How a Private School Rebuilt Their Student Body With a 158% Increase in 5th Grade Enrollment.
Before BTYcreative
St. Luke's Episcopal School, a respected private PreK-8th school in San Antonio, Texas, with an enrollment of approximately 246 students, faced significant challenges in the 2023/24 school year. The 5th grade class had dwindled to just 12 students due to several years of faculty and leadership changes, which impacted stability and affected student retention.
St. Luke's faced several key challenges:
- The 5th grade class size was significantly smaller than desired, impacting the future pipeline for Middle School.
- Recent changes in leadership and faculty created some instability, affecting confidence among students and parents.
- Existing marketing efforts did not fully drive the necessary inquiries and enrollment.
- The internal team needed additional expertise and capacity to manage a complex marketing campaign effectively.
- Evolving Strategies: Traditional admission strategies required refreshing to meet current needs.
158% Increase in 5th Grade Enrollment!
By the end of the 2024/25 school year, St. Luke's Episcopal School saw a remarkable 158.33% increase in their incoming 2024/2025 5th grade enrollment, growing the class size from 12 to 31 students. This impacts the upcoming Middle School classes, as many families leave after 4th grade when tuition costs often increase.
BTYcreative engaged in October 2023 and, after 6 weeks, launched a retention and enrollment campaign targeted at families transitioning from 4th to 5th grade. We revised the Brand Values for the school, created engaging materials and communicated both internally and externally why St. Luke's is the best choice from Pre-K through 8th grade.