School Growth

The LCS Talkers Program – An Innovative Word of Mouth Marketing Strategy

The LCS Talkers Program – An Innovative Word of Mouth Marketing Strategy

Every school has talkers—parents, alumni, grandparents and friends that talk about their school. Sometimes these conversations are positive while at other times it can be negative. They will talk about what they have experienced or have heard from someone else about their school. While you can never control these conversations, you do have an opportunity to be proactive […]

Nine Factors that Affect School Enrollment Growth

Nine Factors that Affect School Enrollment Growth

Have you ever thought about the reasons why some private schools experience enrollment growth and why others decline? If you were developing a theory of school growth, what would you propose as the most important factors that influence enrollment growth? Based on my experiences in working with private, Christian and independent schools throughout the country, […]

Key Ingredients for Enrollment Growth at Calvin Christian School (Escondido, CA)

Last week I co-presented a webinar with Terry Kok, Superintendent of Calvin Christian School in Escondido, CA. This webinar was presented to over 70 school leaders that are members of Christian Schools International. Terry and I connected in 2010 when I had the opportunity to work with his school to conduct research and develop their […]

An Inside Look at Enrollment Growth at Indian Rocks Christian School

An Inside Look at Enrollment Growth at Indian Rocks Christian School

Dr. Don Mayes, Superintendent of Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, FL, met with me about a year ago to discuss the enrollment situation at his school. For the past five years, the enrollment had declined from 930 students in 2006-07 to a low of 693 in 2010-11. Obviously, he and his leadership team wanted […]

Nine Ways Faculty and Staff Can Market Your School

When I was head of school, I always looked forward to the start of a new school year. The beginning of a new year typically starts with a week of kick-off meetings with the faculty and staff. The mood is positive as everyone returns from their summer and is focused for a new school year. This […]

Undercover Head of School

I normally don’t watch TV except for sports and the news. On Sunday evening I was flipping through the countless cable channels and came across the show, “Undercover Boss.” Immediately this show grabbed my attention as it featured one of the owners of the Chicago Cubs going undercover.

24/7 Marketing Mindset

I am seeing a shift that needs to take place in schools. Gone are the days when we could rely upon word-of-mouth alone to grow our school. Gone are the days when we didn’t have to think about marketing. Gone are the days when faculty and staff think of marketing and enrollment as someone else’s job.

The Mark of a Great School

Re-enrollment is the true test. It’s when you begin to discover how satisfied and committed your current parents are to returning to your school for another year. It’s when you realize whether or not your school is great. One of the marks of a great school is an overall retention rate of 90% or higher.

Five Re-Recruitment Strategies for your Transition Grades

Most schools typically lose students during the transition grades. These grade levels are from preschool to Kindergarten, fifth to sixth and eight to ninth grades. These transition grades should be the main focus of your re-enrollment strategy. Some of the strategies that work well for schools include:

It’s Time for a New Resolution

It’s hard to believe that New Year’s Day is just around the corner. With this special day to mark a fresh start, we have the tradition of setting resolutions for the New Year. Goals are important for us. We are all wired in such a way that we need goals to drive us. However, do you know […]

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