantly, I learned that building the feature is only half the job. You have to watch real people use it and fix what confuses them.

What's next for GradeGuard

I am preparing for a school meeting to discuss a possible pilot. Next I want to listen to real students and staff, keep improving the planner, and carefully prepare GradeGuard for a small school-approved pilot.

Built With

• vite