Google Is Removing School Reviews: What It Means for Your School (And What You Should Do About It)
As of April 30, 2025, Google removed all reviews and star ratings from Business Profiles for K–12 schools.
This marks a major shift for schools managing their digital reputation. While Google had quietly stopped allowing new reviews for most schools around 2019, existing reviews and star ratings remained visible. Now, Google is going a step further by wiping the slate clean entirely. Their stated reason? A steady stream of unhelpful, false, and prank comments that caused more harm than good for schools.
If your school has invested time and effort over the years building up a glowing 4.9-star reputation — especially before the 2019 review freeze — this news might feel like a gut punch. But that work wasn’t wasted, and there are smart steps you can take right now to protect and even strengthen your school’s online reputation.
We will break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what your school should do next.
Why This Change Matters for Schools
Whether your Google reviews were glowing, average, or even problematic, this reset is significant for three main reasons:
Families rely on online signals of trust.
When prospective parents search for schools, they look for indicators of quality, reliability, and satisfaction. Reviews — especially aggregated star ratings — offered a quick shorthand.
Other platforms will become more important.
Even though Google is removing reviews, other review platforms remain active. Families will still seek out opinions and stories elsewhere.
Your online presence is still crucial.
Google Business Profiles still appear in search results. Even without reviews, your profile remains a major source of information for prospective families.
In short: while reviews on Google are going away, the need for a strong, trustworthy digital presence isn’t.
Where Families Will Still Look for Reviews
Without Google reviews, families will turn to other online sources to assess your school’s reputation. Here are seven key platforms that will become even more influential:
- Facebook: Parents often seek recommendations and reviews from other families here.
- GreatSchools.org: A popular site for public and private school research.
- Niche.com: Known for detailed rankings and parent/student reviews.
- Yelp: Families use Yelp to research services — including schools.
- Private School Review: Tailored for independent school searchers.
- US News & World Report: Offers rankings and school data.
- Boarding School Review: Key for schools with boarding programs.
These platforms are active, widely trusted, and now poised to take on an even greater role.
How to Strengthen Your School’s Review Strategy Now
Google’s move isn’t a cause for panic — but it is a reason to get proactive. Here's a roadmap for action:
- Audit Your Presence on Other Review Sites
Check your listings on GreatSchools, Niche, Private School Review, Facebook, and others. Ensure your information is accurate, up-to-date, and compelling. - Encourage New Reviews on Trusted Platforms
Ask current families (especially your most satisfied ones) to share their experiences on these alternative review sites. Provide links and make it easy. - Highlight Testimonials on Your Website
Your school’s website is now your most important storytelling platform. Feature parent, student, and alumni testimonials prominently. - Respond Thoughtfully to Reviews
When possible, respond professionally and warmly to feedback on other platforms. It shows engagement and care — two powerful signals for prospective families. - Integrate Testimonials Across Channels
Use testimonials in your newsletters, viewbooks, ads, and social media. Don’t let great reviews sit hidden on one platform. - Focus on Firsthand Storytelling
Video testimonials, case studies of alumni success, parent interviews — all help build trust in an authentic, lasting way.
What This Means for Your School’s Digital Strategy
Even though you’re losing reviews on Google, this is an opportunity to reset and improve your digital reputation management.
Here’s what it means practically:
A Clean Slate
If you had lingering old reviews (good or bad), their removal offers a fresh start. No more worrying about outdated or irrelevant complaints haunting your listing.
SEO Matters Even More
Without star ratings factoring into local SEO as heavily, your website’s SEO becomes even more important. Focus on strong, optimized content that uses keywords families are actually searching for, like:
“Top private elementary schools in [city]”
“[City] independent high school college prep”
Read more about SEO Strategies for Small Schools
Control Your Story
You have the power to highlight the best parts of your school experience through your own platforms — without relying solely on crowdsourced reviews.
Increased Importance of Third-Party Endorsements
Earned media, awards, rankings on trusted sites, and partnerships can bolster your school's reputation in Google searches even without user reviews.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Change
At first glance, Google’s decision to remove school reviews might feel like a loss. But in reality, it’s a chance to take back control of your narrative.
Rather than leaving your school's reputation to the whims of unverified online comments, you can now focus on:
- Gathering genuine testimonials
- Showcasing success stories
- Strengthening your website and social media presence
- Building community engagement on trusted platforms
In a world where authentic storytelling matters more than ever, this is your chance to lead the conversation about your school — and show the world what makes your community truly special.