“Can I make friends here?”

That’s not a theoretical question, but just one of the thousands of questions users asked their school’s AI chatbot. Each question was filled with hope, vulnerability, and the kind of curiosity that drives families and students to your school’s website in the first place.

When someone uses your school’s chatbot, they’re looking for help, clarity, and sometimes, reassurance. They’re trying to figure out if your school is the right place for them.

They’re a parent juggling registration deadlines, a student worried about belonging, or someone simply wondering what time lunch starts, and these are meaningful moments that can reveal a lot about what users need from you.

We reviewed more than 21,800 real questions and comments submitted to clients' sites through Ask AI, Finalsite’s AI-powered website assistant.

• Some were strange: “What size is my heart?”
• Some were funny: “Talk to me like you’re Yoda.”
• Some were, well … sad: “Teaching is depressing.”

OK, those last two were statements, but regardless, the questions tell a story about student behavior, parent expectations, and how well your school communicates and cares.

Below are the 10 common themes we uncovered, along with what they reveal and how you can respond in ways that reflect the level of service your school hopes to provide.

What Thousands of AI Chatbot Questions Revealed About Schools

1. Basic Operational Information

“What time does school start?” “When is lunch?”

Families want quick answers to the basics, but when information like start times, bell schedules, or lunch periods are buried in PDFs or scattered across pages, it’s just easier to ask a chatbot. These questions may seem simple, but they matter—a lot. They help families plan their day and keep students on track.

Actual questions submitted:

• “What time does school start?”
• “What time do kids eat lunch?”
• “What is the bell schedule?”
• “What happens if there is a weather delay or school closure?”
• “How do I call my child out sick?”
• “What is the latest time for kindergarten drop off?”

Some of these questions were submitted to Montverde Academy's AI chatbot, "Ask MVA," which works around the clock in real time, 24/7. And with its knowledge base pre-programmed to help users with accurate responses, it acts as a virtual assistant designed to simulate human conversation and help users get their questions answered ASAP. 

2. Enrollment & Registration

“What does it cost for Grade 5?”  “When does early childhood start?”

Some of the most frequent types of questions are about enrollment, and considering enrollment is one of the most stressful processes for families, parents want to know how and when to register, what documents they need, and where to go if they’re new.

Parents asked about everything from required documents to zoning questions:

• “Do you accept students in Grade 3?”
• “Hello, how do I apply for this school?”
• “How long does it take for a pending enrollment application to be approved?”

Enrollment isn’t a once-a-year event; it’s a year-round journey. Make instructions mobile-friendly, translated, and easy to follow. Connect Ask AI to your enrollment checklist and keep it updated with deadlines, grade levels, and zoning info. Clear steps build confidence and reduce the need for phone calls to your admissions office.

Keep Reading: How Do AI Chatbots for Schools REALLY Work?

3. Tuition, Fees & Financial Aid

“What are the prices?” “What would be the fee for an international student?”

Families, especially those considering private or international schools, want transparent information about tuition, fees, and financial assistance, but when info is vague or hidden behind PDFs, it’ll send them elsewhere.

• “Are scholarships available?”
• “Is there any better offer for German residents?”
• “How much is the tuition?”

So, be upfront and clear about tuition rates, what's included, payment plan options, and how to apply for financial aid. The more answers families can find in one place, the more likely they are to trust you.

4. Academic Programs & Curriculum

“What’s the math curriculum?” “Is there an ESL program?”

Whether families are new or already enrolled, academics are top of mind. Users want to know what their child will learn, how students are placed, and what courses or activities are available.

These questions reflect a curiosity about planning—a great sign that they're engagement.

• “Can you tell me more about the math program in elementary school?”
• “What is the IB score?”
• “How is the arts program?”
• “Does the school offer ceramics classes?”
• “What electives are available in Grade 8?”

Pull the curriculum out of PDFs, put it into web-friendly pages, and organize them by grade level or department. Link to course catalogs and highlight enrichment programs like arts, athletics, and STEM. The more clarity you give, the more confident families feel, as these pages become quick-access answers that speak to your school’s strengths.

5. Questions about Events & Calendars

“When is graduation?” “Who’s in charge of the gala?”

Event logistics are a common theme, and if your event calendar isn’t up-to-date or visible, users will want to confirm event details they either can’t find, like:

• “When is the next boys lacrosse game?”
• “When is ski week?”
• “When is the next town council meeting?”

Keep your calendars current and tag your events with helpful keywords like “ceremony,” “concert,” or “parent night.” When families feel looped in, they’re more likely to show up and stay involved.

6. Discipline, Conduct & Student Concerns

“I was suspended, and I didn’t get a chance to talk to the principal...”

Some of the most emotionally-charged questions come from students looking for fairness, clarity, or someone to listen. These are sensitive moments, and while these questions don’t always have clear answers, they reveal a lot about how students are feeling: confusion, stress, or a desire to be heard.

• “Hey i recently got suspended and i didn't write a statement or talk to the principal and that's a violation of the handbook.”
• “A student had a regular vape and got suspended for 14 days but another student had a THC vape and got suspended for 3 days.”
• “I’m furious because my child’s school isn’t following their IEP. Why are you not doing anything about it?”

When setting up an AI-powered chatbot for your school, include language that clearly explains the processes. And always provide a next step, whether that’s a contact information for a point person, a way to file a concern, or a place to ask for support.

7. Staff & Contact Information

“Can I speak to the freshman principal?” “What’s the number for the benefits office?”

Many users are trying to reach a specific person, especially for sensitive topics or detailed follow-ups. If your contact or directory pages are outdated or hard to navigate, your school's chatbot becomes a workaround.

• "Who is the superintendent?"
• "Is there a job opening in the business office?"
• “Who is the upper school principal?”
• “Who is on the board of trustees?”

People don’t want to submit a general form. What they do want is the right person. Make sure staff contact pages are accurate, easy to navigate, and searchable by name, department, and role. Ask AI should point people to the right contact, but it needs updated content to do that well.

Keep Reading: AI Chatbots for Schools: Everything You Need to Know

8. Technology & Access

“Why are certain sites blocked?” “Who decides what gets filtered?”

Tech questions coming from students are more common than you’d think. And while there are some complaints here and there, there are also questions about fairness, access, and digital rights.

Students, in particular, are looking for clear rules about access, like:

• "Who is in charge of blocking websites?"
• "How does my student return their laptop?"
• “Are things that are blocked only blocked on school wifi?”

Be transparent about your technology policies. Link to your Internet safety policy responses, and provide a clear way for students to ask for help when a site is wrongly blocked.

9. Language Access & Multilingual Needs

“Qué necesito para inscribir a mi hijo?”

Multilingual families are using chatbots often and for good reason. Language barriers make it harder to navigate traditional websites, but when they can ask questions in their preferred language, they get answers from Ask AI that they can trust.

• ¿Aceptan grado 6? (Do you accept grade 6?)
• ¿Qué necesito para inscribir a mi hijo? (What do I need to register my child?)
• Как сообщить об угрозе? (How to report a threat?)
• ¿Cuándo es el partido de béisbol? (When is the baseball game?)

These questions show how important it is to offer translated content and multilingual support on your site. Ask AI can understand and respond to users in more than 45 languages, so it's a great way to serve your entire community, not just English speakers.

10. Community & Belonging

“Can I make friends?” “Is there a Black Student Union?”

These questions carry a lot of weight. They’re not asking about logistics, but rather, belonging.

• "What does a typical day look like as a student?"
• "How diverse is FIS?"
• What non-cut sports do you offer?”
• “I am in 5th grade and it's hard.”
• "What after school activities do you offer?"

Highlight your clubs, affinity groups, and student-led programs clearly. Let Ask AI be a gateway to the parts of your school that create belonging and identity. These programs matter, and your chatbot can help families and students discover them.

Key Takeaway

Aside from answering questions, AI chatbots for schools, like Ask AI,  can reveal what matters most to your school community. From logistics about games to how students can become involved, every exchange is a chance to build trust and connection. When your chatbot is powered by good content and thoughtful strategy, it becomes one of the most valuable tools in your communications toolkit.

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.