Independent School Student and Family Retention Strategies Compendium

In order to retain enrollments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, independent schools will need to be clear about what they can provide to students and families outside of face-to-face learning. To address value concerns, independent schools must take extra measures to sustain a sense of community and highlight the unique value of the independent school experience. This resource provides a collection of strategies to use over the summer months and into the coming school year to help schools to engage students and families for purposes of retention.

In order to retain enrollments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, independent schools will need to be clear about what they can provide to students and families outside of face-to-face learning. To address value concerns, independent schools must take extra measures to sustain a sense of community and highlight the unique value of the independent school experience. For independent schools across the country, community engagement now will be key to student retention later. This resource provides a collection of strategies to use over the summer months and into the coming school year to help schools to engage students and families for purposes of retention.

The following compendium is a picklist from which school leaders should select tactics best suited for their unique school community. Each tactic includes implementation guidance and benefits to retain students and families, and have been broken into six categories, navigable from the left-hand menu.

Maintaining community virtually

Tailoring communications

Parent-focused initiatives

Welcoming new families

Sharing school life

Other ideas for retention

Maintaining community virtually

These tactics help build connections…