Site Configuration

A computer monitor displays a website with a purple header.

Single Site vs. Multi-Site

Choosing between one district website or separate school sites isn’t a technical decision—it’s about what works best for families and how your district operates. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right approach is the one that makes information easy to find, aligns with how schools communicate daily, and can be consistently maintained over time.

Single Site | One Website for the entire District

image of website on a computer screen

Pros

A blurry, close-up image featuring a warm golden-yellow shape against a dark background. Consistent branding
All schools look and feel the same (colors, layout, navigation).

A blurry, brightly colored yellow and orange diamond-shaped icon. Easier to manage for single Administrator
One system, one login, one place to update content.

A blurry, out-of-focus image showing a golden-yellow diamond or square shape against a dark background. Simpler accessibility compliance
Easier to keep ADA/WCAG standards consistent across the district.

Cons

A blurry, close-up image of a solid yellow shape against a dark background. Less flexibility for individual schools
Schools may feel limited in how they customize their pages.

A blurry, out-of-focus image showing a yellow, diamond-shaped object. Content can get crowded
A lot of information lives in one place, which can overwhelm users.

Multi-Site | Separate Website for Each School

website animation on computer screen over blue background

Pros

A solid vibrant blue square centered against a dark background. Custom branding
Each school has their own logo, colors, layout, and navigation.

A solid vibrant blue abstract shape with dark corners. More control for schools
Each school can tailor content to its families and programs.

A solid vibrant blue square shape filling the frame. Clear school identity
Helps schools highlight their culture, events, and priorities.

A solid vibrant blue square centered against a dark background. Content is easier to find locally
Families go straight to their school’s site for relevant info

Cons

A solid vibrant blue square centered on a dark background. More complex to manage for single Administrators
Multiple sites mean more updates, training, and oversight.

A solid vibrant blue square centered on a dark background. Inconsistent quality
Sites may vary in accuracy, design, and accessibility.

Single Site Use Cases

A solid block of bright green color fills the frame. District is small to mid-sized

A solid green pixelated background texture. Website updates are handled by a small central team

A solid block of bright green color fills the frame. Staff turnover makes training difficult

A solid block of bright green color fills the frame. Families often start at the district level

A solid green, blurry background fills the entire frame. Navigation simplicity is a top priority

A solid block of bright green color fills the frame. Schools are similar in structure and offerings

Multi-Site Use Cases

A solid lime-green octagon shape. District is mid-sized to large with unique programs or branding needs.

A solid lime green octagon shape with blurred edges. Families primarily identify with their individual school

A solid block of bright green color fills the frame. Schools regularly update their own content

A solid green pixelated octagon shape. School-level content changes daily or weekly

A solid bright green square fills the image. Schools need full control over calendars and announcements

A solid block of bright green color. District has tools/processes to monitor multiple sites

Design & Configuration

We recognize that launching a new website is a significant task, and we know school district staff have many responsibilities. That's why we've streamlined the transition to Smart Sites and made applying a new design as effortless as possible. Our talented, award-winning design team will handle the heavy lifting, ensuring your new website is not only beautiful and engaging but also ADA compliant.

Single Site

What it is: One main website that includes pages or sections for each school.
Design Structure:
- Logo, colors, and font options remain the same across the entire site which creates a uniform experience across all schools.
- Schools live within a single navigation system. Each school can have their own page or section within the navigation but the overall navigation remains consistent.
- For smaller school districts the single navigation structure can be beneficial to families making content easier to find. For mid-sized to large districts content can easily become overcrowded within a single navigation structure.
Multi-Site

What it is: Each school has its own website, connected under a district umbrella.
Design Structure:
- Each school has their own logo, colors, layout, and navigation, which helps schools highlight their culture, events, and priorities.
- With separate navigation systems, each school can organize content locally based on individual school needs, reducing the amount of clicks to reach school-specific content.
For a District with ParentSquare, we typically recommend matching your Smart Sites setup to your existing ParentSquare configuration to ensure the best results. For example, if you are currently operating as a multi-site district in ParentSquare, selecting a multi-site structure for Smart Sites will allow for the most seamless integration and configuration options.

Site Configuration

Pros

Cons

Pros

Cons

Single Site Use Cases

Multi-Site Use Cases

Design & Configuration

Single Site Examples

Multi-Site Examples

Design

ParentSquare Configuration

Design Library

Client Examples

Design Resources