As private schools welcomed students back this August, many also found the time to roll out new websites amid the back-to-school rush. They're a beautiful collection of sites built to support families, strengthen communication, and represent who they are as a school community.

This latest round of launches focuses on creative content, strong user experiences, and designs that support each school’s mission. Scroll through to see how each one tells its story, connects with its audience, and sets the tone for a strong year ahead. Find your inspiration below!

Presentation High School 

“You Belong at Pres.” That’s the message that greets visitors on the newly launched site for Presentation High School, and it doesn’t waste any time getting to the heart of its mission.

This Catholic college preparatory school for young women has launched a site full of faith, justice, compassion, and love. It’s built to elevate student potential and showcase the journey of every student who walks its halls.

Video testimonials provide an authentic voice, capturing the strength of the school’s sisterhood and the confidence students gain during their time there. And in true Presentation fashion, student life is celebrated with personality and pride in the cleverly named section, “Our Life in Plaid.”

Browse the navigation and you’ll notice the sunburst design motifs that animate on hover, adding a little bit of charm and depth to the UX. On the Signature Programs page, dynamic content brings out the opportunities in robotics, speech and debate, and leadership, reinforcing the academic strength and enrichment that's part of the Presentation experience.

Design Features to Explore:

• Image Buttons + Photo Treatments: Motion, color, and imagery combine to guide users with style and clarity
• Containers: Structured layouts that support visual storytelling while keeping content clean
• Infographics: Showcase impact and outcomes in a visually engaging way
• Animated Headings + Image Sliders:  Adds polish and motion to key sections like Student Life

Congratulations to the team at Presentation High School on a site that’s full of heart, elegant, engaging, and unmistakably “Pres.”

St. John's College High School

St. John’s College High School reminds students of something powerful: You are the author of your story. And now, with the launch of its redesigned website, the school is writing its next chapter, too—one that reflects a legacy dating back to the 1850s and a vibrant, mission-driven community grounded in Lasallian values.

The homepage opens with a dynamic video montage that’s bursting with branded red and the unmistakable energy of student life. Every frame reflects the pride and spirit of the St. John’s experience. A grid of immersive images invites users deeper into the life of the school, paired with student testimonials that offer a glimpse into what it means to belong here.

The repeated headings of "Your Community. Your Interests. Your Passions. Your Impact. Your Potential.” serve as the heart of the site’s storytelling. Each content block is clearly defined, beautifully styled, and infused with color, motion, and messaging that speaks to the student experience.

Further down the homepage, fast facts animate into view to share key academic stats in a fun and visual way. Faint photo textures subtly enhance the backgrounds, adding another layer of detail and polish. The site wraps with a strong, personal invitation: “Write your story at St. John’s.” It’s bold, clear, and effective.

Go deeper and you’ll find the same level of intention and care across the interior pages:

• The Academics page offers a full view of course offerings and academic pathways.
• The Athletics page is particularly strong with detailed team information by season, facility roundups, and resources for student-athletes and their families.

The Admissions page answers the most important questions about fit, community, and values, with videos and content to help families take the next step. With Finalsite Enrollment integrated throughout its admissions pages and CTAs, it's easy for prospective families to inquire, schedule a shadow day, or register for an open house.

Design Features to Note:

• Full-screen video montage full of campus life and branded colors
• Animated stat icons and fast facts to highlight outcomes
• Grid-style imagery and testimonial pairing for deeper storytelling
• Faint background photo layering that adds texture and subtle branding
• Bright red branded content blocks are used to emphasize key areas and CTAs
• Finalsite Enrollment integration for a seamless admissions experience

Berkshire School

Tucked away in the mountains of Massachusetts, The Berkshire School is proud of the space it offers—both literally and educationally. With a 400-acre campus and standout programs like Aviation Science, the Mountain Program, and Advanced Math & Science Research, Berkshire’s newly launched website brings that wide-open experience to life.

The homepage sets the tone with a clean design, bold visuals, and a mix of student and faculty video testimonials that share “The Berkshire Experience” in their own words. From academic challenge to personal growth, this is a school where belonging and ambition go hand-in-hand.

You’ll find fast facts woven throughout the homepage, highlighting the school’s 4:1 student-faculty ratio, global representation from 30+ countries, and the sheer scope of its programming. A series of action-oriented CTAs (Inquire, Visit, Apply) keep the journey moving forward.

Scroll further and users are welcomed to take a 360-degree virtual tour, dig into recent news and events, or explore the Bears' Den, Berkshire’s digital hub of newsletters, stories, and updates from around campus.

The Student Life page is especially engaging, encouraging students to “Lead. Explore. Belong.” with information on leadership opportunities, clubs, dorm life, and what it’s like to live and learn in the Berkshires. The site also provides a full Parent Resources page, helping families stay informed and connected with upcoming events, giving opportunities, and logistical information.

Design Features to Explore:

• Containers: Sleek, modular design blocks that organize rich academic content with polish.
• Image Buttons: Visual CTAs that invite users deeper into key programs and campus life.
• Infographics: Designed to quickly convey key stats and outcomes in an eye-catching way.
• Directory: A clean, filterable faculty directory that supports discovery and connection.

Congrats to The Berkshire School on a launch that’s rooted, inspiring, and ready for all that’s ahead.

St. Joseph’s International Institution

St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJII) welcomes users with a sleek, high-impact homepage featuring a blend of video and still imagery that introduces its heritage, vibrancy, and mission. Rooted in the values of Lasallian education, the school’s new site gives a balance of tradition and modernity—global in reach, but personal in tone.

From the hero, users are invited into three animated pathways—Elementary School, High School, and the Scholarship Programme, each one clearly defined with direct links to learn more. Below that, fast facts offer a compelling at-a-glance view of the school’s community, academics, and achievements, followed by a carousel of voices from the community, reinforcing the school’s commitment to character, inclusion, and excellence.

The homepage also features:

• Dynamic news updates
• Live social feeds from Instagram
• A clean, scroll-friendly calendar panel that keeps families informed and engaged

It’s worth noting how mobile-friendly this site is; every page is thoughtfully designed with large, swipeable images, clickable cards, and intuitive navigation for users on any device.

Highlights to Explore:

• About Us page: A visual journey through SJII’s story, complete with a snazzy animated timeline, historical photos, and embedded testimonials that bring its Lasallian roots to life.
   
• News & Publications Hub: A centralized home for news releases, student reflections, alumni magazines, press features, and annual reports—perfect for prospective families, alumni, and supporters to stay in the loop.

SJII’s new website is a showcase of mission-driven education, international community, and future-ready storytelling. Congratulations to the team on a beautifully executed launch!

Singapore American School

What’s not to love about this site? The new website for Singapore American School (SAS) is bold, animated, and beautifully on-brand—an exciting reflection of a school community that lives and breathes “The Eagle Way.”

From the moment you land on the homepage, you’re greeted by one of the most striking hero visuals I’ve seen in a while. It introduces SAS as a place defined by spirit, excellence, care, and possibilities—and the rest of the site follows suit with energy, movement, and clarity.

Below the fold, SAS gives you clear reasons to “Soar With Us,” highlighting:

• A well-rounded, vibrant student life
• World-class faculty and staff
• A supportive, global alumni network
• Reimagined learning environments and campus facilities
• A strong legacy that’s still unfolding

Throughout the site, animated design elements elevate the experience: content slides in from the sides, carousels come to life as you scroll, and photography bursts with color and joy. It’s an experience that feels modern and dynamic without sacrificing usability.

Key Enhancements & Features:

• Social media integrations that pull in beautifully branded Instagram content, giving users a live look at campus life
• Fast access to maps, calendars, and school news, all designed with clarity and action in mind
• Side panel chatbot, branded as Ask Eddie. It’s powered by Finalsite’s Ask AI, which provides 24/7 multilingual support in 45+ languages, making SAS even more accessible to international families
• Mobile-first layouts that adapt seamlessly for every user, device, and screen size
• Sliding infographic panels and storytelling modules that showcase how SAS is reimagining the school experience

Congrats to Singapore American School on a launch that soars!

Austin Waldorf School

Austin Waldorf School’s new website feels like an extension of its values—full of warmth, creativity, and care. Rooted in the holistic development of the child, the site blends organic design elements with functionality, creating a space that feels personal and grounded.

The homepage welcomes you with deep purples, teals, and bursts of color that reinforce the school's commitment to the full development of its students. From the beginning, the site captures your attention with a creative circular module titled 'Why Austin Waldorf,' which highlights how the school nurtures each child through intentional curriculum, compassionate faculty, and a strong sense of purpose.

Rounded corners on images, pill-shaped CTAs, and curved guiding lines throughout the scroll create a sense of gentle movement and reinforce the natural rhythms of learning that define the Waldorf approach. Textured backgrounds in calming greens and blues offer a sign that this is a school connected to the human experience.

And yes, if you’re quick, you’ll spot a speedy little roadrunner—a whimsical touch that adds character to the homepage and connects to campus spirit. Meep meep.

Families will appreciate the dedicated Parent Zone, which brings together everything from dress code policies to forms, directories, and handbooks, making it easy to stay informed.

Features Worth Exploring:

• Image Slider that pairs mission with meaningful imagery
• Cards showcasing campus features and natural surroundings
• Containers that keep tuition and affordability content clear and engaging
• Image Buttons that bring the school’s rich arts program to life
• Custom Constituents for an organized and accessible look at faculty and staff
• Posts to highlight the curriculum, perfect for explaining each division’s journey
• Accordions + Posts to build a strong library and resource section

Congratulations to the team on a heartfelt and purposeful launch!

De Smet Jesuit High School

De Smet Jesuit is kicking off the school year with a newly launched website that hits all the right notes—mission-driven messaging, content-rich storytelling, and seamless navigation, making it a powerful tool for back-to-school engagement and beyond.

The homepage draws you in immediately, introducing visitors to the school’s strategic priorities through a clean vertical scroll. Each section offers insight into the school’s core commitments: academic excellence, faith formation, personal growth, and a deep sense of brotherhood. Content is clear and focused, and each message feels intentionally crafted for families exploring the next step in their son’s journey.

A standout feature is the "Our Voices" section, where testimonials from students, alumni, faculty, and staff bring the community to life. These stories are a great example of how content can deepen connection and bring authenticity to a site.

Want to learn more? The Inquiry page delivers a great top-of-funnel experience, complete with a branded inquiry form and downloadable viewbook, a smart approach to content marketing that meets families right where they are.

The site does an excellent job highlighting what sets De Smet apart:

• Matriculation list showcasing graduates' next chapters at top colleges and universities
• Athletics spotlight with a dedicated header and social media integration, feeding in real-time scores and team highlights
• News, calendar, and social feeds consolidated in a sleek pop-out panel for up-to-date information at a glance
• A strong footer finish: “This is Spartan Country”—a statement of pride that closes the user journey with impact

Navigation is intuitive, with a slimmed-down pop-out menu, quick links to inquire, visit, apply, or give, and clear pathways to alumni, portals, and more.

Design Features to Explore:

• Infographics + Vertical Content Slider: A modern storytelling format that keeps users engaged
• Image Boxes: Visually distinct panels that highlight important content
• Athletics Header: Bold, action-driven, and full of spirit

Well done, Spartans!

St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School

The newly launched website for St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School opens with a clear message: "Pursue knowledge and goodness. Together." That theme plays out visually in a beautifully produced homepage video montage—highlighting moments of learning, leading, serving, and growing.

A series of engaging content blocks guides users through key differentiators:

• A commitment to Episcopal traditions and values
• Balanced leadership and service opportunities
• Hands-on learning inside and outside the classroom
• Programs and traditions that unite the community

The site brings those elements to life with video testimonials from students and faculty—or as the school calls them, "Saints"—who share their stories, perspectives, and passions. These personal moments give the site heart and make it easy for prospective families to see themselves as part of the community.

When it comes time to take the next step, the site delivers. An embedded Finalsite Enrollment inquiry form makes it simple to:

• Inquire
• Register for an open house
• Sign up for a virtual information session
• Schedule a campus tour

Each of these actions is supported by clear CTAs and admissions resources, including a timeline for applying, event details, and testimonials that build trust from the very beginning.

Design Features to Explore:

• Image Buttons: Visually engaging pathways into core mission areas
• Campus Map: Helps families explore the three distinct campuses
• Application Timeline: Guides families through each step of the process
• Filtered Post Grid: Makes it easy to explore athletics programs
• Athletics: Dynamic layout for team schedules and updates
• Full-Width Containers: Create visual momentum while reinforcing the school’s identity

Congratulations to the Saints on a powerful and purposeful launch!

St. Sebastian's School

St. Sebs opens its new website with an invitation that captures the heart of its experience: Be part of something greater. From the first scroll, visitors are drawn into a school culture that is mission-driven, all-boys, Catholic, and centered on the values of faith, hard work, and community.

The homepage leads with strong messaging and backs it up with substance. The standout tagline—“Love God, work hard, and take good care of one another”—sets the tone for an experience that highlights the school’s differentiators across academics, athletics, arts, service, and spiritual formation.

Every content block on the homepage is given space to shine. With intentional pacing and design, the site walks users through the values and student experiences that define a St. Sebastian’s education. One area at a time. One story at a time.

There’s a thoughtful balance of video, testimonials, and visual storytelling throughout the homepage and interior pages. This is especially true on the Admissions section, which features clear calls to action to Inquire, Visit, or Apply, paired with video stories from parents and faculty, fast facts, and helpful guidance on affording a St. Sebastian’s education.

As someone who’s seen the school and the experience firsthand, this site gets it right. This is a school that knows who it is, and now it has a site that reflects that strength with clarity, confidence, and care.

Noteworthy Design Features:

• Full-width layouts that give each section room to breathe and focus the user experience
• Video cards for storytelling that’s both emotional and informative
• Stat icons that quickly convey impact and outcomes
• Featured accordions repurposed from the homepage to organize rich content on interior pages
• Image buttons that guide navigation in a clean and branded way
• Animated 3-column panel on Admissions that promotes next steps: Inquire, Apply, Attend

Congratulations to the team at St. Sebastian’s and the Studio Advantage team at Finalsite for a beautiful and mission-aligned launch.

Episcopal Academy

Founded in 1785, Episcopal Academy has long been committed to nurturing tomorrow’s leaders in mind, body, and spirit. Now, it has a website that captures that legacy with clarity, beauty, and purpose.

From the moment you land on the homepage, you’re introduced to the heart of EA’s mission: a life of purpose, faith, and integrity. Those values come to life through thoughtful messaging, a refined visual identity, and subtle branding moments, like the highlighted "EA" within key words and headlines.

The homepage walks users through what sets Episcopal apart:

• The academic path it creates for every student
• The supportive faculty and joyful approach to learning
• A thriving culture of arts, athletics, and chapel
• A community built on character, faith, and opportunity

Hover animations bring the school’s core values to life—faith, generosity, respect, self-control, sportsmanship, and more—each paired with powerful testimonials and strong imagery that connects the message to real moments on campus.

The site also celebrates EA’s legacy of leadership through alumni stories, showing how graduates carry the school’s mission into the wider world. The closing homepage message sums it up perfectly: "Nothing is beyond your reach."

Smart Features and Enhancements:

• Scrolljacking Timeline: Tells EA’s 200+ year history with clarity and motion
• Full-width Photo Containers: Let the campus shine with immersive, high-quality visuals
• Athletics Team Display Treatment: Beautifully structured for exploring rosters, schedules, and achievements
• Post Pop-up Panels: Bring content to life without leaving the page
• Image Layout Variations: Clean left-and-right treatments to break up text and highlight visuals
• Image Buttons: Guide users through program offerings with polish and style

Interior pages follow through with well-organized navigation, search tools, and branded content blocks framed with elegant borders. The site’s detailed news center keeps the EA community connected, and there are fast paths for families and prospective students to explore admissions, academics, and campus life.

With Finalsite Studio Advantage guiding the creative process, EA now has a platform that reflects both its heritage and its high aspirations. Congrats to Episcopal Academy on a launch that’s timeless in mission and modern in execution.

Eastside Catholic School

The newly launched website for Eastside Catholic School opens with an inspired visual journey, soaring through the trees before landing in a place where students are encouraged to grow, lead, and believe in what's possible.

Users are welcomed with a clear and confident message:

Here, you will achieve excellence. You will thrive. You will embrace your future and discover community.

Those declarative statements set the tone for a homepage that is bold, branded, and purpose-driven. The school's signature blue and orange colors are carried through in buttons, typography, and visuals that highlight Eastside’s academic strength, faith-based mission, and commitment to developing tomorrow’s leaders.

What Makes the Site Shine:

• Strong storytelling through video testimonials from students, staff, and alumni
• News and social media integration to surface what’s happening now on campus
• An interactive transportation map that shows how students from many communities connect at EC
• Clear pathways to inquire, request info, or schedule a campus tour via Finalsite Enrollment
• A student experience page that highlights life beyond the classroom—clubs, events, service, and more

Both the Parent and Alumni pages offer helpful resources and ways to stay engaged, from links and calendars to giving opportunities and events—great examples of landing pages that speak to their audience and serve their needs. Check out their beautiful blog, too. (I might be biased...But I love a good blog page.)

Features to Explore:

• Finalsite Enrollment Inquiry Form: Streamlines admissions inquiries
• Interactive Map Module: Visualizes the reach and accessibility of the EC community
• Custom Video Testimonials: Bring real voices to the forefront
• Audience-specific landing pages: Serve key groups with focused content and CTAs
• Student Life Showcase: Connects users to the vibrant day-to-day experience at EC

Congratulations to the EC team on a beautifully branded launch!

Christian Brothers Academy

The new website for Christian Brothers Academy captures everything the school stands for—a contemporary, balanced Catholic education for young men—and presents it with style, motion, and meaning.

From the start, the site brings together structure and spirit. Traditional content areas like Fast Facts and mission statements are energized by hand-drawn accents—circles, arrows, and squiggly lines that highlight key messages and calls to action. It’s a subtle but impactful design choice that softens the formality, adds a human touch, and underscores the school’s message of community and character.

What Makes It Memorable:

• Custom Admissions Timeline: A clear, visual walkthrough of the admissions process—supported by video, testimonials, and fast facts—to guide prospective families with confidence
   
• A Strong Athletic Hub: From team pages to coach bios, game updates to big wins, the athletics section acts as a one-stop shop for fans, families, and future student-athletes. Social media feeds and athletic news posts keep the content fresh and active.
   
• Finalsite Enrollment Integration: When families are ready to take the next step, they’re met with an intuitive inquiry form that asks about academic, extracurricular, and athletic interests—setting the stage for more personalized communications.
   
• Mission-Aligned Design: With bold CTAs to inquire, apply, or give, and branded visuals that honor the school’s heritage, the site captures the CBA spirit and supports the next generation of learners.

Design Features to Explore:

• Image Buttons with animated treatments
• Branded Stats and Icons in the Fast Facts section
• Text + Image Panels with hand-drawn flair
• Full-width Background Image Panels for immersive visual storytelling
• College Matriculation Slider to spotlight student outcomes

Congratulations to the CBA team on a launch that’s clean, contemporary, and full of energy!
 

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.