When your school specializes in the education of students with diverse learning profiles, you need to communicate a different message. Your mission and values need to resonate with a specific audience of families—families who are not just looking for additional support for their students’ learning profiles, but parents with real concerns about their student’s socialization and learning skills.

With recent numbers suggesting as many as 1 in 5 children have learning and attention challenges like dyslexia or ADHD, a growing number of parents are looking for the right type of support to help their child thrive in school—and in life.

Does your school website show how your school can meet the needs of diverse learners and bring that story to life?

Your site will need to share the programs, resources, and culture that addresses the needs of students with a range of learning differences. Now, let’s be inspired and take a look at some of the best websites for schools with diverse learners.

Carroll School | Waltham, Massachusetts

Right away Carroll School’s site pulls viewers in with an interactive panel that comes alive with color and subtle animation. As visitors explore what the school can “give each child,” they learn more about what they value and what sets them apart.

Another highlight is the “The Caroll Stories” section on their site— it drives home the impact they’ve made and how they’ve helped change lives. The profiles are a great collection of written and video testimonials, heartwarming stories, and celebrations of educating diverse learners.

The Odyssey School | Lutherville, Maryland

For students who learn differently, the Odyssey School teaches differently. The fast facts section and “Why Parents Choose Odyssey” on its homepage help identify its differentiators, and its learning environment—and why parents should look consider the school for their family.

Odyssey creates a personalized experience through its inquiry form—one inquiry form captures interest, intent, and even the chance to schedule a conversation with the director of admissions with just a few clicks. Creating a streamlined enrollment experience starts the relationship with families off on the right foot.

Shelton School | Dallas, Texas

Shelton’s homepage is a one-stop-shop for prospective families looking to learn more. Recent campus news, alumni testimonials, important calendar dates, infographics for facts, matriculation information…it all ties together what the school is about: specializing in the support, differentiated instruction, and empowerment of over 1,000 students.

Lawrence School | Sagamore Hills, Ohio

Lawrence School’s website certainly makes a splash. An engaging video, imagery that pops off the page, and statements like “Great minds don’t think alike,” certainly grab your attention. Also, you have to love the wording of how they've “... unleashed the unlimited potential of students … ”

Their homepage separates their lower and upper schools with dynamic panels that detail their physical campus, as well as their teaching strategies, learning style, and student engagement. The site gives a great representation of how they prepare students to take charge of their future.

Oakwood School | Annandale, Virginia

Take a look through Oakwood School’s site, and you’ll quickly realize how easy they make to connect with the school. With calls-to-action accompanying their main navigation, families looking to learn more, inquire, or even make a gift to the school— it’s easy to find and it's just a click away.

For students with specific learning disabilities, Oakwood School provides details on how their school addresses those particular challenges, like Dysgraphila or ADD and ADHD. And not only do they provide support through the academic year, but Oakwood’s summer camp offers a place where students can feel that extra support all year round.

Mill Springs Academy | Alpharetta, Georgia

When finding the right fit school, parents want to know how compatible the programs and culture are with their students. A mashup of social feeds, news posts, and more help represent an experience that Atlanta Parent named as one of the top schools for teaching diverse learners.

After exploring its homepage, Mill Springs presents three calls to action: contact us to learn more, schedule a visit, and start an online application—a great strategy to be able to cater to families at different parts of the enrollment journey.

The Gow School | South Wales, New York

The homepage of the Gow School leads with an inspiring video and animated text that seems to redefine and wash away the stigma of learning differences. Phrases like, “hope in action”, “rethinking learning,” and “reigniting lives” view learning through a different lens, and so does their site.

A grid of panels gives insight into how they help students: executive function coaching, classroom technology, inclusive classrooms, and college advising, among others, are all designed to "reignite lives." A branded map of New England shows their proximity to nearby states, helping illustrate that their programs are just within reach.

Read about The Gow School's website redesign with Finalsite >

Forman School | Litchfield, Connecticut

The Admission pages for the Foreman School do a great job at answering the timeless question of “Why your school?” As the first coed college prep school for students with learning differences, Foreman responds with “we’re still the best.” 

A bold statement for sure, but who could resist their admission’s hero image: a group of smiling admission counselors, jumping at the chance to welcome new families. Their pages offer so much content designed for answering questions about the admissions process, like a digital viewbook, virtual open house options, and resources for affording their experience.

Hamlin Robinson School | Seattle, Washington

Visitors to Hamlin Robinson School’s site don’t need to do too much digging to find out what’s new around campus. Posts from the school’s newsletter and a handy social media feed on their homepage help keep content fresh and families informed about recent school events and updates. For families constantly on the move, the site looks great on mobile devices, too.

Pulling in content from dynamic posts and social feeds is a great way to work smarter, not harder. By utilizing one of the features of the Post module, Finalsite users can create content once, and then publish it across their site, saving small teams a ton of time.

Eagle Hill School | Hardwick, Massachusetts

Eagle Hill School’s homepage introduces families to not just the teaching faculty and administration but also additional members of the staff — everyone from the kitchen employees to athletic coaches and dorm counselors — adults that students see every day. “They're all part of one big community that helps their child to be successful and to feel comfortable being here,” shared Eagle Hill School’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Komenda.

In their recent redesign, Eagle Hill integrated Finalsite’s CMS with Blackbaud’s SIS and offered a solution that presented the best-of-both-worlds: keep their current student information system and offer a best-in-class user experience.

Learn more about Eagle Hill School's website redesign with Finalsite >

Chartwell School | Seaside, California

When a prospective family visits Chartwell, it would seem as though everything they’d need is “above the fold,” meaning important links to frequently visited pages are right there for parents. Icons help provide quick access to tour the school, apply, see COVID updates, and links to give back to the school are front and center.

Keep scrolling and you’ll find more iconography to support Chartwell’s fast facts, recent campus news, and upcoming events through a calendar element. There’s a consistency to the structure of its interior pages, as well—that helps visitors navigate the site with more confidence and helps solidify the visual brand.

Key Takeaway

The best school websites for diverse learners will share their stories and showcase their school’s value to parents. How your school presents its specialized academic programs and additional learning support is critical, but presenting a community that is deeply committed to providing for the extra needs of students will help families make the right choice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.