In today’s competitive educational landscape, the visual materials you create often serve as the first impression families have of your school. Understanding basic design principles can make the difference between materials that get noticed.

The truth is, design isn’t about having an artistic eye or expensive software. It’s about understanding how visual elements communicate and applying proven principles that guide the viewer’s attention exactly where you want it to go.

Color: Your Brand Ambassador

Colors communicate before your words do. In Western cultures, we already associate certain feelings and values with specific colors, making color choice a powerful tool for brand positioning.

Color Psychology in Action

Navy and burgundy convey trust and tradition—perfect for established institutions with decades of history and strong academic reputations. These colors signal stability and gravitas, appealing to families seeking time-tested educational excellence.

Conversely, bright blues and greens signal innovation and energy—ideal for STEM programs, progressive schools, or institutions emphasizing project-based learning and maker spaces. These colors communicate forward-thinking approaches and dynamic learning environments.

Building Your Strategic Palette

Start by asking: What is your school’s personality? Are you a traditional institution focusing on rigorous academics, or an innovative charter school with cutting-edge programs? Your color choices should align with these values.

Aim for 5-6 colors total: two primary brand colors, two accent colors, plus dark and light neutrals. This gives you enough variety for visual interest while maintaining cohesion across all materials.

Accessibility Isn’t Optional

Once you’ve chosen colors that reflect your values, ensure they work for everyone. Accessibility isn’t just good practice—it’s often legally required. Maintain a 4.5:1 contrast ratio between text and backgrounds. This ensures readability for people with varying vision abilities.

I recommend coolors.co for both generating color palettes and checking contrast ratios. This tool allows you to lock specific colors and suggests complementary options while testing accessibility compliance.

Print vs. Digital Considerations

Don’t forget about format requirements. Digital materials use RGB or HEX values, while print requires CMYK color processes. If you produce significant promotional materials, you may also need Pantone color specifications. Document these equivalents as you build your palette to ensure consistency across all mediums.

Finally, test your colors in real-world conditions. Print them on paper, view them on different devices, and ask staff with varying vision abilities to review materials before finalizing anything.

Typography: Where Small Changes Create Big Impact

Typography might seem like a minor detail, but it’s often where amateur materials reveal themselves. The good news? Small changes here create disproportionately large improvements in perceived professionalism.

The Two-Font Rule

Stick to two main fonts: one for headings, one for body text. Occasionally, a third font for small accents is acceptable, but resist the urge to use more. Font variety doesn’t equal visual interest—it usually creates chaos.

Contrast Is Key

Your typefaces should be sufficiently different in weight and visual density. Apply the squint test: even when you can’t read individual words, you should easily distinguish between headlines and body copy. This ensures clear hierarchy regardless of viewing conditions.

Create Hierarchy Beyond Color

Don’t rely solely on color to establish information hierarchy. Use size and weight differences so your materials work in black and white printing or for viewers with color vision differences.

Helpful Tools for Font Pairing

Use resources like fontjoy.com, fontpair.co, or mixfont.com for pairing suggestions. These tools let you preview font combinations and even lock specific fonts while suggesting complementary options.

Size Standards for Readability

Follow minimum size requirements: 16 pixels for digital materials, 12-point for print. These aren’t arbitrary numbers—they ensure readability across different viewing conditions and age ranges in your community.

Moving Forward With Confidence

Professional design isn’t about artistic talent or expensive software—it’s about understanding how visual elements guide attention and communicate values. By applying these principles consistently, schools can create materials that build trust, communicate clearly, and compete effectively for family attention.

Remember: every visual touchpoint is an opportunity to reinforce your school’s professionalism and values. When materials look polished and intentional, families assume the same care extends to educational programming.

About the Author

Niki is a design expert and visual communications specialist who helps schools create professional, effective marketing materials that support their enrollment and community engagement goals.

Essential Design Resources

Recommended Reading

The Non-Designer’s Design Book

Free Stock Photo Resources

Unsplash

Pexels

Pixabay

Color Palette Tools

Coolors

Adobe Color

Muzli

Premium Design Tools & Templates

Canva

Envato Elements

Creative Market

About the Author

Niki Blaker is a design strategist and founder of Five Sigma Studio—a design firm focused on bringing brand strategy, user experience, design, and content together. Her work is guided by an emphasis on cross-discipline collaboration and in-depth research that makes meaningful brand strategy and design experiences possible.

In this episode of Tuesday Tips, we were joined by Michael Soh for a follow-up discussion on strategic facility planning that helps schools make smart decisions without breaking their budgets.

Here are this session’s top 3 tips:

Avoid costly last-minute changes during construction. The most expensive facility mistake is making design changes once construction begins. Require 3D renderings and virtual walk-throughs during the design phase to visualize your space accurately. This helps catch issues before construction when changes cost significantly more due to change orders, schedule delays, and material reordering.
Invest in professional expertise from the start. Don’t try to manage complex facility projects without dedicated professionals. Hire project managers or owner’s representatives with education facility experience to guide budget management, contract negotiations, and decision-making. This investment prevents higher costs from legal fees, unfavorable contracts, and poor guidance.
Start with a comprehensive facility audit. For budget-constrained schools, conduct a facilities condition assessment first. Have an outside consultant evaluate your current facility and future needs to create a comprehensive long-term plan. This prevents piecemeal decisions and helps identify urgent repairs, energy inefficiencies, and expansion possibilities before committing resources.

Crafting a clear mission statement is essential to defining how a school fulfills the responsibility of educating its students. More than just words posted in the lobby and on classroom walls, the mission statement offers direction for how leaders lead, teachers teach, and students learn. Board members and school administrators take the responsibility of writing a mission statement very seriously, often spending hours, days, and weeks refining the language. Whether your school is developing a new mission statement or revising an existing one, here are some guidelines for the process.

Keep It Clear, Achievable, and Repeatable

The mission statement is not a multi-point dissertation about a school’s philosophy of education. It is a simple articulation of the school’s educational goals. So, keep it simple, but significant.

Easy to Remember & Repeat – 25 words or fewer is the goal so that every staff member, student, parent, and Board member can recite the statement from memory.
Believable & Achievable—The statement should focus on realistic goals within the school community and include provable, measurable results. This is important when it comes to reauthorization and accreditation.
Rooted in reality – Idealistic statements lack authenticity and are often difficult to validate.

Your Mission Statement is a Living Document

Many schools treat the mission statement as untouchable. This may be a mistake. Schools are innovative places. Does a mission statement written decades ago reflect how students are learning today?

The school I attended – and loved – has a 100-word mission statement that has not changed in its 150-year history. It’s more of a historical document written in the 19th century than a reflection of the 21st-century education the school now offers.

While the mission statement does not need to be constantly reviewed, an occasional assessment is valuable. Is the school now doing what we said we were going to do when we wrote this?

Changing Your Mission Statement

Schools grow and evolve, and their mission statements should do the same. Nothing should be set in stone. If a school’s mission no longer aligns with its students’ needs, it may be time for a revision. Even a few words or phrases that reflect the new direction add value to the statement.

Who Should Be Involved in the Process?

Every member of the school community should believe in fulfilling the mission statement. Giving them the opportunity to participate in crafting it not only ensures buy-in but also makes the message authentic.

Board Members often kick off the process as the ones responsible for vision-casting and governance.
School Leaders & Teachers, the boots-on-the-ground whose daily work reflects the mission, can add value to the words.
Parents & Families add perspective as the consumers.
Students, the beneficiaries of the mission, will offer honest feedback and insights into what truly matters in their school experience.

How to Gather Input Effectively

Managing input from multiple groups can be tricky, but there are ways to streamline the process:

Surveys & Word Clouds – Ask stakeholders to submit keywords that resonate with them.
Draft and Revise – Have the Board create a draft, then circulate it for feedback, empowering readers to add suggestions.
Student Focus Groups – Students can provide real, unfiltered insight into what their school represents.

A school’s mission statement is an important guiding star. Creating one that is realistic, achievable, and measurable is critical to accomplishing the school’s educational goal.

About the Author

Susan Solomon Yem is a content strategist on the Enrollment Marketing Team at Grow Schools, where she helps schools define and communicate their mission and vision. She has worked in radio, television, film, and publishing, telling stories that resonate with educators, community leaders, and parents.

Every growing school eventually faces the same challenge: the physical space that once supported your mission now limits it. Whether it’s overcrowded classrooms, outdated infrastructure, or simply running out of room for new students, facility constraints can significantly impact your ability to deliver quality education and achieve sustainable growth.

The question isn’t if you’ll face these challenges, but when—and how strategically you’ll respond. With the right approach and adherence to best practices, a school building can become a powerful tool in advancing the mission and vision of your school. The schools that thrive understand that facility decisions require long-term thinking, careful planning, and creative problem-solving. Those that struggle often make rushed decisions that cost significantly more money and create ongoing operational headaches.

The Strategic Questions That Matter

Before diving into renovation, expansion, or relocation options, successful schools ask themselves fundamental questions that guide their decision-making process:

1. Start with the Problems

What are the core issues with your current space? Is it insufficient classroom count, lack of specialized areas like labs or maker spaces, poor accessibility, or outdated infrastructure? Understanding your fundamental problems helps determine whether renovation can address them or if more dramatic action is needed.

2. Assess Your Building’s Foundation

Evaluate the remaining useful life of your building’s core systems: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing. What would it cost to replace or significantly upgrade these systems? Sometimes the hidden infrastructure costs of maintaining an older building outweigh the benefits of staying put.

3. Consider Layout Flexibility

Can your current building adapt to future needs? Are walls movable? Can spaces be reconfigured? Some buildings offer excellent bones but poor layout, while others have fundamental structural limitations that make adaptation expensive or impossible.

4. Understand External Constraints

Physical and zoning limitations can severely impact your options. Lot size, setback requirements, historic preservation restrictions, and local zoning laws all influence whether expansion is feasible. Research these constraints early to avoid costly surprises later.

5. Project Your Future Needs

What are your enrollment projections for the next 5, 10, and 20 years? What facility requirements are non-negotiable for your school’s mission? A STEM-focused school might need extensive lab space, while an arts school requires performance venues. Understanding your long-term needs helps you avoid outgrowing your solution too quickly.

6. Face Financial Reality

What’s your realistic budget for this project? How will you raise capital—through fundraising, grants, donations, or financing? Get preliminary cost estimates from architects and contractors, even if your plans aren’t fully developed. Understanding ballpark costs early prevents pursuing unrealistic solutions.

7. Plan for Implementation

When do you need this project completed? What’s your realistic timeline? How will construction impact current students, and do you need temporary facilities? These logistical considerations often determine project feasibility as much as financial constraints.

8. Assess Risk Factors

What major risks accompany each option? Older buildings may harbor infrastructure surprises like asbestos or structural issues. New construction faces permit delays and cost overruns. Relocation involves market availability and transition challenges. Understanding these risks helps you plan and budget accordingly.

The Timeline Reality: Why Early Planning Matters

One of the biggest mistakes schools make is treating facility planning as a crisis response rather than an ongoing strategic process. When space becomes a last-minute emergency, options become limited and expensive. At the heart of every successful facility transition lies a clear set of goals, including a well-defined budget and a target timeline for delivery of the new space.

Facility planning should be a long-term, ongoing process. The timeline depends entirely on your project’s scale and complexity:

Design Phase Variations

Simple renovations or small additions might require only 3 months of design work, while large campus projects can take 18 months or more. A 20,000+ square foot building typically falls into the longer timeline category, especially when it involves complex programming or specialized spaces.

Permitting: The Wild Card

Permitting timelines vary dramatically by jurisdiction and project complexity. I’ve seen permits approved in one week in pro-development areas, while other projects face 24+ months of approvals due to environmental impact studies, zoning variances, or city council requirements.

California’s CEQA process, New York’s ULURP procedures, and similar regulatory frameworks in other states can add significant time to complex projects. Understanding your local requirements early helps set realistic expectations.

The Compound Effect

These timelines compound. A project requiring 18 months of design plus 18 months of permitting plus 12 months of construction means you need to start planning nearly four years before you need the space. Factor in fundraising time, and the planning horizon extends even further.

Creative Solutions for Immediate Relief

While long-term facility planning proceeds, schools often need immediate solutions to address current constraints. The most effective approaches maximize existing space while supporting future growth:

1. Modular Classroom Solutions

Portable or modular classrooms offer excellent short-term relief. They’re faster and cheaper than traditional construction, requiring minimal permitting and construction time. While not a permanent solution, they provide crucial breathing room during longer-term planning.

2. Reimagining Circulation Spaces

Progressive schools transform hallways from simple transit zones into learning commons. With modular furniture, whiteboards, and power outlets, corridors become informal study areas, quiet reading spaces, and collaborative work zones. This approach maximizes every square foot of your building.

3. Flexible Furniture and Equipment

Movable furniture transforms single-purpose rooms into multi-use spaces. A traditional classroom can quickly become a lab, workshop, or meeting space when furniture and equipment adapt to different needs. This flexibility is especially valuable in smaller schools where every room must serve multiple functions.

4. Retractable Walls and Partitions

Movable partitions allow large spaces to serve multiple purposes. A gymnasium can become two separate spaces for different activities, or a large classroom can divide for smaller group work. These solutions provide flexibility without permanent structural changes.

5. Activating Underutilized Spaces

Many schools have basement, attic, or storage areas that could become functional learning spaces with modest investment. Converting these areas into art studios, media centers, or specialized learning environments often costs less than adding new construction.

Outdoor Learning Extensions

Don’t limit learning to indoor spaces. Outdoor classrooms, community gardens, and covered learning areas extend your facility’s capacity while providing unique educational opportunities. These solutions often require minimal permitting and can be implemented relatively quickly.

Moving Forward Strategically

The most successful school facility projects share common characteristics: they start early, ask the right questions, consider multiple scenarios, and plan for flexibility. They treat facility decisions as strategic investments in educational mission rather than just space problems to solve.

Remember that your facility should support your educational vision, not constrain it. The schools that thrive understand that thoughtful facility planning creates opportunities for enhanced learning experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

Whether you’re renovating, expanding, or relocating, the key is approaching facility decisions as ongoing strategic planning rather than crisis management. Start the conversation early, ask the hard questions, and remember that the best facility solution is the one that serves your students and mission both today and twenty years from now.

About the Author

Michael Soh helps schools expand and improve their facilities. Along with a degree from USC in Civil Engineering, Michael has nearly a decade of experience—having managed projects in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He has expertise in mixed-use, multifamily, office, and commercial projects, allowing him to support schools through ground-up construction, building and space improvements, and redevelopment initiatives.

When it comes to school websites, the stakes couldn’t be higher—your site is working 24/7 to attract prospective families. Unlike social media posts or printed brochures, your website must serve multiple audiences simultaneously while guiding families through one of their most important decisions: where to send their children to school.

School websites are often the deciding factor for over half of families making their final enrollment decisions. Here’s how schools can treat their websites as the powerful enrollment tools they should be.

Strategic Content for Every Enrollment Season

The most successful school websites adapt their messaging throughout the enrollment cycle.

October through February: Peak Application Season

Your homepage needs laser focus during this critical window. Prospective families are in decision mode, and your site should make their next steps crystal clear. Feature application deadlines prominently, highlight what makes your school unique, showcase success stories and testimonials, and ensure those “Apply Now” buttons are impossible to miss.

March through May: Decision Time

Families have typically applied and are now making final choices. This is when deeper content becomes crucial. Shift your homepage emphasis to virtual tours, detailed program information, and compelling video content. Parent and student testimonials about actual experiences at your school carry more weight than marketing copy. Most importantly, provide clear next steps for families who have been accepted.

Summer: Relationship Building

Don’t let your website go dormant during the summer months. This is prime time for building relationships with incoming families and keeping current families engaged. Feature welcome information for new families, highlight summer programs, announce community events, and provide preparation materials for the upcoming year.

Throughout every season, remember to balance statistics with storytelling. While academic achievements and test scores matter, families make emotional connections through authentic stories about real students and experiences at your school.

Measuring What Actually Drives Enrollment

Here’s where some schools might get stuck: taking stock in Google Analytics traffic numbers without understanding what actually drives enrollment. High traffic means nothing if those visitors aren’t converting into enrolled families.

Instead of vague goals like “increase enrollment,” implement SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives. For example: “Increase applications submitted through our website by 10% in the next twelve months.”

Track These Conversion-Focused Metrics:

Application form completions (and abandonment rates)
Information session registrations originating from your website
Virtual tours that lead to scheduled campus visits
Contact form submissions from prospective families
Time spent on key pages like academics and admissions

Use tools like Google Tag Manager for conversion tracking and Microsoft Clarity for heat mapping—their free plan offers valuable insights into how users actually navigate your site.

But remember: these tools only provide quantitative data. The most successful schools combine analytics with qualitative feedback from families. Conduct user testing sessions and ask families directly about their website experience. Sometimes high engagement time means visitors are lost and frustrated, not deeply interested.

Creating Truly User-Friendly Experiences

As a designer, I’m constantly tempted by beautiful, complex designs. But the most successful websites focus on how they work and how they make people feel, not just how they look.

The Foundation: Information Architecture

Think of your website’s information architecture like a blueprint for a house. It’s how you organize and present content to balance your audience’s needs with your school’s goals. You might want visitors to “Enroll Now” immediately, but families need information before they’re ready to take that step.

Mobile-First Design Is Non-Negotiable

Over 50% of school website traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t work perfectly on smartphones, you’re losing families before they even learn about your school.

Consider how parents actually use your website: they’re browsing during commutes, on lunch breaks, or while waiting in pickup lines. They’re multitasking and need information quickly and clearly.

Essential Mobile Optimization Elements:

Navigation limited to 7 or fewer main menu items
Important information (calendars, contact details) accessible within 1-2 clicks
Fast loading times (47% of visitors abandon sites that take more than 2 seconds to load)
Mobile-friendly enrollment applications with easy-to-tap buttons and simple form fields
Plain language instead of educational jargon

The Human Element

Your website should reflect your school’s voice, culture, and values while creating inclusive experiences for families of all backgrounds and abilities. This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about demonstrating the welcoming community families will join.

Remember that behind every website visitor is a family making one of the most important decisions they’ll face. They’re evaluating not just your academic programs, but whether their child will thrive in your community. Your website is often their first impression of that community.

Moving Forward with Purpose

The most effective school websites serve as 24/7 enrollment ambassadors, guiding families smoothly from curiosity to application. They adapt content strategically throughout enrollment seasons, measure meaningful conversion metrics rather than vanity statistics, and prioritize user experience over flashy design.

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s your most important enrollment tool. Make sure it’s working as hard as your admissions team to welcome the right families into your school community.

About the Author

Niki Blaker is a design strategist and founder of Five Sigma Studio, a design firm focused on integrating brand strategy, user experience, design, and content. Her work is guided by an emphasis on cross-discipline collaboration and in-depth research, which makes meaningful brand strategy and design experiences possible.

If you’re not alive and well on social media, you don’t exist, according to a lot of people. This reality might sound harsh, but it reflects the current landscape where prospective families research schools online long before they ever set foot on campus.

As we enter back-to-school season, schools have a critical window to capture the attention of families still making enrollment decisions. Late enrollments continue well into the school year, and social media provides an immediate, authentic way to showcase what makes your school special.

But here’s the challenge: posting just to post isn’t enough. Strategic, enrollment-focused social media requires intentional content that helps families visualize their child’s experience at your school.

1. Show the Faces That Make Your School Special

The most effective back-to-school social media content focuses on people, not just places. While beautiful facility photos have their place, families connect most deeply with the individuals who will shape their child’s daily experience.

Personal Video Introductions

Consider creating personal video introductions from your school leader and principal. These don’t need to be highly produced—authenticity trumps polish every time. Share your excitement about the upcoming year, your vision for students, and what families can expect from your school community.

Faculty introductions prove equally valuable, especially when highlighting new team members. If teachers return to campus early for preparation, this creates perfect opportunities to capture brief videos where they share what they’re excited about for the new school year. These glimpses behind the scenes help families begin building relationships with the educators who will impact their children daily.

Behind-the-Scenes Content That Tells Your Story

The preparation period before students arrive offers unique content opportunities. Showcase teachers setting up their classrooms, highlight any facility improvements completed over the summer, or document the installation of new playground equipment. These “before and after” moments demonstrate your school’s commitment to creating excellent learning environments.

The key is helping families visualize what their child’s daily experience will look like. Share glimpses of morning routines, classroom activities, transitions between spaces, and after-school programs. Even without students present, you can paint a picture of the vibrant community families will join.

2. Think Year-Round

One of the biggest strategic advantages schools can develop is thinking about social media content creation as a year-round process rather than a seasonal rush. The moments you capture throughout the school year become invaluable assets for future enrollment campaigns.

Capturing Content for Later Use

Those videos of engaged students during science experiments? Perfect for back-to-school excitement posts. Footage of your annual talent show? Ideal for highlighting your school’s creativity and community spirit. Documentation of your graduation ceremony? Powerful testimonial content for prospective families.

Smart schools approach content creation with this longer-term perspective, asking, “How might we use this moment in six months?” This strategic thinking transforms routine school activities into enrollment marketing opportunities.

Repurposing With Purpose

Consider creating countdown posts that build anticipation: “25 days until school starts—here are 25 things we’re looking forward to.” These posts allow you to highlight favorite traditions, showcase different academic programs, feature various faculty members, and demonstrate the breadth of experiences your school offers.

The beauty of this approach is that each countdown post can draw from authentic moments captured throughout the previous school year, creating a nostalgic connection for returning families while providing a comprehensive preview for prospective ones.

3. Use The Power of Authentic Testimonials

While behind-the-scenes content and faculty introductions build connection, authentic testimonials provide the social proof that drives enrollment decisions. The key is capturing these testimonials at moments when emotions naturally run high.

Strategic Timing for Maximum Impact

Graduation ceremonies offer ideal opportunities to capture powerful testimonials from students and families feeling genuinely grateful and excited about their school experience. These emotional moments translate into compelling content that resonates with prospective families months later.

Similarly, back-to-school events, achievement celebrations, and milestone moments throughout the year provide natural opportunities to gather authentic voices sharing their positive experiences.

Not every testimonial needs to be a polished video production. Some of the most effective approaches are beautifully simple: students holding signs explaining “why I chose this school,” brief video testimonials captured on smartphones, or compelling quotes paired with genuine photos of students and families.

These testimonials serve multiple purposes simultaneously—they support new family enrollment, strengthen current family re-engagement, and build overall community connection by celebrating the voices within your school.

Setting a date on the calendar and opening your doors is just the beginning. In today’s competitive educational landscape, schools need open houses that do more than showcase facilities—they need events that convert prospective families into enrolled students.

Having worked with numerous schools on their enrollment strategies, I’ve seen the difference between open houses that simply inform and those that truly transform interest into action. The schools that succeed understand that memorable experiences, not just information sharing, drive enrollment decisions.

Creating Immersive Experiences That Differentiate Your School

The most effective open houses don’t just show families around your building—they let families experience what it feels like to be part of your school community. Rather than relying solely on presentations or scripted tours, successful schools create opportunities for prospective families to see your school in action.

Bring Your Classrooms to Life

Consider having students or teachers lead live demonstrations in your science lab, allowing prospective students to participate in hands-on art activities, or showcasing a typical classroom lesson. These immersive moments help families move beyond wondering “what if” to actually visualizing their child thriving in your environment.

When live demonstrations aren’t feasible—whether due to timing, staffing, or logistical constraints—technology can bridge the gap. Schools that have captured video throughout the school year can create powerful experiences by playing these clips on loop during open houses. Footage of daily routines, classroom transitions, student activities, and authentic moments of learning help families understand your school’s culture and energy even when students aren’t physically present.

The goal is simple: make your open house more impactful than any presentation or scripted tour, no matter how engaging the speaker.

The Power of Personal Follow-Up

What happens after your open house often matters more than the event itself. The schools that excel at converting visitors into enrolled families understand that personal touches still make all the difference in our increasingly digital world.

Pre-Event Engagement

Some of the most successful schools I work with have their school leaders personally call families who RSVP for open houses. These brief conversations—simply saying “I’m excited to meet you at our event”—create immediate connection and demonstrate the personal attention families can expect from your school.

Strategic Post-Event Outreach

After the event, the most effective follow-up strategies focus on personalization rather than automation. This might include:

Personal calls or emails from the school leader checking in with attendees
Targeted communications from specific faculty members based on family interests (have the soccer coach reach out to athletically-minded families, or the art teacher connect with creatively-inclined students)
Handwritten thank-you notes sent through traditional mail—a gesture that stands out dramatically from the dozens of automated emails families receive weekly

The key is creating touchpoints that feel authentic and specific to each family’s interests and needs.

Creating Urgency That Drives Action

The timing of your open house significantly impacts how you should frame your call-to-action. During back-to-school season, successful schools shift their messaging from exploratory (“learn more about our program”) to urgent (“seats are filling up—save your spot”).

Streamline the Enrollment Process

Make it as easy as possible for motivated families to take immediate action. Have enrollment packets readily available, or better yet, provide tablets or laptops where families can complete applications on-site with staff assistance. The goal is removing any friction between interest and action.

Capture Contact Information Strategically

Always collect contact information through event RSVPs, even for “drop-in” style events. This allows you to follow up with families who expressed initial interest but didn’t attend, and it creates a database for ongoing relationship building.

Remember that different seasons call for different approaches. Spring open houses can afford to be more exploratory and informational, while late summer events should emphasize immediacy and available opportunities.

Beyond the Event: Building Long-Term Relationships

The most successful schools view open houses not as isolated events but as touchpoints in ongoing relationship building. They understand that enrollment decisions often involve multiple family members, extended timelines, and careful consideration.

This perspective shifts the focus from immediate conversion to sustained engagement. Even families who don’t enroll immediately may become advocates in their community or consider your school for future academic years. The personal attention and authentic experiences you provide during open houses can create lasting positive impressions that yield enrollment benefits long after the event ends.

As charter school leaders know well, managing your facility—whether you’re on the path to ownership or currently leasing—requires significant planning, collaboration, and foresight. In my work with schools across the country, I’ve seen how understanding your options, budgeting realistically, and negotiating strategically can transform your facility from a simple expense into a powerful investment in your school’s mission.

When Is Your School Ready for Property Ownership?

One of the most common questions I receive from school leaders is how to determine when they’re ready to transition from leasing to purchasing. Ideally, a school looking to purchase should demonstrate strong financial health, including:

Stable or increasing enrollment, preferably with a waitlist
Long-term charter renewal, indicating operational stability
Several years of positive cash flow
Adequate cash reserves for unforeseen expenses or building improvements

These factors signal to potential lenders that your school is a good investment risk. However, if your school doesn’t meet all these criteria, don’t be discouraged. There’s still a path to ownership—it may just look different or affect your timeline.

Funding Options Specifically for Charter Schools

Charter schools have access to several specialized funding options that can make facility ownership more accessible:

Facility grants and programs like Charter School Facility Grant Programs that reimburse lease costs for schools serving low-income students (California’s SB 740 is one example)
Federal charter school grant programs for replication or expansion
Charter school bonds, which offer low-cost financing options ideal for larger, more established schools
New Market Tax Credits that can reduce project costs by offering tax credits to investors (especially valuable for improvement or redevelopment projects)
Mission-aligned lenders offering predevelopment, acquisition, and construction loans specifically to schools
Philanthropic impact investors and foundations offering recoverable grants or low-interest loans
Tax-exempt lease-to-purchase financing, which allows charter schools to lease a facility with either an option to buy or a clear path to ownership (this is what Grow Schools offers to charter schools)

Understanding Project Timelines

It’s never too early to start planning for your facility needs. Different acquisition paths have varying timelines:

Purchasing your current facility: 4-6 months (most straightforward)
Locating and purchasing a new site: 12-18 months (depends on market inventory and whether conversion/improvements are needed)
Purchasing land and developing a new facility: 18-24 months (most complex)

Always budget more time than you think you’ll need. Construction timelines frequently slip, and approval processes vary significantly by location.

Regardless of which path you choose, the acquisition process typically includes these key milestones:

Strategic planning and feasibility to assess your facility needs and financing options
Site search and due diligence, including touring properties, submitting offers, and conducting site feasibility studies
Financing and entitlement periods, including financing applications, working with legal and real estate professionals, and navigating conditional use permit processes
Closing and implementation, including finalizing financing, securing permits, and planning for build-out

Balancing Current Needs with Future Growth

Perhaps the most delicate balancing act in facility planning is addressing your immediate space needs while planning for future growth.

Here’s what you’ll want to consider:

Right-size for today while planning for future expansion
Avoid overextending your budget chasing a dream campus
Look for properties that allow for phased growth, such as those with room for modular classrooms or phased construction
Consider excess land that could accommodate future development
Verify zoning and CUP flexibility to ensure the site allows for additional classrooms or facilities without significant reentitlement (which can be costly and time-consuming)
Evaluate shared-use possibilities or temporary structures that can provide interim growth options
Consider subleasing opportunities to supplement income while you grow into your space
Prioritize location and transportation logistics, ensuring good long-term traffic flow and adequate space for drop-off and pickup logistics

Moving Forward with Confidence

Every school’s facility journey is unique, with its own challenges and opportunities. Whether you’re considering a move from leasing to ownership or looking to make your current facility work harder for your educational mission, the key is thoughtful planning and strategic timing.

By understanding your financial position, researching your options, giving yourself ample time, and balancing current needs with future vision, you can transform your facility from one of your biggest expenses into one of your most valuable assets—one that actively advances your educational mission and creates opportunities for your students and staff for years to come.

About the Author

Maddy Marlton is the VP of Real Estate Acquisitions at Grow Schools, where she helps schools optimize their facility financing to support long-term growth and sustainability.

The Financial Survival Kit for Schools event brought together industry experts who shared valuable insights on budgeting practices, strategic staffing solutions, and facility financing strategies that support sustainable growth.

Key Speakers and Their Insights

The event featured four distinguished speakers, each bringing specialized expertise to address different aspects of school financial management:

Proven Budgeting Practices – Raj Thakkar

Raj Thakkar, Founder & CEO of Charter School Business Management, outlined 15 proven budgeting and forecasting practices for schools.

His presentation emphasized:

Creating clarity with a vision-driven budget that converts words into numbers
Separating operating budgets from capital budgets to avoid “hidden deficits”
Understanding and maximizing revenue streams
Setting appropriate contingency amounts
Focusing on enrollment and compensation as budget anchors
Using forecasting instead of continuously modifying working budgets

Strategic Staffing Solutions – Beth Jacobs

Beth Jacobs, Co-CEO of vChief, discussed how fractional leadership support can help schools navigate financial challenges while maintaining operational excellence.

She explained:

How fractional executive support offers expertise at a fraction of full-time costs
When schools should consider fractional support (during transitions, peak periods, or for specific projects)
The value fractional leaders bring through their experience with similar challenges

Beth noted that many charter schools are currently facing budget cliffs from ESSER fund expiration, teacher shortages, compliance pressures, and enrollment challenges. Fractional support can help schools maintain momentum while addressing these issues efficiently.

Maximizing Funding Streams – Stanton Jandrell

Stanton Jandrell, CEO of Fraxion, focused on spend management as a critical component of financial health.

His presentation revealed:

Unmanaged spending equals missed savings (potentially 10-20% of operational costs)
The direct link between effective spend management and stable cash flow
Tools for spend control, including procurement automation and budget tracking systems
Additional savings through strategies like punchout catalogs and group purchasing organizations (GPOs)

Jandrell emphasized that implementing strong spend management supports financial transparency, accountability, and sustainable growth, enabling schools to better serve students while building resilience against financial uncertainties.

Facility Refinancing as a Growth Strategy – Maddy Marlton

Maddy Marlton, VP of Real Estate Acquisitions at Grow Schools, explained how strategic facility refinancing can unlock capital for educational investments.

She covered:

Reasons to refinance: reducing interest rates, extending terms, converting short-term debt to long-term fixed-rate solutions
Timing considerations for refinancing, including school financial health and credit market trends
Various facility financing options like tax-exempt bonds, CDFI facility loans, and lease-to-own models
Grant and philanthropic funding sources for facilities, including charter school facility incentive grants

Marlton provided actionable steps for schools to take immediately, including reviewing current working capital positions, updating financial forecasts, and evaluating existing loan terms.

Want to hear more?

You can watch the live event on demand here.

As schools navigate increasingly complex financial landscapes, many leaders are searching for strategies to optimize their resources and create more stability. One powerful opportunity lies in refinancing your school building.

For schools that already own their facilities, strategic refinancing can unlock capital, reduce costs, and fund future growth. Having worked with numerous educational institutions on their facility financing, I’ve seen firsthand how the right refinancing approach can transform a school’s financial outlook and create new opportunities for educational excellence.

When Is the Right Time to Consider Refinancing?

Many school leaders struggle to identify the optimal moment to refinance. Based on my experience, there are three key indicators that suggest it might be time to explore your options:

1. Interest Rate Opportunities

If market interest rates have dropped since you secured your initial loan, refinancing could significantly reduce your overall costs. Even a small percentage decrease can translate to substantial savings over the life of your loan.

2. Improved Financial Standing

Has your school strengthened its credit profile since your original financing? Improvements in enrollment stability, operational efficiency, or fundraising success can qualify you for better interest rates or more favorable repayment options.

3. Upcoming Balloon Payments or Cash Flow Concerns

Many schools face looming balloon payments they aren’t positioned to handle, or struggle with debt obligations that create ongoing cash flow challenges. Refinancing can help restructure your debt into more manageable terms, allowing you to better align your financial obligations with your operational reality.

The Financial Benefits of Refinancing

When executed strategically, refinancing can deliver several valuable benefits that directly impact your school’s financial health and growth potential:

Lower Monthly Payments

By securing a lower interest rate, schools can reduce their monthly debt service, freeing up cash for educational programs, new hires, or facility improvements. This increased financial flexibility can be transformative, especially during periods of budgetary constraints.

Extended Loan Terms

Refinancing allows schools to potentially extend their loan repayment period, reducing monthly payments and creating more breathing room in operational budgets. While this may increase total interest paid over time, it can provide crucial short-term relief and stability.

Access to Additional Equity

If your facility has appreciated in value, refinancing can allow you to unlock some of that equity. This capital can fund renovations, new construction, or other facility improvements that enhance your educational environment and potentially increase enrollment appeal.

Preparing for Refinancing Success

When approaching lenders about refinancing options, preparation is key to securing the most favorable terms:

Get Your Financial House in Order

Lenders will scrutinize your financial readiness, focusing particularly on debt service coverage ratios and cash flow stability. Before initiating conversations, gather comprehensive documentation including:

Three years of audited financial statements
Current loan agreements
Projected budgets and cash flow statements
Enrollment trend data
Fundraising reports
Strategic plans outlining future growth and sustainability

This documentation helps demonstrate your school’s financial health and long-term viability.

Explore Multiple Options

Don’t limit yourself to a single financing source. Investigate various alternatives including:

Traditional bank loans
Bond financing (if your school qualifies)
Specialized education lenders like Grow Schools

Compare rates, loan terms, and flexibility across these options, keeping your primary objectives in mind—whether that’s reducing annual payments or accessing additional improvement funds.

Consider Professional Guidance

Working with a financial advisor who specializes in educational institutions can provide valuable expertise throughout this process. These professionals understand the unique challenges schools face and can help navigate complex financing decisions.

The Right Partner Makes the Difference

When considering refinancing, choosing the right financial partner is crucial. Look for organizations that understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the education sector. The most valuable partners will offer more than just financing—they’ll provide comprehensive support that respects your school’s mission while enhancing your financial stability.

As we enter budgeting season, now is an excellent time to evaluate your facility financing and consider whether refinancing might create new opportunities for your school. By understanding the indicators, benefits, and preparation needed for successful refinancing, you can make informed decisions that strengthen your school’s financial future and, ultimately, enhance your ability to serve students.

About the Author

Maddy Marlton is the VP of Real Estate Acquisitions at Grow Schools, where she helps schools optimize their facility financing to support long-term growth and sustainability.