Case Study: John Bapst

The challenge

With a new international boarding program on the way, and facing ever-changing competition from other elite boarding and preparatory high schools on the east coast, John Bapst Memorial High needed a website refresh that would reflect a refined brand and include the latest information on the school’s boarding program and related offerings.

The solution

Using the school’s brand new viewbook as a guide, RainStorm developed an evolved, refined graphic design for the site based on existing standards and reflecting the proud history and high standards of John Bapst.

Beyond the design, RainStorm conducted a sitemap and content review and revision process with key staff and stakeholders to re-organize and update the site’s content and structure. The new content included expanded information on the school’s new board program, an updated calendar using the popular, well-designed Google Calendar, and a focus on serving content directly through text rather than through attached PDFs.

Previously, school IT staff used Adobe Contribute, a desktop-based site editing software model. With this new version of the site, RainStorm converted the underlying code to be powered by SiteTurbine, a custom web-based content management system. Using SiteTurbine, key staff in each department can manage the site’s content themselves, eliminating the workflow problems, removing costly and time-consuming software updates, and ensuring the site stays up-to-date- critical advantages for an academic institution aiming to maximize both resources and results.

The results

With the launch of the new website, visits have increased more than 40%, with a notable 2,000% increase in visits from prospective international students. Contact form submissions have more than doubled in the period since the site launch, proving that the site’s organization and updated design are converting visitors into potential students.