10 Steps to Increase Private School Enrollment

​As a private school administrator, you are always looking for ways to increase enrollment. By being proactive and creative, you can attract more families to your school and ensure its future success. Keep in mind that every school is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Here are 10 steps that will help you do just that. Take these steps and make them your own, to create the best strategy for your school.

1. Keep your school's website up-to-date as well as mobile-friendly

You know that your website is one of your most important tools. It's not only a way to keep your community updated on news and events, but it's also the first impression many people will have of your school. So it's important to make sure that your website is always up-to-date and interesting. Keep your homepage fresh: A static homepage can be boring for visitors, so make sure to update it regularly with new photos, articles, or special announcements. And with more and more people using their phones and tablets to access the internet, it's also important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. ​

2. Create a FB page and IG for your school with photos and updates

We're all trying to find ways to connect with our students and school community, and social media is a great way. Social Media allows you to share photos of your school events and activities while also connecting with parents, alumni, and other schools in the area. With Instagram Stories (think Snapchat), you can even post short videos! The best thing about social media is that it doesn't require much time investment: just a few minutes each day posting updates will keep people engaged with what's happening at your school.

3.Develop partnerships with local businesses, churches, and organizations 

One great way to promote your school is by developing partnerships with local businesses, churches, and organizations. The best partners for schools are those that have a shared mission or values with you. They can help spread the word about your school by including information in their newsletters, on their websites, or even on social media.
For example, if you're a school that is part of The Church Network, you can list your school on their website and include it in The Church Network's monthly newsletter.

4. Provide Incentives for families who enroll their children in your school

​One of the best ways to attract new students is by offering incentives, such as reduced tuition rates or coupons for local businesses. The more enticing your offer, the better! It's also important to make sure that any offers you give out are applicable in a way that makes sense and doesn't cause confusion: for example, if you're running a promotion for new students, make sure that the offer is only available if they sign up during a certain timeframe.

5. Make it easy for parents to enroll their children online

Enrolling in a private school for the first time can be daunting. The process is often long and cumbersome, requiring multiple forms to be filled out, mailed back by hand, or faxed. Parents may need information about tuition rates, academic programs offered at your school, transportation options (if applicable), etc., which you should make available on your website.
Many schools are now offering online enrollment forms to make the process easier for parents. If your school doesn't have an online form yet, consider developing one! Alternatively, you could create an app for your school that would allow parents to easily enroll their children on their phones or tablets. The more convenient you can make the enrollment process, the more likely parents will be to enroll their children.

6. Hold open houses for families to tour your school and meet teachers

Open houses are a great way for families to tour the building and meet teachers before classes start. The best time to hold open houses is usually in the spring and fall when most students are looking for a new school. However, you can also hold them during other times of the year if there's an important deadline (like applications close on January 15th) or if your school has a unique program that families would want to know more about.
It's important to make sure that your open houses are well-organized and well-advertised. You should have staff available to answer any questions parents may have, as well as provide information about upcoming events and deadlines. And be sure to have plenty of refreshments!

7. Send out regular emails about events and volunteer opportunities

Another great way to keep parents informed about what's happening at your school is by sending out regular emails. These could be about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, or anything else that you think would be of interest to parents.
Be sure to test different subject lines to see which get the most opens and clicks. And make sure your email template is attractive and easy to read on mobile devices!

​Email Template:
Hello Parents,
I hope this email finds you well! Here are some updates from our school...
- Upcoming Events
- Volunteer Opportunities
- The Latest News From Our School
Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more frequent updates.
Thank you for reading! I hope these tips will help increase enrollment at your school. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Best,
[Your Name]

8. Encourage staff to get involved in extracurricular activities

Getting involved in the school community is a great way to attract new students. The more your teachers are seen as experts on education, the better! Working with younger kids will also help staff members practice their teaching skills and get feedback from people outside of the administration team (which could be very helpful).

Teachers can volunteer for after-school programs like art or music classes; they can offer tutoring sessions during lunchtime; they could even lead field trips around town. The possibilities are endless!

​And don't forget about extracurricular opportunities: if there's a sport or activity that your school offers, encourage staff members to sign up and coach the team or lead the club. The more involved they are, the more likely parents and students will be to enroll.

9. Organize events to learn about your programs and meet students

There's a good chance that many potential students know very little about your school. The best way to change this is by hosting an event where people can learn more about the programs you offer and meet current students. The possibilities are endless: from open houses to information sessions at local libraries or community centers, to picnics in the park – there's no reason why you shouldn't try everything!

The key thing with all of these events is advertising them well ahead of time so parents have plenty of notice before they need to decide whether or not they should enroll their child. Also, remember that it's always better for staff members (and even teachers) to speak up during informational sessions than for administrators like principals and heads of school; after all, parents are more likely to trust people they know.

Hosting an event where people can learn more about your programs and meet current students is a great way to attract new students!

10. Sponsor, as a school, a local youth or teen sports team 

Another great way to increase enrollment is by sponsoring a local sports team that is popular among children in your area. The more you get involved with the community, the better! This can be any sport – from football and baseball teams to hockey clubs or swim leagues, depending on what's available where you live. The trick here is keeping an eye out for upcoming games or tournaments so you can make sure staff members are attending at all times. Simply getting parents excited about what your school has to offer will do wonders toward increasing enrollment numbers! The more involved teachers are with extracurricular activities and the community at large, the better.

Now that you’ve seen our 10 tips, we want to hear from you. What strategies have helped your school grow and thrive? Which of these steps do you think would be most effective for your school? Share in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this blog with your school community!