Is this tool FERPA compliant?

Yes. Student names and all chart data are stored only in your browser's localStorage — nothing is ever uploaded to a server. The share link encodes your chart as a compressed URL with no server storage. You can clear all data instantly using the browser's clear storage option.

How do I import my roster from the Attendance Tracker?

Open the Roster tab and click "Import from Attendance Tracker". The tool reads your existing class roster from the shared browser storage automatically. If no data is found, you'll see a prompt to open the Attendance Tracker and add your class first.

What happens if a constraint can't be satisfied?

The tool validates constraints before generating and shows a plain-English error if they're contradictory (e.g., more "near-front" students than front-row seats). For keep-apart constraints that can't be resolved through swapping, you'll see a warning listing which pairs couldn't be separated.

Can I lock specific seats between regenerations?

Yes. Hover over any occupied seat and click the lock icon to pin that student to their seat. When you regenerate, locked seats are preserved and only unlocked positions are reshuffled.

Does it work on mobile?

The roster input, layout selection, constraint setup, and export all work on mobile. The chart is scrollable for larger layouts. Drag-and-drop swapping works best on desktop.

How do I print the seating chart?

Click "Print / Save as PDF" in the Export tab. Your browser's print dialog opens — select "Save as PDF" to get a PDF, or send directly to your printer. Use the B&W Print theme in chart settings for cleaner output on monochrome printers.

Can I use this for a non-classroom setting?

Absolutely. The same tool works for workshop seating, event tables, meeting rooms, or any scenario where you need to assign people to seats with constraints. The interface uses classroom terminology but the underlying logic is general.

How many students can I add?

Up to 200 students per chart. The largest preset holds 30 seats — if your class is larger, you can still use it with groups of students rotating through positions, or contact us and we'll add a larger preset.

Test Day Seating Chart Generator

Create printable seating charts in seconds — constraint-aware randomization keeps disruptive pairs apart, IEP students in the front, and every seat filled.

Last updated: April 2026

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What it does

Constraint-aware randomization

Set hard constraints — keep disruptive students apart, put accommodation students near the front — and every generation respects them.

Import from Attendance Tracker

One click pulls your existing class roster from the Attendance Tracker tool. No re-entering names.

8 room layout presets

Traditional rows, partner pairs, groups of 4 or 6, U-shape, lab tables, and seminar — covers the vast majority of real classroom configurations.

Drag-and-drop seat swapping

After generating, drag any student to a different seat to fine-tune. Lock seats you like, then regenerate only the unlocked positions.

Print-ready export

Prints clean on Letter, A4, or any size. B&W print theme optimized for monochrome school printers. Also exports as PNG.

100% private — FERPA conscious

Student names never leave your browser. No account required, no server upload. Clear all data with one click.

How to use Test Day Seating Chart Generator

1
Enter your roster
Paste names one per line in the Roster tab, upload a CSV, or import directly from the Attendance Tracker tool.
2
Pick a room layout
Choose from 8 preset layouts: traditional rows, partner pairs, groups of 4 or 6, U-shape, lab tables, or seminar.
3
Add constraints (optional)
In the Constraints tab, set Keep Apart pairs, mark students who need a front-row seat, a door-adjacent seat, or aisle access.
4
Generate the chart
Click Generate. The constraint engine places priority students first, then randomizes the rest with an automated repair loop for keep-apart pairs.
5
Export or share
Print directly (saves as PDF via your print dialog), export a PNG image, or copy a shareable link to send to a co-teacher.

When to use this

Start-of-year classroom setup

Paste your full class roster, add a few keep-apart constraints for known behavioral pairs, and generate a randomized chart in under 2 minutes.

Mid-year behavioral reseat

Add new keep-apart constraints, lock seats that are working, and regenerate just the unlocked positions — preserving arrangements you like.

Accommodation-aware seating

Mark students with vision or hearing needs as "Near Front", students needing mobility access as "Aisle Access", and the chart respects those placements every time.

Test day arrangement

Switch to a rows layout and add keep-apart constraints for students you don't want adjacent during an exam.

Substitute teacher handoff

Print the chart with the B&W theme so the sub can see exactly where each student sits on first day back.

Technical details

Processing	Fully client-side — no server involved
Data storage	localStorage (key: seating-chart-v1)
Constraint algorithm	Priority placement + bounded repair loop (≤ 200 iterations)
Performance	35 students + 15 constraints < 100ms
Share format	LZ-string compressed URL parameter (?s=…)
Export formats	PNG (canvas), PDF via browser print
Dependencies	lz-string (URL compression) only — no heavy canvas library
Offline support	Works fully offline after first load

Test-day seating: separating friends and frequent partners

The most important seating consideration for test day is separating students who regularly sit together and might share answers — whether intentionally or through incidental glances. The keep-apart constraint is the right tool for this: mark any pairs you know are friends, frequent partners, or adjacent in your regular chart, and the generator ensures they are never adjacent on test day.

For state or standardized testing, consider using alphabetical order within a rows layout. Many testing coordinators require alphabetical seating for ID verification purposes.

Creating a separate test-day chart vs. modifying your regular one

The cleanest workflow for test-day seating is to use your regular chart as a starting point, add test-specific keep-apart constraints, switch to a rows layout if you normally use groups, and generate. Because this tool saves to localStorage, you can always restore your regular chart by returning here after testing and regenerating without the test-day constraints.

Alternatively, use the share URL to save a link to your test-day arrangement separate from your regular chart. One link = one configuration snapshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tool FERPA compliant?: Yes. Student names and all chart data are stored only in your browser's localStorage — nothing is ever uploaded to a server. The share link encodes your chart as a compressed URL with no server storage. You can clear all data instantly using the browser's clear storage option.
How do I import my roster from the Attendance Tracker?: Open the Roster tab and click "Import from Attendance Tracker". The tool reads your existing class roster from the shared browser storage automatically. If no data is found, you'll see a prompt to open the Attendance Tracker and add your class first.
What happens if a constraint can't be satisfied?: The tool validates constraints before generating and shows a plain-English error if they're contradictory (e.g., more "near-front" students than front-row seats). For keep-apart constraints that can't be resolved through swapping, you'll see a warning listing which pairs couldn't be separated.
Can I lock specific seats between regenerations?: Yes. Hover over any occupied seat and click the lock icon to pin that student to their seat. When you regenerate, locked seats are preserved and only unlocked positions are reshuffled.
Does it work on mobile?: The roster input, layout selection, constraint setup, and export all work on mobile. The chart is scrollable for larger layouts. Drag-and-drop swapping works best on desktop.
How do I print the seating chart?: Click "Print / Save as PDF" in the Export tab. Your browser's print dialog opens — select "Save as PDF" to get a PDF, or send directly to your printer. Use the B&W Print theme in chart settings for cleaner output on monochrome printers.
Can I use this for a non-classroom setting?: Absolutely. The same tool works for workshop seating, event tables, meeting rooms, or any scenario where you need to assign people to seats with constraints. The interface uses classroom terminology but the underlying logic is general.
How many students can I add?: Up to 200 students per chart. The largest preset holds 30 seats — if your class is larger, you can still use it with groups of students rotating through positions, or contact us and we'll add a larger preset.

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