Summer may be over, but there’s still a lot to be excited about. As the new academic year begins, private and independent schools around the country (and the world) are welcoming their communities back with a new online experience. 

In this August round-up, we’ll explore how schools like Pomfret, Marist, Fettes College, The Schenck School, and many others use their school website redesigns to reflect their mission, engage their audiences, and create a memorable online experience.

Let’s review Finalsite's latest launches and see how the user experiences, aesthetics, and content of these standout examples set the tone for a successful school year!

Lake Highland Preparatory School

Lake Highland’s website has a clean and modern design, and it all begins with a dynamic text element overlaid on a captivating video montage that includes impressive visuals, like a rocket launching into the sky, immediately grabbing the viewer's attention and setting a tone of excitement and discovery.

Homepage Structure and Flow
The homepage has a well-thought-out structure that guides users through the site in a logical and engaging way. It opens with the phrase “Success Starts Here,” leading visitors into different sections about the school’s various divisions. There’s also content that traces the school’s history since the 1970s, connecting this past to its present mission and how it shapes its vision and values today.

Engaging imagery complements student testimonials, creating a strong visual narrative about life at Lake Highland Prep. These elements lead smoothly into interactive calls to action (CTAs) where users can learn more about opportunities in the arts, athletics, and student clubs. The homepage then divides down the middle, highlighting four core themes: safety, innovation, purpose, and belonging, with each theme accompanied by striking photography.

Navigation and Key Features
The website’s sticky side navigation ensures that users can easily find important information at any point, such as scheduling a tour, visiting the campus, or inquiring through Finalsite Enrollment.

In the main navigation above, icons offer quick links for parents, employees, and alums and direct access to the calendar, news, and a search bar for users to find content quickly by typing in keywords or selecting from popular pages. The navigation menu also includes vibrant images of students engaging in various aspects of school life, which adds to the site's welcoming and lively feel.

Consistency Across Pages and Special Features
Consistency is a major strength of the site — as users browse different sections, such as arts or athletics, they’ll find a familiar layout that makes it easy to navigate and keeps the experience seamless from page to page.

The careers page is particularly noteworthy, offering a detailed look at the school's culture, opportunities for professional growth, and the benefits of living in Orlando, which is definitely appealing to prospective employees. Did someone say, “Disney?”

Marist School

Atlanta’s Marist School has just launched a redesigned website that introduces viewers to what it means to be "Marist Made." Every part of the site, from the design to the content, helps visitors get a sense of what makes Marist special, reinforced with compelling examples of leadership and service and inviting users to explore their own potential within the Marist community.

Don’t miss:

• Interior pages that are thoughtfully organized, using blocks of color to segment brief but effective text and engaging imagery. Accordion menus help organize content without overwhelming the user with too much information on a single page.
   
• The sophisticated design’s consistent use of blue tones in color blocks and in the styling of quotes and testimonials bring the branding together nicely. The design is mobile-friendly, with responsive features that adapt seamlessly to various devices.
   
• Interactive elements, like the images that function as call-to-actions (CTAs), invite users to click and watch videos for a deeper understanding. A sticky navigation menu on the right-hand side provides quick access to important sections like opportunities to give, admissions information, and the latest news and events.

George School

By George, this site is nice! The new website successfully blends a visually appealing design with a user-friendly structure, offering both a strong aesthetic and a functional experience that reflects the school's values and community.

The homepage opens with a striking panel featuring strong imagery overlaid with the school’s signature green color and the inspirational phrase “Let Your Life Speak.” Three prominent call-to-action (CTA) buttons — Inquire, Apply, and Give — use secondary branded colors to guide users to key areas of interest.

Design and Visual Elements
The signature green is consistently used throughout the site in headers, image overlays, and other design elements, reinforcing George School's theme of growth and development, inspired by its tree motif. Parallax design elements also add an extra layer of depth and really help bring the content to life, while a handful of circular elements (ovals, petals, and leaf shapes) give the site an organic and natural feel.

Content and Navigation

• A dropdown menu at the top of the page organizes content for different audiences, such as prospective students, current families, alums, and other visitors. This makes it easy for each group to find relevant information without cluttering the main navigation. Meanwhile, a video near the footer rounds out the experience with a look into the George School community.
   
• The main navigation provides further opportunities to explore important sections of the site, including ways to support the school, learn about student life, engage with athletics, and understand the admissions process.
   
• The admissions section offers details about living on campus and the boarding school experience on their expansive 240-acre property, including dorm traditions, weekend activities, and the support provided by dorm leaders.

Orangewood Christian School

With its blend of content, creative design—including parallax panels, infographics, image buttons, and custom social media feeds—and functional features, Orangewood Christian School’s site offers a comprehensive and innovative view of what it means to be a part of the Orangewood RAMS family.

Design and Interactive Elements
The website features various unique design elements, including full-width container panels with parallax effects that add depth and movement to the pages. Interactive maps illustrate the global reach of their alumni and the spread of the school's mission worldwide. Visitors can explore various videos and testimonials from students, faculty, parents, and alums, providing a well-rounded view of the Orangewood experience.

Additional interactive elements, like infographics and image buttons, enhance user engagement, while the site’s layout includes both horizontal and vertical scroll options that create a fluid browsing experience. Go to the bottom, and you’ll notice the design thoughtfully positions sections on arts and athletics side by side, emphasizing that both areas require dedication, training, and focus—love it!

Content and Navigation
The homepage is filled with engaging content that showcases how students grow, transform, train, and connect during their time at the school. Toward the bottom, a call to action asks, "Are you ready to be a RAM?" encouraging prospective students to inquire or apply through Finalsite Enrollment. The interior pages are simple yet effective, relying heavily on high-quality imagery, slideshows, and testimonials to tell the school’s story.

The main navigation includes creative elements like embedded videos and a custom social media feed, adding an interactive and dynamic layer to the user experience. Custom features and unique design touches throughout the site elevate the look and feel, making the user experience more engaging and memorable.

Special Features and User Resources
The faculty directory is particularly fun! It uses a custom design that features both primary and secondary photos of staff, teachers, and coaches. Each profile includes a formal portrait and a "personality" photo that appears on hover, showing the staff member in a more casual or personal setting.

Meanwhile, the RAMS Portal serves as a centralized hub for current families, providing easy access to important resources like grades, tuition statements, and other essential information behind a secure login, all helping to streamline communication and access to information. Go RAMS!

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

To mark its 100th anniversary, Oak Knoll School has launched a new website that beautifully combines functionality with aesthetics. Supported by Finalsite Advantage, the site reflects the school's rich history and its commitment to growth, anchored in the theme of being "rooted in purpose."

Design and Visual Elements
The website creatively uses archival footage in the video header and throughout the site to showcase the school's history and evolution. The central theme is the idea of growth—from an acorn to a mighty oak tree—symbolizing the journey and development at Oak Knoll. This theme is enhanced by dynamic movement and animations on the homepage, including parallax effects and horizontal scrolling to add depth.

The typography also contributes to the site's natural feel while complementing the theme. As users scroll vertically down the page, they are accompanied by a falling acorn, creating a visually captivating effect that mirrors the growth journey. Toward the bottom of the page, a call to action invites users to "grow with us," with options to inquire, apply, and give, all supported by Finalsite Enrollment for seamless inquiries.

User Experience and Navigation
The website offers a slide-out menu that provides quick access to the latest news and social media posts, keeping the community informed and engaged. Additionally, Oak Knoll launched a new mobile app to accompany the website, allowing users to stay updated on the go with the latest announcements, calendars, and athletic schedules.

Users can explore multiple sections, such as the 100th-anniversary celebration page, where visitors can read stories, explore a historical timeline, and see the lasting impact of Oak Knoll's education over the years.

For those visiting the redesigned site for the first time, a handy pop-up notification provides easy access to important information for current and prospective families, as well as opportunities to support the school through donations.

American Heritage Schools

American Heritage Schools, a top-ranked school in Florida with two campuses, has launched a new website offering visitors a comprehensive and engaging experience.

The homepage features a great custom design element that provides several fast facts about the school at a glance. This element seamlessly converts into a neatly organized grid when viewed on mobile, ensuring the site remains user-friendly and visually appealing across all devices.

Visitors can easily explore the latest news stories on a dedicated page and learn more about the school's two campuses in Palm Beach and Broward. While each campus offers a distinct experience, they’re united by the same school pride, mission, and values.

Both sites deliver an excellent user experience, with content that is well-organized and presented through slideshows, post elements, and accordions. These features help convey a sense of school spirit and pride on both campuses.

When ready to register for an open house, inquire, or learn more, users can easily do so through Finalsite Enrollment by selecting a convenient time slot from an interactive calendar. The sticky navigation on the right-hand side of the page also gives users easy access to important links.

The site provides many opportunities to connect and explore, including details about college acceptances, campus events, and ways to get involved in the school community. 

Holy Ghost Preparatory School

Holy Ghost Prep’s newly redesigned website is now live and telling the compelling story of how the school prepares young men to discover their hopes and dreams — and make them come true.

Holy Ghost Prep’s new website and accompanying mobile app work together to offer a modern and user-friendly digital experience; the app provides instant updates and easy access to important resources, and the website serves as an inviting entry point for new families,

There’s a lot to discover, including:

• The homepage leads visitors into key sections that highlight Holy Ghost Prep’s signature programs, college preparatory excellence, academic achievements, and the strong faith and brotherhood that define campus life. 
   
• A social media integration pulls in the latest social posts, along with up-to-date news and events, and users can watch video testimonials from different student voices, adding a personal touch to the site’s storytelling.
   
• Section dividers using the school’s colors, distinct designs for calls-to-action (CTAs) and icons, and subtle section dividers are inspired by the school's seal and crest.

Launch of the New App:

Alongside the new website, Holy Ghost Prep has also launched a mobile app, which provides users with quick access to critical school information like calendars, events, forms, and other resources. The app offers real-time notifications about news posts and events and makes it easy for families to stay connected and informed while on the go.

The Team Behind the Redesign:
As noted by the Holy Ghost team, the website and app were developed in concert to serve Holy Ghost Prep’s two primary audiences: the website is tailored to meet the needs of prospective families, while the app is designed to serve the needs of current families. 

Over the past year, a dedicated team collaborated with Finalsite designers and project managers to create a new digital presence that better reflects the school’s campus community, Spiritan values, and unique programs. Their efforts focused on improving navigation for students, staff, and faculty, and creating a refreshed “digital front door” for prospective families.

Delaware County Christian School

As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, Delaware County Christian School has launched a new website packed with content highlighting the school’s community and commitment to excellence.

There’s a lot of content to explore, but it all leads with the school’s core values and distinctions, tied together with some strong branding and the school’s signature green and plaid found throughout the CTAs (call-to-actions) and content elements.

Look closely, and you’ll find content areas with a very subtle gradient featuring different places around the campus. This subtle design touch gives users a sense of what campus life is like creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Don’t miss:

• The website features a custom timeline that showcases the school’s history, along with custom photo slideshows and full-width photo containers with animated keywords.
   
• Custom photo grids and video testimonials from students, parents, faculty, and alumni are woven throughout the site, providing personal insights and a sense of connection to the community.
   
• Custom timelines, like the one used to visualize the admissions and enrollment process.
   
• The user-friendly design makes it easy to find important information and take action, like the sticky navigation that ensures quick access options to inquire, visit the campus, apply, or give back to the school.
   
• A standout feature of the site is the "Engage" section, a page introducing users to all the ways they can connect with and support the school. It includes opportunities for giving financial gifts, assisting with fundraising, volunteering, and participating in community events. With the imagery and supporting text, the landing page captures the connections, spirit, and enthusiasm of the school community.

Congratulations to Delaware County Christian School on a beautiful new site!

Fettes College

Fettes College, a renowned boarding and day school in Scotland, launched its new website in August, and the site beautifully combines modern design elements with a sense of tradition to provide an engaging experience for visitors.

With its engaging design, clear navigation, and thoughtful content, the site provides a comprehensive overview of what makes Fettes College a special place to live, learn, and grow.

The homepage is filled with dynamic features, including horizontal scrolling, embedded videos, and bursts of shades of purple that carry throughout the site. Along with the careful placement of text and images, the school’s distinctive branding reinforces the school’s prestigious brand and heritage.

One standout element is the map near the bottom of the page, which shows the college’s 100-acre location in Scotland and its surrounding towns, giving a sense of place and community.

The website reinforces the theme of “A Place to Live, A Place to Learn, A Place to Grow,” with different sections dedicated to academics, boarding life, and empowering students to succeed on a global scale. Each of these themes is supported by engaging content that paints a picture of the holistic experience offered at Fettes College.

The site provides extensive information for parents and families, whether they are interested in the prep school, senior school, or the admissions process, and the internal pages are beautifully designed with comprehensive landing pages that guide visitors through various topics. The campus map is detailed and interactive, allowing users to explore different parts of the school grounds.

The is particularly well-designed, featuring fast facts, testimonials, and accordions that organize information into different entry points, making it easy for prospective families to find the details they need.

Chandler School

Could this site BE any more beautiful? Chandler School in Pasadena, California, has launched its new website, and right off the bat, the homepage features an immersive loading animation that draws viewers through the school’s Shamrock logo, creating a unique and memorable first impression. Then, users are met with captivating imagery that catches the energy, joy, and excitement of Chandler's lower and middle schools.

The visuals and design continue to shine through branded primary and secondary colors to enhance key areas like calls-to-action (CTAs), "By the Numbers" sections, content areas, calendars, and more, providing a cohesive and visually appealing experience.

Interactive Features and Animations:
The site incorporates subtle animations within the CTAs, like when users hover over options like "Inquire" or "Give" in the sticky navigation, the "By the Numbers" section, or testimonial spotlights; the elements gently enlarge, or a gradient reveals more information and make the user experience more engaging. 

Content Organization and User Experience:
Chandler’s interior pages are well-organized, offering a wealth of information without overwhelming the visitor because expandable accordions help neatly categorize and present more information, making it easy for users to find what they need.

Overall, the site’s thoughtful design, interactive features, and excellent use of photography effectively convey the energy and enthusiasm of the school community. Congratulations to Chandler School on an impressive new site!

Pomfret School

Just in time for the new school year, Pomfret School's new website is filled with lovely details and thoughtfully executed design elements, creating a beautiful and comprehensive digital experience.

It captures the school’s unique spirit, making it an inviting and informative destination for current and prospective families alike. 

The site makes extensive use of original photography, starting with compelling images in the header area that provide a sense of the school’s atmosphere. The homepage design incorporates large text treatments to highlight signature experiences and features video testimonials from both faculty and students, adding a personal touch and providing authentic voices from the community.

Highlighting Signature Experiences:
Pomfret’s signature experiences are prominently featured through an interactive slideshow, showcasing elements such as chapel talks, its well-being programs, experiential travel opportunities, and so much more— a great strategy to introduce visitors to all the unique opportunities available to students.

Dynamic Content Areas:
The "Pomfret Stories" section includes news, blogs, alumni stories, and announcements, giving a comprehensive look at the school's happenings. Additionally, a full-panel grid of images from various aspects of student life—including athletics, music, art, science, and key moments on campus—provides a vivid representation of what it's like to be part of the Pomfret community.

Additionally, users can virtually explore different areas of the campus through filtered categories and keyword searches, offering an interactive way to discover the school's facilities.

For those interested in learning more, inquiring, visiting, or applying, the website provides seamless access through Finalsite Enrollment. Prospective families can choose the most convenient campus visits or inquire directly using a branded form. 

Exploring Campus and Alumni Stories:
Take a moment to visit the giving section and alums page, both beautifully designed and highlighting the impact of gifts to the school and the support for the community as notable alumni share their stories, as well as the success and reach of Pomfret graduates.

Congratulations on an outstanding new site!

The Schenck School

The Schenck School’s newly redesigned website beautifully captures its mission to support students with dyslexic learning challenges, a theme that begins with a comprehensive overview of the school's approach, emphasizing its commitment to unlocking each student's potential and the power of personalized learning.

Visual Design and Interactive Features:
The website uses vibrant pops of color to guide users through various sections, allowing them to explore academics, community, and the admissions process. At any point, visitors can expand a panel from the right-hand side to access the latest news, social posts, the school magazine, and information about upcoming events, keeping them engaged and informed.

Additionally, an animated design element creatively outlines the school's essential components of reading, making complex information easier to understand and visually engaging.

Custom Design Enhancements:
The site is filled with beautiful enhancements, including custom tab treatments with icons, animated headlines, custom image buttons, custom Post treatments, and slideshows. The thoughtful use of reds, greens, and blues helps to differentiate content on a page and serves as a subtle rollover animation for CTAs. 

You’ll see these colored building blocks in the school's logo. Once again, the site loads, and users are pulled through an animation that creates an immersive experience from the start.

While a wealth of content supports the students' successes and the teachers' approaches to learning, the website has a youthful and energetic feel, which aligns well with the school's focus on personalized learning for younger students.  A truly beautiful and thoughtfully crafted site!

Congratulations to all the schools that went live with their sites in August, and good luck with the tarts of the academic year!

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. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, 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.