Must-Have Features of School Websites: A Complete Checklist

Quick test: can a new parent find your admission deadline in under 10 seconds on their phone? If not, your school website is missing something important.

Great school websites aren't the flashiest ones. They're the ones where every visitor, whether a parent, student, or teacher, finds what they need fast. Use this checklist to see what yours has and what it's missing.

Must-Have Features for Every School Website

For Parents and Future Families

• A welcome message from the principal that shows your values in a few warm lines.
• Admissions and enrollment details: requirements, fees, deadlines, and the steps to apply.
• An online application form so families can apply without visiting.
• School policies and handbooks that are easy to download.
• A clear contact page with phone, email, map, and social links.

For Current Students and Families

• An academic calendar with exams, holidays, and events.
• News, a blog, or a newsletter that's updated regularly.
• Parent and student portals or links to the systems you already use.
• Learning resources: timetables, reading lists, and study materials.

For Your Community and Reputation

• A staff directory that shows the people behind your school.
• Photo and video galleries of real school life.
• Clubs and activities that show what makes your school different.
• An alumni section to stay connected with graduates.
• A careers page to attract qualified teachers.

Technical Basics You Can't Skip

• Mobile-friendly design: most parents will visit from their phones.
• Security: an SSL certificate (the padlock in the browser) protects form data. Read more in our guide to secure school websites.
• Fast loading: slow pages lose visitors in seconds.
• An FAQ page that answers the questions your office gets every day.

How Many Features Do You Really Need?

Start with the essentials: homepage, admissions, calendar, news, and contact. Add portals, galleries, and alumni pages as your team has time to keep them updated. An empty section looks worse than no section at all.

Get All the Essentials in One Place with Alweb

Alweb builds a school website with the core pages ready in about 60 seconds. You get hosting, SSL, a business email on your school's domain, contact forms, and online booking and payments (depending on your plan) in one annual subscription, starting at $80 per year. Try it for 7 days before you subscribe.

FAQs

What are the most important pages on a school website?

Homepage, admissions, academic calendar, news, staff directory, and contact. These cover most of what parents look for.

Should a school website have a blog?

Yes, if someone can update it regularly. Fresh news builds trust with parents and helps your website appear in search results.

How do I know if my school website is working?

Ask three new parents to find the admission requirements and the contact number. If they struggle, simplify your menu and homepage.

Ready to tick every box on this list? Build your school website with Alweb today.