Your Back-to-School Website Checklist for a Strong Start  

Everything schools need to reach every family from ParentSquare

Summer is winding down, and your community is already looking for answers: When does school start? What’s for lunch? What do I need to enroll my student? Your website is often the first place families turn for information, so before the first bell rings, make sure it’s up to date, easy to navigate, and ready to welcome your community.

Whether you’re using ParentSquare Smart Sites or another platform, a well-prepped website is one of the simplest ways to start the year strong. Grab this checklist and work through it with your team to get ready for the back-to-school rush.

Sync your calendars

Nothing frustrates a family faster than a website calendar that doesn’t match the real one. Double-check that your calendars are up to date and that any integrations are syncing correctly, so that first-day dates, early releases, and events are accurate from the start.

Smart Sites tip: Sync calendars directly to your website from your ParentSquare communications platform for automatic updates.

Refresh your directories 

Make sure your community can find the right people the moment they need them. Update staff directories and community group listings so families can connect with the right teachers, staff, and contacts as the year begins.

Smart Sites tip: Use the Staff Directory component to automatically pull and display any ParentSquare staff group on a web page, no manual updates needed.

Everything schools need to reach every family from ParentSquare

Make enrollment information easy to find 

Registration season is prime time for your website. Make it painless. Create a clear, well-organized page that walks new and returning families through registration and enrollment.

Smart Sites tip: Build this page fast with the Enrollment Page Pro layout, designed to share this information clearly in one place.

Pack your pages with back-to-school info

Pull key details like first-day dates, what to bring, and school supply lists into a single, easy-to-navigate spot so families aren’t hunting for answers.

Smart Sites tip:

  • Use one of our Back to School Page Pro layouts, a ready-made page design you can customize to pull all your back-to-school info together quickly. 
  • Use the School Supply List Page Pro layout built to keep your list ADA compliant and easy for every family to view.

Publish your meal calendars 

Breakfast and lunch questions shouldn’t require a phone call to the office. Display breakfast and lunch menus in a clean, easy-to-scan format, so families always know what’s on the menu.

Smart Sites tip: Our Grid View Meal Calendars are designed to make menus simple to browse.

Make attendance a priority from day one

Set the tone early that showing up matters. Give families a resource that explains the importance of consistent attendance right from the start of the year.

Smart Sites tip: The Attendance Page Pro layout makes it easy to quickly build a page that explains why attendance matters and provides resources to support families.

Everything schools need to reach every family from ParentSquare

Refresh your About Us and leadership pages

New families are getting to know your school as you welcome them for the new school year. Make sure your website makes the right first impression by updating leadership and staff bios, contact information, and your About Us and School Board pages.

Smart Sites tip: Use one of our Page Pro layouts for About Us and School Board to make this refresh quick and consistent.

Connect families directly to key pages

Your website and your communication platform are stronger together, so make sure families feel that. Send posts and messages that link families straight to your enrollment page, calendars, school supply lists, dress codes, handbooks, attendance information, and more, so they never have to hunt for it.

Smart Sites tip: Use posts in the communications platform to bring families directly to the exact page they need on your Smart Sites website.

Ready for a better back-to-school?

A well-prepped website means fewer emails to the front office and a smoother start to the year for everyone. Work through this checklist with your team, and you’ll be ready to welcome your community back with confidence.

Interested in learning more about Smart Sites? Schedule a quick demo.

Already a Smart Sites customer? Join the upcoming Spotlight webinar on August 20th. Register here.