Redesigning your school website is one of the most important projects your team will take on, especially with 94% of first impressions tied to design. The more prepared you are, the smoother (and faster) your launch will go.

Before the design meetings or you start loading in new content, there are a few essentials every school or district should have ready.

These five steps will help your team stay focused, avoid delays, and set the stage for a successful website launch.

1. Get Stakeholders Aligned and Assigned

Before any design work begins, make sure your internal team is aligned on the purpose of the redesign and who will be involved.

Action items:

• Confirm who is leading the project and who has final design approval
• Identify team members responsible for content, branding, technical reviews, and approvals
• Share expected timelines and commitments up front

Having a clearly defined team and decision-making structure will reduce confusion, prevent delays, and give your provider clear points of contact.

Related Further Reading:

• 6 Signs That Your School Website Needs A Redesign

• What Can I Expect From The Finalsite Redesign Process?

2. Define Specific Goals for Your New Website

What do you want your new website to accomplish? Setting clear goals will guide every design, content, and navigation decision.

Examples of measurable goals:

• Increase website traffic by 20%
• Reduce bounce rate by 10%
• Rank on page 1 for your school’s name and academic programs
• Increase inquiries or applications by 15%

Examples of qualitative goals:

• Improve the perception of your brand
• Simplify navigation and user experience
• Increase use of photos, videos, or storytelling

Each school or district is unique, so your goals should reflect your specific priorities. Once you’ve mapped them out, you’ll have a strong foundation for design and content planning.

3. Outline Your Navigation and Page Structure

Before thinking about your future design, take a hard look at your existing navigation. A thoughtful sitemap will make the new website easier to use and more aligned with your goals.

To get started:

• Review your current pages using Google Analytics to identify which ones are most visited, and which are not.
• Ask your school community what information they most frequently look for online.
• Combine or remove outdated or redundant pages to simplify the user experience.

Your design team will offer guidance, but no one knows your audience better than you. A clean, intuitive structure helps ensure visitors can find what they need quickly—whether they’re prospective families, current parents, or staff.

4. Build a Content Inventory and Plan

Once your goals and structure are in place, it’s time to take inventory of your content. This step is often underestimated—but it’s one of the most important.

Steps to take:

• Audit existing content for relevance, clarity, and accuracy
• Identify gaps where new content (copy, photos, or video) is needed
• Rewrite and condense overly long text for mobile-friendliness and readability

High-quality content not only strengthens your brand but also improves SEO and engagement. Short paragraphs, scannable lists, and meaningful visuals will help keep users on your site longer.

Pro Tip:
If you’re working with a content management system like Finalsite Composer, consider which layout elements (accordions, tabs, carousels) can help you present information more effectively.

5. Gather Brand Assets: Colors, Logos, and Fonts

To create a cohesive design, your team will need access to your school’s brand assets.

What to collect:

• High-resolution logo files (EPS or AI formats preferred)
• Brand color codes (HEX or RGB)
• Font files and any required licenses for web use
• Any existing brand guidelines or style guides

Having these items ready helps speed up the design process and ensures visual consistency across your site. If you’re updating your logo or brand identity, let your design team know early—timing those changes alongside the website redesign can save time and effort.

Pro Tip:
If your brand fonts require licensing, your designer can help find alternative options that align closely and meet web accessibility requirements

Takeaways

Redesigning your school website can feel overwhelming, but the more prepared you are, the smoother and faster it goes. Get your team aligned, set clear goals, map out navigation, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful launch.

Treat these five steps as your pre-launch checklist. Doing the upfront work helps avoid delays, minimize stress, and maximize your website’s impact.

Got everything ready? You’re in a great spot to start your redesign journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. At Finalsite, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.