# Before you set up your school

> Academium SMS Help › Setting up a new school
> For: School Owner, School Admin · Individual Edition, Server Edition
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-before-you-set-up
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

A school is created **once**, by the person who will own it in Academium, usually the proprietor or head of the school. It can only be created from the **Server Edition** or the **Individual Edition**. The Client Edition cannot create a school; it only connects to one.

## Decide where your school will live first

This is the most important decision, because it decides which application you register in.

| Your school will run… | Set it up in | Article |
| --- | --- | --- |
| On a **school server** (with or without the online portal as well) | **Server Edition**, on the school server computer | [Setting up a school on a Windows server](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-setting-up-on-a-windows-server.md) or [Setting up a school on a Linux server](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-setting-up-on-a-linux-server.md) |
| **Online only**, through the Academium portal, with no school server | **Individual Edition**, on the owner's own computer | [Setting up a school on the Individual Edition](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-setting-up-on-the-individual-edition.md) |

> **Warning:** **If your school will ever have a school server, register on the server first.** A school registered from the Individual Edition is set up as an online school. A school server cannot connect to it by itself: signing in on the server says that **no branch is set to Server Edition**. If that has already happened, contact Academium support to move the school across.
>
> Once the school exists on the server, sign in on the Individual Edition with **the same Academium Account**.

## What you need

- **For a school server: a server computer** running Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit), or Ubuntu Server or Ubuntu Desktop (an LTS version), with at least **8 GB** of memory (**16 GB** recommended) and **256 GB** of storage (two drives recommended: one for the system, one for local backups), on your school network. Windows needs a valid licence (product key); Windows 11 is recommended. See [Choosing your school server computer](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-setting-up-the-school-server.md). Need a server computer, a Windows licence, or a school network set up? **Academium Plus** sells **preconfigured servers** and genuine Microsoft licences, and sets up school networks. Contact Academium Plus or Academium support for a **free quote**.
- **An internet connection** while you set up. Your school's Academium Account is created online, and your email address is checked with a code.
- **An email address you can open straight away**, to receive the six-digit code. It becomes the school owner's sign-in.
- **A password** of at least 8 characters. You will use it to sign in to Academium SMS as the school owner.
- **Your school's details**: name, phone number, city, state and full address.
- Your school's **logo** (optional; you can add it later).
- To know **which classes your school runs**, for example Creche to SSS 3, or Primary only.
- To know **how you assess each term**, for example two C.A.s and an exam.

It takes a few minutes. If you stop half-way, Academium picks up where you left off the next time you open it.

## Want to look around first?

Try the demo school before setting up your own. See [Trying the demo school](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-trying-the-demo.md).

## After setup

- [What Academium sets up for you](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-what-academium-sets-up-for-you.md)
- [Your first sign-in as the school owner](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-first-sign-in-as-the-owner.md)

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Need a server computer, a Windows licence, a school network or a computer lab? **Academium Plus**, from the same company as this product, supplies and sets them up, with a **free quote**: https://my.academium.com.ng/support