SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
St. Louis University High School
With a rich history marked by four name changes and five relocations, St. Louis University High School (SLUH) is the oldest school west of the Mississippi River and one of Missouri's largest private high schools.
Founded in 1818, this all-male Jesuit high school has continually evolved to meet the needs of its students and community.
At SLUH, high standards begin with the admissions process, where Finalsite’s enrollment management system helps set the bar and establish clear expectations for prospective families.
At a Glance
St. Louis University High School (SLUH) is an all-male Jesuit high school, serving over 1,000 students in grades 9-12 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Leveraging Finalsite Enrollment, SLUH has refined its admissions process to respond to a surge of interest and strategically welcome mission-fit families through its door. Under the guidance of Admissions Director Ann Murphy, SLUH has adopted a unique approach to the early stages of the admissions process.
“Finalsite Enrollment's reports are amazing and allow us to find anything we need in order to make good, informed decisions as we select our classes."
ANN MURPHY
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
An Authentic Look at Campus
SLUH provides prospective families with a realistic, yet personalized view of student life. The school's main tours, Inside SLUH Visits and Shadow@SLUH, are conducted during school hours with students, allowing families to experience real schedules, real classes, and real school values firsthand.
Murphy emphasizes transparency and authenticity during these tours, ensuring families clearly understand what to expect at SLUH. Prospective students and their families can walk the hallways, observe classes, participate in P.E., and more, and it's this honest approachthat helps families determine early on in the research process if SLUH is the right fit for their child.
“Families are becoming more informed and looking for detailed information regarding their son’s experience at SLUH,” said Murphy. “In our 8th grade Shadow@SLUH program, we invite parents to a morning session while their sons are attending classes so they can get all their questions answered in order to make the best decision.”
A Personalized and Effective Enrollment Process
Finalsite's enrollment management system allows the admissions team to tailor visits and events to the interests that prospective students selected during the inquiry process, whether they’re interested in athletics, extracurricular activities, or specific academic programs.
The mobile-friendly inquiry form, a critical component of the system, also lets prospective families select their preferred method of communication — be it phone, text, or email — ensuring a personalized and efficient admissions journey. This customization helps the admissions team engage with families in a way that aligns with their preferences and needs.
Finding Mission-Fit Families
The system has been instrumental in tracking student progress, informing strategic decisions, and communicating outcomes to parents, too.
One of SLUH ‘s key goals is to attract mission-fit families who align with the school's Jesuit values and community spirit. Murphy's upfront and honest approach during the admissions process helps achieve this goal, and by setting clear expectations early on, she ensures that only those families who truly resonate with SLUH's mission move forward in the admissions process.
Once parents create a parent portal account and complete the initial application form for their student, they can access all of the admissions requirements from a convenient, dynamic checklist, including:
- Additional applicant information forms
- Admissions event registration
- Family interview scheduling
- Admission letters
- Transcript request automation
- Recommendation request automation
- Admitted student information
The success of this strategy is evident in the enrollment data. In a recent admissions cycle, 54% of inquiry students converted to applicants. While this might seem low to some, Murphy views it as a positive outcome, as it reflects a focus on quality over quantity. Of the students who applied, 92% completed the enrollment process, resulting in 259 new students on campus and a waitlist for the first time in a decade.
“Finalsite reports are amazing and allow us to find anything we need in order to make good, informed decisions as we select our classes,” added Murphy.
With Finalsite Enrollment
56%
Converted
inquiries into applicants.
92%
Completed
the enrollment process.
1st
Waitlist
in a decade.
Adapting to Changes in Public School Culture
SLUH's enrollment success is also attributed to the changing public school culture in St. Louis and the school's proactive marketing and recruiting efforts. With increasing interest from public school families, SLUH has positioned itself as a viable alternative by highlighting its unique offerings and commitment to its mission.
The comprehensive approach to admissions, supported by Finalsite's content management system (CMS) Composer system, has allowed SLUH to communicate its value proposition to prospective families effectively. Since launching its newly designed website, the admissions page has seen a 361% increase in organic traffic in just six short months, resulting in a stronger, more mission-aligned student body and a significant increase in enrollment inquiries and applications.
“We have finally arrived at the 21st century by using the texting feature,” added Murphy. “This is how people are getting their information and it is very effective for communication. A well-designed header template makes e-blasting really simple.”
St. Louis University High School's success with Finalsite's enrollment management system demonstrates the importance of a strategic, mission-focused approach to admissions. By providing an authentic view of student life, and using an effective enrollment management system, SLUH has successfully attracted mission-fit families and achieved impressive enrollment outcomes in a short time.
Take a Self-Guided Tour of Finalsite Enrollment
See for yourself how Finalsite's EMS streamlines the enrollment process for you and your families!
Request a FREE
Enrollment Experience Review
Want feedback on your school's admissions & enrollment experience? Get a free review and learn what improvements you can make right now to impact enrollment.