Charter school enrollment has steadily been on the rise for years. Since the 2005-06 school year, the number of charter schools and campuses has more than doubled, while charter school enrollment has more than tripled.

But just because charter enrollment is rising nationally doesn’t mean charter schools can sit back and let the inquiries roll in. Competition among private, public, and other charter schools has never been more intense.

For prospective families, your charter school’s website is the first place they’ll go to learn about what you have to offer — and if they don’t like what they see, data suggests they won’t come back. And for current families, it’s an essential communication hub to feel informed.

What do the best charter school websites have in common?

Mobile-friendly Design

Charter schools recruit and engage diverse audiences — some of whom may not have direct access to desktop computers. A mobile-friendly website ensures your website is as inclusive as your charter. Additionally, 52% of users say that a bad mobile experience made them less likely to engage with a company — meaning your website’s mobile-friendliness could directly impact enrollment efforts.

Accessible Content and Design

One in five Americans have a disability — and an accessible website ensures that all of your website visitors can fully experience and understand the website's design and content.

Visual Storytelling

Charters focused on increasing enrollment or retention rely on their website to make a good first and lasting impression.

Authentic Content

From testimonials and news stories to blogs and social media content, prospective and current families want to see engaging content that they can connect with and relate to.

Clear Calls-to-Action

It’s your job to tell website visitors where to go and how to get there. Clear calls to action are a staple of a great charter website — especially those with lofty enrollment or fundraising goals.

Simple Navigation

Organized and logical navigation experiences decrease points of friction and increase the amount of time a website visitor spends on your website.

Personalized Content

While many charter schools use their website primarily for recruitment, it’s important to focus on retention, too. Creating personalized communication hubs for current families ensures your website helps you reach your retention goals.

Now, let’s look at charter school websites paving the way.

Clayton Valley Charter High School

Launched earlier this year, Clayton Valley’s website has stood out for its high-energy and dynamic design work. Custom image buttons, a campus map, infographics, and thrilling videos made this site one of our favorite charter sites to go live.

There’s a lot to explore on this California school’s best-in-class website: Numbered sections call out the school’s shared vision, differentiators, programs, and the latest campus highlights. Sections for students, parents, and staff put the most used content, calendar, and resources within a few clicks. There’s wonderful branding, too, from the calls to action, testimonials, and interior page layouts — even the language and wording have a consistent tone and voice that instill the school's pride.

The mobile experience is just as strong, with intuitive navigation and easy-to-access buttons, visuals that speak louder than text, and quick links that make jumping from page to page a breeze.

New Paradigm for Education

Paradigm’s advanced Theme site delivers a solid homepage experience with a welcome and overview of its six schools in Detroit. A collection of impressive figures makes for an “At a Glance” section, while a grid of images serves as a way to learn more about its various schools and academies. Across the site, friendly smiles and impactful testimonials create a warm welcome to their community. 

Streamlined for mobile, calls to action and key pages are easily accessible for users to explore. At the same time, a convenient search bar and collapsable menu make it simple for everyday users and new families to navigate the site quickly.

Harmony Public Schools

With more than 60 campuses across seven statewide districts in Texas, Harmony Public Schools (HPS) is ready to inspire the next generation of learners. Their homepage gives a beautiful first impression and highlights their key values: family, innovative education, and career preparation. The site also features stunning photography and crystal-clear videography to showcase various academic and athletic programs. 

There’s consistent branding across its homepage and interior pages, with on-brand calls to action, buttons, and text that make all the design elements work, not surprisingly, in harmony.

Take a closer look at:

• An integrated map with filters helps select schools in different state regions
• A career page with resources on benefits, open positions, and a career interest form to collect the contact information of prospective employees.
• Its translation element at the top of all their web pages so all families can be involved in their children's education, no matter what language they speak.

Liberty Common School

Liberty Common is anything but “common.” This best-in-class site features multiple campuses in the Fort Collins, Colorado, area, all unified by the idea that education is a fundamental right for families. Liberty excels at positioning itself as an alternative to traditional choices for education.

The homepage hits on the core of its mission, highlighting the school’s enriching programs that support personal development and empower students for success with a fresh layout and engaging design elements.

Be sure to check out:

• The enrollment process is clearly explained for prospective families eager to join the charter school system.
• Beautiful imagery in the navigation as users explore academics, athletics, and student life. 
• An FAQ page with filters to search for information about enrollment, athletics, and transportation.
• A detailed timeline outlining the history of the school’s programs going back nearly three decades.

Guajome Charter Public Schools

Guajome Charter Public Schools has been serving the San Diego community for 30 years. Its site showcases their students beautifully with high-quality imagery located on its homepage, and the visually appealing elements elevate the site's aesthetics, creating a welcoming environment for prospective families. 

A standout feature of the site is its Enrollment Process page, which guides prospective families through the enrollment steps and has an integrated Enrollment FAQ section that addresses common questions and concerns. This page simplifies the enrollment journey, offering clarity and transparency. 

Additionally, make sure to check out:

• News & events design elements that display upcoming events and the latest stories.
• Custom design feature, “Guajome in Numbers,” showcasing impressive school data.
• Student Center page for current students to quickly find important information.

Cherry Creek Academy

Cherry Creek Academy's website captivates visitors right from the start with an eye-catching home page video that provides a virtual tour of the school. The homepage also clearly displays their mission & vision statements to showcase their core values and objectives.

Additionally, the mobile-friendly design ensures accessibility across various devices, allowing users to explore the website seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. They also feature an integrated Master Calendar to sort through campus activities, holidays, and more!

Key Takeaway

Charter schools are known for their innovation in education and require a website that can tell that story. If you’re feeling inspired by these websites, browse our custom web design portfolio for more great examples of charter school web design. If you want feedback on your own charter’s website presence, request a free website report card and get expert feedback sent right to your inbox!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As part of Finalsite's marketing team, Debbie has worked with international schools for the past 14 years while living in both Asia and Europe. She helps schools understand how they can maximize their web presence while partnering with Finalsite. As a parent of three children who graduated from IB World Schools, she has keen insights into the marketing and communication needs of international schools.