August was buzzing with excitement, not just because of back-to-school season but also because of the impressive public school district websites that launched! Although August can be a crazy month for school pros, districts nationwide have been busy creating stunning, user-friendly, and inspiring site designs.

Whether showcasing district achievements or highlighting innovative programs, these new sites reflect each district’s unique stories and missions. Check out August’s collection of standout public school district site designs from Finalsite!

Frederick County Schools

Frederick County Public Schools has unveiled a beautifully redesigned website that reflects its innovative community, where caring relationships and authentic learning inspire. This redesign, the first significant update in four years, was guided by valuable input from a focus group of staff and parents, ensuring the websites truly meet the needs of families and the community.

Modern and User-Friendly Design

• The website greets visitors with an engaging video showcasing student life and community involvement, immediately capturing the district's essence.
   
• At the top of the homepage, users can find icons and quick links to information most frequently accessed by families, like the calendar, enrollment, and bus information.
   
• Consistent branding is also used across the district’s 21 schools. Each site adheres to the district’s design framework while using unique color schemes to maintain a cohesive brand but distinct identity.

Engaging Content
The site’s homepage features the latest district news and upcoming events, utilizing Finalsite’s Post module to keep the community informed. There's also a “Frederick County Public Schools at a Glance” section, which gives quick insights, like the number of students and staff, the number of meals served, as well as the district’s graduation rate.

Columbia 93 School District

Columbia Public Schools’ updated website improved its navigation and created an intuitive design, supporting the district's commitment to keeping its community connected and informed.

Accessibility
Users can access a keyword search bar, enabling quick and easy access to specific information. 
Finalsite's translation partner, Weglot, supports one-click translation into multiple languages, ensuring that non-English-speaking families can easily navigate the site.

One of the standout features is its mobile-friendly design, which allows users to access all the same information seamlessly from their smartphones or tablets.

Navigation & Content
The website’s top navigation bar includes an About Us section, along with other essential resources. Parents and families can easily find resources, including the school calendar, handbook, transportation details, and more—all conveniently located at the very top of the page.

Scrolling down the homepage reveals more useful features, like:

• A section for the latest news and updates, keeping families informed about important developments.
• A section that highlights upcoming school events, making it easy for parents and students to stay engaged.
• Quick access to other popular links and resources.

Community Consolidated District 15

As the second largest elementary school district in Illinois, Community Consolidated School District 15 serves its community of over 11,000 preschool through 8th grade students across 20 schools. The district prioritizes the success and belonging of its students, staff retention, and community engagement, which were large inspirations when designing this stunning new website.

Engaging Homepage and Visual Design
Upon visiting the homepage, users are greeted with beautiful imagery and a welcoming video showcasing students from the district engaging in various activities. The design incorporates the district's colors, rounded-edge drop-down menus, and welcoming language such as "you belong here" to create an inviting atmosphere.

Improved Navigation and Mobile Responsiveness
Recognizing that over 50% of their visitors access the site via mobile devices, the district prioritized a mobile-first design, including streamlined navigation menus that make it easier for users to find key information like lunch menus, calendars, and search functions. 

Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusivity
The redesigned website takes strides to ensure accessibility for all users with AudioEye’s Visual Toolkit, larger, more readable fonts, and even an enhanced translation menu that supports the 11 most popular languages spoken within the district.

Showcasing the District's Identity
The district's tree logo is found throughout the site, helping reinforce its visual identity in the header, footer, and within the different content areas. A notable feature is the "Discover the District 15 Difference" section, which allows users to hover over different programs and learn more about its full-day kindergarten, its multilingual services, and more.

Additionally, the "Proud to be 15" section features interviews with various district members, including a bus driver, a teacher, a principal, and the assistant superintendent.

Harrisburg School District

Harriburg’s redesigned website supports its mission by creating a welcoming and informative digital environment for new and returning families. The homepage features its mission, vision, and a dynamic slideshow featuring photos from around the district that adds a personal touch and highlights the vibrant community within Harrisburg School District. 

Upcoming Events and News
The site prominently displays upcoming events and a section dedicated to the latest news and an important message from their new superintendent, ensuring that parents, students, and staff are updated about what’s happening around the district. 

District Statistics
The "Who We Are by the Numbers" section provides a quick snapshot of the district's scale and diversity while highlighting key statistics, such as the number of students, staff members, classrooms, and spoken languages.

Congratulations to all the districts that went live with their new websites this August!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As the Social Media and Content Specialist, Hailey oversees Finalsite's social media accounts and helps grow its online community. Following her time at the University of Kansas, where she took up rowing, Hailey is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys playing soccer and running.