September brought a new wave of school district website launches, each one bringing its own flavor and style of thoughtful design, improved user experiences, and content that puts students, families, and staff at the center.

In this roundup, we're highlighting the school districts that went live last month, and taking a look at how their new sites not only look great but also function as powerful tools for communication, enrollment, and community engagement.

You’ll find new district websites that are:

• Prioritizing community updates and timely information for their families
• Designed with navigation that makes it easy for families, staff, and students to find what they need quickly
• Showcasing district pride with compelling stories
• Supporting inclusive communication with built-in accessibility features and translation tools
• Encouraging engagement with clear, action-oriented pathways for enrollment, support, and more connection

Take a look at the latest launches from Zionsville, Anchorage, and more!

Zionsville Community Schools

Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) has officially launched its new website, and it’s packed with expert design, helpful tools, and a strong sense of identity. From the homepage, visitors are welcomed with clean, branded icons that offer quick access to calendars, careers, portals, and key information systems.

Some striking fast facts and data-driven highlights help tell the story of ZCS’s momentum, while imagery centered on student achievement and graduation celebrates the journey and success of its learners.

The Pathways to Excellence section offers a closer look at standout programs across leadership, academics, and athletics, giving families a strong sense of what ZCS offers. Meanwhile, the Friday Five, a weekly snapshot of student successes, keeps the community informed and inspired.

The Human Resources page is a great example of recruitment storytelling, featuring team introductions, video testimonials, and an overview of how ZCS empowers both staff and students to thrive. Across the site, departments are well-organized, with dedicated space for school board resources, leadership updates, and helpful information for families.

There are also some practical resources in the omni navigation for students, parents, staff, and quick access to different schools throughout the community. There's a great sense of branding, not just within the graphic elements of the icons, calls to action, text, and animations, but also within the imagery itself.

Some thoughtful design enhancements, like custom containers, animating titles, and image buttons, bring a bit of personality to the experience, too.

You can tell that there's been a lot of thought put into image selection and how the design elements complement one another—nice job!

Anchorage School District

Spanning 95,000 square miles, Anchorage School District, home to more than 45,000 students in 90+ schools, has launched a new website that beautifully balances function with identity.

With blues and whites grounded in the district’s branding, the site incorporates imagery of tall pines and surrounding mountains, a lovely nod to the region’s natural landscape and deep ties to indigenous land.

From the homepage, users have quick access to essentials like student portals, calendars, and parent resources, while the latest news and upcoming events are always within reach. A standout feature is Shine Bright, which showcases student stories and achievements through bold graphic treatments that make those moments feel extra special.

Social media integration pulls in updates from YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, keeping the site dynamic and connected to the wider community. For current families, the site is a reliable go-to for wellness services, school counseling, attendance information, parent conferences, and more, making it as practical as it is engaging.

Anchorage’s new website is a strong, community-driven platform that shows the district’s size, story, and commitment to its students. Congrats on a successful launch that connects families and celebrates the heart of Alaska’s largest school district.

Marinette School District

Marinette School District, serving students in northeast Wisconsin, has launched a new website that shows its lakeside roots and commitment to student success. Located along the shores of Lake Michigan’s Green Bay, the district brings its nautical spirit online with a fresh, engaging site experience that welcomes visitors to "Impact. Engage. Inspire."

Visitors are greeted with flowing design elements in purples, blues, and grays—color choices that double as content dividers and ties to the district’s Marines identity. Nautical touches, like a branded anchor graphic and subtly animated footer waves, reinforce the district’s theme and bring a fun, visual consistency to the site.

• Navigation is clean and focused, with quicklinks to district information, schools, and family resources.
   
• Sticky calls-to-action keep key tools, like the staff directory, student information system, and class resources, are within reach no matter where you are on the page.
   
• The omni navigation provides access to student and family resources, along with direct links to the district’s primary, intermediate, middle, and high school sites, all designed with consistent branding and structure.

Other standout features include integrated social media feeds, school spotlights, and slimmed-down menus that make it easy for users to find what they need without being overwhelmed, or rathe, going overboard...It’s a site you’ll want to “dive" into and explore more. Congratulations to MSD!

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

The new Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) site is now live with the vibrant coastal communities it serves.

With a clean layout and intuitive design, the site is an inviting and energetic place for quick access to key tools like district news, enrollment, board agendas, staff directories, and parent resources, making it easy for users to stay informed and connected.

Supported by more than 1,400 staff members and a highly engaged parent community across Santa Monica and Malibu, the district offers a diverse mix of programs, including a dual immersion program, an IB World School, early childhood centers, and alternative learning pathways.

The new homepage highlights these academic programs, inclusive opportunities, and collaborative spirit, along with district achievements and recognitions, followed by recent events and a live social media feed pulling in updates from Instagram and X.

A calendar of upcoming events keeps families in step with everything happening across the district, and thanks to its mobile-friendly navigation, users can easily explore programs, departments, community resources, and key contacts.

We’re looking forward to seeing this website celebrate its legacy, engage its community, and continue to support every learner. Congratulations on a successful launch!

Winchester Public School District

Winchester Public Schools in Virginia launched its new site in September, introducing a clean, organized, and interactive experience for families, staff, and the wider community. Built to reflect the district’s priorities and programs, the site is both visually engaging and user-friendly, making it easier than ever to stay connected to what’s happening across the district.

The homepage opens with a rotating slideshow featuring joyful moments from around the district—students, staff, and group activities that showcase a thriving community. Below, users will find upcoming events and the latest news in an organized slideshow format that keeps families informed at a glance.

• A collapsible left-hand navigation panel gives users quick access to essentials like staff resources, calendars, menus, transportation updates, and closure or delay announcements. It’s a smart feature that keeps high-demand content within reach at all times.
   
• Content blocks highlight key district programs, like its preschool options, dual language immersion, and a forward-thinking look at how Winchester is approaching AI in education.
   
• A standout design feature includes interactive stats in the By the Numbers section, where data about students, staff, academics, and goals come to life with subtle animations when users hover.

The Discover WPS menu in the main navigation houses a large collection of content, from athletics and after-school care to directories and strategic planning resources. For those looking to quickly locate specific content, the site offers helpful search tools, including a keyword search, staff directory lookup, and fast access to key pages like school menus, calendars, transportation, and enrollment.

Congratulations to Winchester Public Schools and all the other districts on wonderful sites that are both informative and engaging—they're all thoughtful spaces designed to support families, celebrate student success, and guide districts into the future.
 

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.