Website redesign for a private or international school in Miami: budget, timeline and risks (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

For a Miami private or international school, the website is first an admissions tool: families in Coral Gables, Brickell or newly arrived from Latin America and Europe decide there whether to book a tour. A well-run redesign fits a fixed grid (Growth at $4,900, Premium at $8,900 with Kolonell) as long as family portals and admissions software are linked rather than rebuilt, which is on quote. The main risk is timing: going live in the middle of admissions season or losing the pages that bring families from Google costs more than the redesign itself.

Which signals show a redesign is due?

PreK to Grade 12 schools in Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne or Pinecrest often notice it during open house season: tour sign-ups come in by phone because the online form is hard to find on mobile.

• The Spanish version is a machine translation, or does not exist, while many families read it first.
• Tuition is hidden in a 2023 PDF, which triggers repetitive calls.
• Student photos are years old and nobody knows which consents cover their publication.
• The site fails basic accessibility checks (contrast, forms, videos without captions).
• The admissions office does not know how many enquiries come from the site.

What budget should you plan for in 2026?

The ranges below are a 2026 ballpark from typical South Florida agency quotes and public agency rate pages. They target a 25 to 50 page site, excluding admissions software licences.

Kolonell also offers Starter at $2,900, suited to a small preschool. Every tier includes a project manager reachable on Miami time, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer page.

What is a realistic timeline by phase?

The golden rule: the new site must be live before fall tours open, usually late August or September. A redesign started in May leaves room; one launched in October should wait until admissions season ends for the switch.

What are the main risks and how do you control them?

Traffic loss. Pages like bilingual school Coral Gables or tuition often attract most organic visits. Inventory every URL, prepare a 301 redirect map, submit the new sitemap in Google Search Console and monitor errors for 30 days.

Content migration. Calendars, lunch menus, handbooks and newsletters pile up. Keep what families use, archive the rest, and rewrite rather than copy.

Integrations. Admissions software, the family portal and tour booking usually remain existing systems connected by link or embedded form. Deeper sync is priced on quote.

Children's data and images. FERPA applies to institutions receiving funds from the US Department of Education; many private schools do not, so check your status. COPPA applies if the site collects data online from children under 13: direct forms at parents. For every student photo or video, keep written parental consent.

Accessibility. ADA-based website suits are common in Florida: target WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 level AA, caption videos and publish an accessibility statement.

Marketing content. Mention accreditations only in the exact terms used by the bodies concerned, and have claims about academic results reviewed. This is not legal advice.

When is a local agency the better choice?

If you want a brand film shot on campus, several in-person workshops with the board and a custom-built family portal, a Miami agency or an education specialist is justified. A remote studio fits when the need is a clear admissions site, well written in both languages, fast on mobile and connected to existing tools, with a local videographer hired directly by the school.

Questions to ask:

• Who reviews the Spanish version, and how?
• Which launch date do you propose relative to our open house calendar?
• Are the domain, hosting and code in the school's name?
• How do you handle removing a photo when a parent asks?

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Lucía, admissions director at an international school in Pinecrest (420 students), receives a local quote of USD 28,000 over 14 weeks. She chooses Kolonell Premium at $8,900 for English and Spanish, an independent local videographer at $3,500 (third-party cost) and a tour booking integration on quote budgeted at $2,000. Total: 8,900 + 3,500 + 2,000 = $14,400, a $13,600 gap. With annual tuition around $30,000, a single additional family enrolled through the site more than covers the project.

FAQ

When should a Miami school start its redesign?

Ideally between March and June, to launch before fall tours. With Kolonell, delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready.

Should tuition be published?

It is the school's call, but a clear range per division often cuts first-level calls to admissions by 20 to 30%. A simple table is enough.

Should the site be in English and Spanish?

In Miami, yes for most international schools. The Premium tier at $8,900 is the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote.

Does FERPA apply to our school?

It covers institutions receiving Department of Education funds; many private schools are not in that case. Check with your counsel, and in any case collect only minimal data.

What happens to our family portal?

In most cases it is kept and linked securely, with no development cost. Deeper integration is priced on quote.

Let's scope your project. For a 25 to 50 page redesign in English and Spanish, timed around your admissions season, plan $4,900 to $8,900 and 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.