Overview
This document explains how to use student attributes and classroom context to create better groups in Grouper.
It covers:
Why attribute-based grouping is valuable.
Smart randomization in simple terms.
Adding and managing student attributes.
Auto-creating groups using attributes (Spread, Cluster, and Attribute only).
This document focuses on using attributes to make automated groupings.
For general grouping actions (group size, drag and drop, shuffle, rotate, lock, undo), see the Grouping basics support article.
For file import flow and import troubleshooting, see the Importing student data support article.
For Do Not Group With, Study Buddies, and Roles, see the Preset attributes support article.
For class setup and roster setup, see the Getting started article.
Helpful links:
Why use attributes and student context for grouping
Teachers often use what they know about their students to form groups. But creating ideal groups using student data can be time-consuming. Even so-called "random" groups are rarely truly random: some students misbehave when paired together, groups often benefit from a mix of boys and girls, and so on. With the Attributes feature, Grouper makes it easy for teachers to automatically create groups using all sorts of information about their students: academic performance, behavioral, demographic, interests, and so on--or even a mix of several.
Common academic goals include:
Intervention groups for similar support needs.
Mixed-skill groups for peer learning.
Balanced groups for participation and classroom dynamics.
Structured collaboration with specific student roles.
Smart-randomized groups that ensure students who shouldn't be in the same group aren't.
Pairing special needs students with peers who work well with them
Using attributes makes grouping faster and more repeatable than building groups manually every time.
Smart randomization (simple explanation)
Smart randomization means:
Groups are still randomized.
But the randomization follows the attribute rules you choose.
In simple terms: Grouper shuffles students, but with guardrails based on your selected attributes.
Examples:
If you use a reading-level attribute with Spread (heterogeneous or mixed), groups are randomized while spreading reading levels across groups.
If you use the same attribute with Cluster (homogeneous or similar), groups are randomized while keeping similar levels together.
If you use Do Not Group With, groups are randomized while keeping specified student pairings apart.
If you use Gender with Spread, groups are randomized while distributing genders more evenly across groups.
Important:
Results may still need final manual adjustments.
Use drag and drop for finishing touches when needed.
Adding and managing student attributes
Student attributes are the data Grouper uses to automatically create groups.
Typical ways to add attributes:
1. Open Student list view.
2. Click the yellow + button at the top of the table.
3. Choose a preset attribute, create a custom attribute (just start typing), or select Import student data.
4. Enter values for students (not necessary if data is imported).
5. Return to Groups view to use the attribute for grouping.
Plan note:
Free plan supports up to 2 student attributes.
PRO supports unlimited student attributes.
Plan details: grouper.school/pricing
Assigning attribute values to students
You can assign attribute values to students the following ways:
Click on a student cell in the Student list view and start typing to add a custom value
For preset attributes, click on a student cell in the Student list view and select from the dropdown
Open the Student details card and select the attribute value or add a new one
Customizing attribute options
For custom attributes, you can define and manage the list of available values:
1. In Student list view, click the column header for the attribute.
2. Add new option names in the Options section of the attribute menu.
3. Delete any options you don't need.
Note: preset attributes like Do Not Group With and Study Buddies do not have editable options. Roles does — see the Preset attributes support article for details.
Attribute color coding
Grouper automatically assigns colors to attribute values so they are easy to scan in the student list and on Groups view avatar overlays. To change a color:
1. In Student list view, click the column header for the attribute.
2. In the Options section of the attribute menu, hover over the value.
3. Click the arrow that appears to open the color picker.
Deep-dive articles
See these dedicated articles for specific topics:
For file import flow and import troubleshooting, see the Importing student data support article.
For Do Not Group With, Study Buddies, and Roles, see the Preset attributes support article.
Auto-creating groups with attributes
Once you have attributes set up, Grouper can use them to automatically shape your groups. Depending on your goal, you can create mixed groups where each group has a spread of values (heterogeneous with even sizing), groups where similar students are placed together while group sizes stay roughly balanced (homogeneous with even sizing), or fully pure groups where every student in a group shares the same attribute value regardless of size (true homogeneous grouping). Multiple attributes can also be layered in a single grouping.
Spread and Cluster
Spread and Cluster are the two ways to apply an attribute to a grouping. Both are available when using the Students per group and Number of groups formations; in the Attribute only formation, only Cluster is available.
In the Students per group and Number of groups formations, Grouper keeps the group sizes you set and uses the attributes you select to influence how students are distributed.
Each attribute shown in the Actions tab of the right-hand control panel has two small circular icon buttons next to it. The outward-arrows icon applies Spread; the inward-arrows icon applies Cluster. Hover over either button to see a tooltip confirming what it does.
Spread distributes an attribute across groups so each group gets a mix of values.
Examples:
Spread reading levels so each group has a range of readers.
Distribute boys and girls more evenly across groups.
Cluster keeps similar values together within groups, so each group skews toward one value — while still targeting your chosen group size.
Examples:
Cluster by proficiency band for targeted small-group instruction.
Group students with similar math diagnostic scores together for differentiated tasks.
Using attributes in Students per group and Number of groups formations
Use these formations when controlled group sizes matter and you want attributes to shape how students are distributed within those sizes.
To apply Spread or Cluster:
1. Open a class and select the Groups view.
2. In the Actions tab, open the Formation dropdown and select Students per group or Number of groups, then set your target size or count.
3. Under the attribute list, click the Spread icon or Cluster icon next to the attribute you want to use. Groups are generated immediately, distributed according to the setting you chose.
You can layer more than one attribute in these formations. For example: Spread gender while Clustering by proficiency level. The first attribute you select takes priority over any you add after it.
Important:
When multiple attributes are applied, results may not be perfect — use drag and drop for final adjustments.
Using attributes in the Attribute only formation
Use the Attribute only formation when you need truly homogeneous groups — one group per attribute value, containing every student who shares that value. Group size is ignored entirely — the data defines the groups. If 5 students are "Below" and 14 are "Meets", you get exactly those two groups at exactly those sizes — no blending, no balancing.
Attribute only formation is the right choice when the purity of the grouping matters more than any size target.
To use Attribute only:
1. Open a class and select the Groups view.
2. In the Actions tab, open the Formation dropdown and select Attribute only.
3. Click the Cluster icon next to the attribute you want to use (the Spread icon is not available in this formation). Groups are generated immediately — one per attribute value, containing all students with that value.
Important:
Only one attribute can be selected at a time. Layering is not supported in this mode.
Group names are generated automatically to match the attribute value (for example: "Below", "Partial", "Meets", "Exceeds"). You can still rename groups afterward.
Students with no value assigned for the selected attribute will be left ungrouped.
This is not a great fit for attributes with many distinct values, like percentile or lexile score, because each unique value becomes its own group — which can produce dozens of very small groups.
Viewing attributes in Groups view
Once an attribute is added and values have been assigned to your students, you can check those values in the Groups view:
Hover over an attribute name in the right-hand control panel to see color-coded overlays on student avatars.
To show or hide an attribute overlay, open the overflow menu (the arrow) to the right of the attribute name in the control panel and select Show or Hide.
Attributes are not visible to students in Live mode. The exception is the Role attribute, which can be made visible in Live mode — see the Preset attributes support article.
Deleting attributes
To remove an attribute from a class:
1. In the Student list view, click the column header for the attribute.
2. Select Delete attribute from the attribute menu.
Note: deleting an attribute removes it and all its student values permanently for that class.
Sorting the Student list
You can sort students by any attribute column to make it easier to review or assign values:
1. In Student list view, click the column header for the attribute you want to sort by.
2. Select from the sort options in the attribute menu.
Sorting is for display only and does not affect grouping.
Practical workflow examples
Intervention groups
1. Import current assessment data.
2. Cluster by the target proficiency attribute.
3. Name the grouping (for example: "Math Intervention - Week 1").
4. Save and reuse.
Mixed-skill collaboration groups
1. Use a proficiency attribute.
2. Spread by that attribute.
3. Add Roles if needed.
4. Review and make small manual edits.
Social/behavior constraint groups
1. Configure Do Not Group With and Study Buddies.
2. Run automated grouping.
3. Groups will automatically respect Do Not Group With and Study Buddies rules
Quick troubleshooting FAQ
"Grouper matched the wrong student name"
Use the student match dropdown during import review, then apply changes.
"Do Not Group With is set, but I cannot find a toggle"
These constraints can run in the background once configured. Run grouping and verify outcomes. For full constraints behavior, see the Preset attributes support article.
"What is the difference between Spread and Cluster?"
Spread distributes an attribute across groups. Cluster groups similar values together.
"What's the difference between the Attribute only formation and using Cluster in Students per group or Number of groups?"
Both approaches group similar students together. The difference is whether group size matters. In Students per group or Number of groups with Cluster, Grouper targets the size you set and uses Cluster to skew groups toward similar values — but size still wins. In Attribute only, size is ignored entirely: you get one group per attribute value containing every student with that value, regardless of how big or small each group ends up.
"My groups are close, but not exactly what I wanted"
This is expected in complex constraints. Use drag and drop to finalize.