Google Classroom was publicly released in 2014.
Google announced Classroom on May 6, 2014, initially offering a preview to some users of its education services. The platform was designed to help teachers create assignments, distribute materials, communicate with students, and collect or grade work online.
Its public release followed on August 12, 2014. That date is sometimes confused with the announcement date, so 2014 is the safest canonical answer when a question asks for the launch year. Google Classroom later expanded beyond institutional education accounts, allowing broader participation by personal Google users from 2017.
The service became especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools worldwide relied more heavily on digital learning tools. It is part of Google’s broader education ecosystem, which also includes tools such as Google Drive, Docs, Meet, and Calendar. Unlike a traditional learning-management system with extensive administrative functions, Classroom began as a simpler assignment and communication hub for teachers and students.