1. Start here and install tools
Understand the School Management System, learn how its parts connect, gather the requirements, and install SQL Server and SSMS. Prerequisites: none.
2. Plan the database
How relational databases work, the SMS ER diagram, normalization from 1NF to 3NF, and choosing data types. Prerequisites: Module 1 (SQL Server and SSMS installed, SchoolDb created).
3. Create tables and sample data
Create every SMS table with constraints, audit columns and soft delete, then load sample data including 10,000 students. Prerequisites: Module 2 (database design) and SchoolDb created in Lesson 4.
4. Write SQL queries
Ask the SMS database questions: SELECT, joins, GROUP BY, subqueries, CTEs and window functions, on 10,000 students. Prerequisites: Module 3 (SchoolDb built with run-all.cmd, including sample data).
5. Advanced SQL and tuning
Views, functions, stored procedures, triggers, transactions, locking, indexes, execution plans, security and backup, and a SQL interview lesson. Prerequisites: Module 4 (SQL querying) and SchoolDb built with run-all.cmd.
SQL extras (optional)
Four published optional lessons cover temp tables and cursors, MERGE, JSON, and temporal tables. Maintenance jobs and partitioning are planned next. Take these after Module 5; the main course does not depend on them.