Your school website will often be the first point of contact for parents, students, and staff, so a smooth, user-friendly experience is crucial. Entirely revamping your school website design to improve user experience may require extensive changes that take time or significant backend work.
But there are things you can do to improve user experience quickly, with no cost and no coding experience necessary! In this post, we’ll share five simple, user-focused tweaks to help visitors find what they need faster—boosting engagement and trust in your school’s online presence.
1. Fix Broken Links
Broken links aren’t unique to school websites—they can happen when pages are deleted, URLs change, or your site migrates to a new platform.
Fortunately, there are many free online broken link checkers (some as browser extensions, others as web tools) that can quickly scan your site. Identify and fix or remove dead links to eliminate user frustration and enhance trust.
2. Simplify the Content Structure
Good school web design isn’t just about how your website looks—it’s also about how content is organized. According to studies and reviews, well-structured content improves readability and user engagement.
Tips for improving your content:
- Break up long paragraphs into shorter, digestible ones
- Use clear headings and subheadings
- Incorporate bullet points to highlight key ideas
- Keep language simple and jargon-free
These edits can usually be done directly in your CMS—no coding required.
3. Make It Easy to Reach You
A prospective family might love what they see on your site and want to reach out. Make sure your contact information is easy to find on every page.
Add your phone number and email to your site footer or sticky header, and make sure your contact page is easily accessible from your main menu. Even one inquiry from your website could turn into an enrollment—don’t miss that opportunity due to poor navigation!
4. Use HD, Optimized Images
Photos tell stories better than words. Use real, high-quality photos of your students learning, playing, and growing. Highlight your campus, events, and classroom life to make an emotional connection with parents.
However, be sure your images are optimized—large file sizes can slow down your website. Use high-resolution JPGs compressed for web use. Learn more in our photography tips post.
5. Update Your School Calendar
Parents rely on your school calendar to plan around holidays, parent-teacher conferences, and events. If your calendar isn’t current, visitors might assume your site is outdated or unreliable.
Keep your calendar updated throughout the school year and make sure it’s easy to find—ideally placed under sections like “Admissions,” “Academics,” or “Student Life.”
If embedding a calendar directly isn’t possible, provide a PDF download link or link to a shared calendar in your site’s footer for quick access.
Conclusion
Improving your school website’s user experience doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. Small, strategic changes can have a major impact on how your site performs and how it’s perceived by families.
If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, contact Gradelink to learn how we can support your school’s digital success.