Seven Hills School
Seven Hills School is a small, independent middle school for boys, offering a highly personalized and relationship-driven approach to education. With a focus on meeting students where they are and supporting their growth both academically and socially, the school provides a distinct alternative to traditional models – one that resonates strongly with families seeking a more tailored learning environment.
While the school had strong word-of-mouth referrals and a clear sense of identity, its website did not fully reflect the depth of its program or the warmth of its community. Opportunities existed to improve navigation, modernize the design, and better communicate what makes Seven Hills unique, particularly for prospective families discovering the school online.
“From the onset, Tara and her team seemed personally invested in our project from the first introductory meeting of truly understanding our school culture to the design phase through the final rollout. Our new website does not feel like a “cookie-cutter” site that you can simply replace the school name at the top with any other school; we feel it truly represents our unique culture and feel. Thank you!”
– Drew Lineberger, Assistant Head of School for Advancement
What the client had to say
There is so much to a project like this that I did not know how I was going to “connect” all of the moving pieces of this project, especially when Tara expects and wants us to be active participants in the design, etc. Tara made it so much easier with the the shared workbook/spreadsheet that had the entire project laid out for us. The video messages with visual examples were also incredibly helpful for someone like me who needs to see what she is describing.
Objective
The goal of the website redesign was to create a more engaging, user-friendly experience that reflects the personality and strengths of Seven Hills School.
This included:
- Clearly communicating the school’s unique approach to educating middle school boys
- Improving navigation and site structure to make information easier to find
- Creating a more visually engaging design that feels both modern and approachable
- Highlighting key content for prospective families, including program philosophy, student experience, and community voice
- Developing a flexible platform that supports ongoing updates and content management
Ultimately, the new site needed to balance storytelling and usability—helping families quickly understand what makes Seven Hills different while making it easy to explore further.
Approach
Discovery & Strategy
Through a collaborative discovery process we identified key goals, audience needs, and opportunities for improvement. We also reviewed analytics and existing site structure to ensure important content would be preserved and strengthened in the new experience.
Content & Structure
With a clear strategy in place, we reworked the site architecture.
We mapped existing content, reorganized pages, and created a streamlined sitemap that improves usability while supporting SEO. Special attention was given to how prospective families navigate the site—ensuring key information is easy to find.
We also identified opportunities to enhance content presentation, including:
- Structuring blog and alumni content for consistency
- Creating reusable layouts for key sections
- Highlighting testimonials and “voices of the community”
- User Experience
Clarity and accessibility guided every decision.
We simplified navigation, improved mobile responsiveness, and designed clear pathways for users to explore the site. Homepage strategy focused on surfacing key information—balancing storytelling with quick access to essential details.
Design & Development
The design builds on Seven Hills’ existing brand while bringing new energy and flexibility.
We maintained the school’s core identity while introducing a more vibrant visual approach—incorporating accent colors, strong imagery, and thoughtful layout to create a more engaging experience.
On the backend, we implemented a flexible system using modular components and reusable templates, making it easy for the Seven Hills team to manage content, update pages, and maintain consistency across the site.
Outcome
The result is a modern, engaging website that better reflects the personality and strengths of Seven Hills School.
The new site:
- Clearly communicates the school’s unique value and approach
- Provides a more intuitive experience for prospective families
- Improves navigation and access to key information
- Offers a flexible platform for ongoing content updates
- Brings new energy to the brand through thoughtful design and visual storytelling
Most importantly, the website now feels like Seven Hills—personal, welcoming, and focused on helping every student thrive.
Before
New Website
