Your website should be making bold claims about what makes your school special. But bold claims aren’t enough. Testimonials turn those promises into proof.
When prospective families, teachers, and donors hear from those who have already walked this path—parents, students, alumni, and staff—your school’s message becomes more than just words. It becomes real.
So, where should you add testimonials for maximum impact? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Home Page: The Most Obvious (Yet Still Overlooked) Place
Your home page is your digital front door—the first impression for many future families. And yet, so many Christian schools fail to include even a single testimonial here. It’s an easy mistake to make, but just as easy to fix. Leverage social proof and start building trust right out of the gate!
Level Up: Curate testimonials that focus on your sweet spot — what you offer that no other school does.
2. Admissions Page: More Than Just the Process
If someone’s on your Admissions page, they’re already interested. They’re not just browsing—they’re actively investigating next steps.
Here’s the thing: the admissions process can be daunting. Unfamiliar.
Parents may feel overwhelmed, concerned that their child won’t fit in, or even second-guessing whether this is worth the hassle.
Can you think of a better place for reassurance? (Okay, I can think of one, but we’ll cover that next.)
Testimonials from families who have already made the leap make an emotional connection and have a far greater impact than simply communicating the logistics of applications and deadlines.
Level Up: Share stories about a smooth transition, a student’s reflection on feeling welcomed, or even feedback from a parent who felt cared for and guided through the enrollment process.
3. Tuition Page: Focus on Value, Not Cost
While there’s a lot to say about optimizing this page, one simple yet impactful improvement is including testimonials.
When families visit your tuition page, they aren’t just looking at the cost—they’re weighing whether your school is worth the investment.
A parent explaining how their child’s growth—spiritually, academically, and personally—made every dollar worth it can shift the conversation from cost to impact. A student testimonial about how their experience has changed their life reinforces that tuition is an investment, not just an expense.
Level Up: Do you have a testimonial where a parent acknowledges that sending their child to your school was a sacrifice, but one they’re glad they made? Imagine how that might resonate with families on your tuition page.
4. Academics Pages: Ground Aspirations in Reality
Your academics pages probably talk about developing lifelong learners, fostering curiosity, shaping leaders… But without real-world proof, those claims can feel like empty marketing.
Testimonials bring those promises to life.
If you highlight inquiry-based learning, showcase a student talking about a project that sparked their curiosity. If leadership development is a focus, include a parent’s reflection on their child’s growth in confidence. The key is to weave these stories into your content—placing them near to the claims they reinforce.
Level Up: If the parents or students mention the grade level (Elementary, Middle School, etc), it makes the testimonial even more relevant to readers. If the testimonial doesn’t include this info, you can tack it onto the attribution.
5. Portrait of a Graduate: Turn Vision into Reality
A Portrait of a Graduate or Model Student Outcomes page describes who hope children will be when they leave your halls. But without examples, it can feel theoretical.
Elevate this page with praise from real alumni. If you say your graduates are servant leaders, include a testimonial from an alum working in ministry or nonprofit work. If you highlight academic preparation, showcase a student excelling in college. Strategically place these stories alongside each graduate outcome to prove that your vision isn’t just a goal—it’s a reality.
Level Up: Including photos of those alumni makes it feel even more “real” and personal.
6. Employment Page: Let Future Teachers Hear Their Impact
Teachers don’t choose to work at a Christian school because of the salary and benefits—they choose it because they feel called. So, let your future faculty hear directly from the students whose lives they will change.
A student or alumni testimonial about a teacher’s influence can be more powerful than any list of job perks. Feature these testimonials near job postings or in sections about your school’s mission to inspire potential applicants.
Level Up: Include testimonials from other teachers also. This has all the same trust-building, credibility-boosting benefits I’ve mentioned previously.
7. Donor Page: Show the True Impact of Generosity
Donors give because they want to make a difference—not just to keep the lights on, but to invest in life change and Kingdom work.
Realistically, I don’t imagine many donors (certainly not major donors) deciding to give based on what they read on a web page. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use this real estate to tell stories of transformation.
And yes, you guessed it—testimonials are one way to do that. Let donors hear directly from the students, families, and teachers whose lives have been or will be impacted by their generosity.
Final Thought: Get Creative
We’ve touched on pages that exist on nearly every Christian school website. But I’m passing the baton to you now. Take a look at your website and ask:
- Where are families making key decisions?
- What testimonials would help them make that decision?
- Where have we made bold claims?
- How can we bring those claims to life with real stories?
Your school’s impact is best told by those who’ve lived it. You’re missing a huge opportunity when powerful stories are tucked away on a rarely visited “Testimonials” page. Prospective families need to see them where they matter most—woven throughout your site where they can truly make an impact.
