Schools have many ways to reach parents these days – from text notifications to email and social media. School communications planning can feel like a puzzle where each piece needs to fit perfectly, and the more pieces you have, the more complex the puzzle becomes. So, is a district-specific mobile app really necessary, or is it simply channel overload?
The easiest way to answer this question is to look at the data. A 2024 report shows that the average American uses 30 apps each month on their smartphone, with 85 percent of their time spent using an app. Additionally, the number of annually downloaded apps has increased by over 60 percent since 2016. This demonstrates that mobile apps are not only important to people (and parents) but are a crucial part of the user experience.
If you don’t have a school mobile app for messaging, you're missing out on a major opportunity for personalized communication with your parents. Mobile apps are a vital part of an integrated communications approach. They don't replace other methods, like text notifications and social media, but rather complement them, working together to create a holistic and effective communications strategy.
The benefits of using a school mobile app
So, what does a school mobile app offer that can’t be achieved through text or email? While there may be some overlap, there are specific messages and functionalities that are best delivered through the app itself.
A school mobile app provides a quick, branded way for parents to easily access critical school information like calendars, events, forms, and other resources. Your app should be comprehensive and user-friendly—if there’s something a parent might need, it should be accessible here. Key resources that should be available in your mobile app include a directory of school staff and teachers, access to student grade reports, a detailed and up-to-date calendar of events, news updates and photos, and social connection icons that allow parents to quickly connect to your school’s profiles on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
While these features should also be available on the school website, the mobile app is likely the preferred method of communication for most parents due to its convenience. Opening an app to get a complete view of their child’s information—the soccer practice schedule, lunch menu, grades, and upcoming field trips—is far easier than searching for each piece of information individually on the website or through emails with staff and teachers.
Moreover, mobile apps offer a crucial messaging feature: push notifications. While these should be used carefully and sparingly, it’s hard to beat the immediacy of a push notification. They can be highly effective for communicating safety-related updates about weather or time-sensitive matters like early closures.
Next steps: Help with choosing a school mobile app
Selecting a school mobile app is no small feat and requires thorough research and careful planning. It's important to start by assessing your school’s unique needs and priorities to ensure the app you choose integrates smoothly with your existing systems.
The right school mobile app will seamlessly integrate with your other communication tools like your website, social media channels, and email software. An integrated communications approach saves both time and money. If there are any disconnects between the tools in your school’s communication network, you’ll end up spending more time managing tech issues than creating meaningful messages for your school community—and nobody wants that.
At Halder Group, we offer school mobile apps with unlimited push notifications, customized forms, advanced security features, and more. We use the latest technology to deliver these apps for $1000 or less, ensuring you get a high-quality solution that fits your budget.
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