2025 has been an eventful year for Ravenna®, from the launch of Ravenna Enroll® to a complete UX redesign for a modern, faster feel. To better understand how these changes have enhanced the admissions process for users, the VenturEd Solutions team hosted eight customer workshops across the country.
In this post, we’ll recap key takeaways from these sessions and offer insights into how private schools are using Ravenna to increase enrollment, with our VenturEd team members recounting the insights that most stood out to them.
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Seattle, Washington: April 29
Kate Corbett, Customer Account Manager
Each workshop began with a Ravenna training session, instructing users how to accomplish more with the resources they currently have, followed by discussions on regional trends and concerns, then breakout group discussions and workshops, where attendees collaborated on practical ways to tackle shared challenges.
The first stop was Seattle, Washington. Schools shared the importance of using LinkedIn to spread their presence online, in addition to Facebook and Instagram. Administrators shared their approaches of posting frequently on social media, with diverse content to ensure they are casting as wide a net as possible, with the aim of finding families who are the best fit for the school.
San Francisco, California: May 1
Brooke Laneau, Account Executive
The San Francisco workshop discussions provided opportunities for private schools to discuss ways to increase enrollment amid ongoing trends across the state. Notably, student enrollment numbers in California are down for both public and private schools, with declining birth rates and considerable migration away from the state major contributors. Attendees discussed how to expand recruitment reach to meet the needs of a shrinking statewide applicant pool.
Additional discussions centered around how the adoption of AI and workload automation will impact the admissions process in future years, with intrigue over how Ravenna Admit® and Ravenna Enroll will further implement these tools.
“It was exciting to see a range of schools attend the workshop, from long-time customers to even a brand-new school that signed up with Ravenna the day before,” Laneau noted. “Everyone was eager to learn more about the solution and to hear from their peers.”
Washington D.C.: May 9
Scott Landry, Customer Support Manager
In the nation’s capital, The Lowell School hosted representatives from roughly a dozen schools. The training session mostly focused on getting the most out of Ravenna Events, which led to impromptu discussions where attendees gave each other “pro tips.”
Two looming concerns mentioned in the main discussion centered around how to increase enrollments amid government downsizing. Schools were also very concerned about School Choice, and seeing the regional data provided by Ravenna showed guidance on how to maintain enrollment levels with the right approach.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: May 15
Crystal Hughes, Senior Marketing Campaign Manager
During the Philadelphia workshop, the VenturEd team talked with a school that worked especially with underserved students. As part of their admissions process, they need to verify whether applying families qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The discussion included how, using financial reporting from each family’s financial aid application, School and Student Services® (SSS) validates household income via an integration with the IRS which would help this school see who would be SNAP eligible.
Bronx, New York: May 19
Carlen Wills, Product Manager
Part one of the New York City workshops announced upgrades to Admit, Enroll, and the Ravenna Hub, with exciting upgrades to workflows and event management. The subsequent training focused on teaching these new features to attendees.
The group discussed trending data from Ravenna customers in the region. While high school applications are down, overall private school interest is growing, with a 35-percent average acceptance rate indicating most schools are in a strong position to attract new students.
Manhattan, New York: May 21
Christi Reece, Sales Director
Hosted in the world’s financial and trade headquarters, chats in the Manhattan workshop centered on the progressively high competition for students. Whether the rise in charter schools, the redirecting of Catholic middle schoolers into emerging Catholic high schools, or resource-heavy public schools, traditional independent and private schools need to stay on top of methods to increase enrollment.
Private schools are already adapting their recruitment tactics to more closely align to families’ interests. Many boarding schools in the Tri-State Area have begun courting new students more aggressively, expanding specialized athletic, STEM, and arts programs to better distinguish themselves and allow parents to skip location- and transportation-related hassles altogether. Additionally, some private K-12 day schools now offer their own transportation options to keep up with the decline in local applications, enticing families from a broader range to apply.
Atlanta, Georgia: June 3
Dan Uhlmeyer, VP of Product Development
On Tuesday, June 3, VenturEd Solutions will host a Ravenna workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Hyatt Regency.
“For over a decade, schools have relied on Ravenna to provide visibility to their school via the directory, apply through its common app, process a greater number of applications, and manage overall admission workflows efficiently, Uhlmeyer notes.
“Having these workshops is an opportunity for customers to learn from their peers and our team members, and it gives us opportunities to further improve our product with their suggestions and insights. And sometimes we’ve found it as simple as doing a better job exposing the strong functionality that already exists through UI and UX improvements.”
Boston, Massachusetts: June 17
Hank Sadler, Senior Customer Account Manager
Later this month, the Dedham Country Day School in Dedham, Massachusetts, will be the site of the final Ravenna workshop, in the Valentine Center meeting room.
“I’m looking forward to reconnecting with schools from all over New England to hear about their admissions season and what they learned this year,” Sadler commented. “It’s always interesting to hear the perspectives from customers and what applicant families value the most when applying to private schools. I’m also looking forward to sharing our findings based on data trends in the region.
“I love these sessions and the collaboration that sparks from bringing such an amazing, dedicated, group of professionals together. We are all motivated by the same goal, providing a premium experience for students and a school community that validates the family’s investment into their child’s overall well-being.”
