How to Boost Open House Attendance for Your Montessori School

Open houses are a crucial opportunity for Montessori schools to showcase their unique learning environments, engage prospective families, and ultimately increase enrollment. However, simply hosting an open house isn’t enough—you need a strategic marketing plan to ensure strong attendance and meaningful connections with prospective parents.

With peak enrollment season upon us, now is the time to refine your outreach efforts. Below, we explore effective strategies to maximize your open house attendance, from digital marketing to traditional outreach tactics.

1. Run an Engaging Email Marketing Campaign

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for reaching prospective families. A well-planned email campaign can generate interest and drive RSVPs. It's an effective and free way to market any of your school events. Here’s how to optimize your email outreach to boost attendance at your upcoming open houses:

• Segment Your Email List – Personalize emails based on where the recipient is in their decision-making journey. For instance, families who have previously inquired about your school should receive tailored messaging different from those unfamiliar with your Montessori program.

• Create a Series of Emails (an Email Nurture) – Send a sequence of emails leading up to the event:

  • Initial Announcement (4-6 weeks before the event): Highlight what makes your Montessori school special and invite parents to the open house. It's great to include graphics or a virtual flyer. 

  • Reminder Emails (2 weeks before and a few days before): Reinforce the benefits of attending and share event details. Will you be offering food or refreshments? Do you have free parenting resources you'll be gifting attendees? Highlight all the perks to get local families excited. 

  • Last-Minute Push (24 hours before): Send a brief reminder with directions and a warm invitation.

• Include a Strong Call to Action (CTA) – Ensure that each email includes a prominent RSVP link or button, making it easy for recipients to confirm attendance.

2. Utilize In-Person Marketing

In-person marketing is highly effective for engaging families who are actively searching for educational options. Consider these tactics:

• Visit Local Family Hotspots – Set up informational booths or distribute flyers at community centers, libraries, coffee shops, and children’s activity centers. 

• Attend Parenting Events and Expos – Partner with parenting groups or local events where your target audience gathers. Hand out brochures and personally invite families to your open house. 

• Leverage Current Families – Encourage parents of enrolled students to spread the word by sharing open house details with friends, family, and coworkers. You can also involve students at your school to volunteer and hand out marketing materials (it's always great to see Montessori children passionate about growing their community). 

• Signage - Invest in a yard sign to promote your upcoming open house so locals can drive by and learn more. 

3. Distribute Eye-Catching Flyers

Flyers are a cost-effective and impactful way to reach families who may not be actively searching online. Maximize flyer distribution by:

• Placing them in doctors' offices, dentist offices, local estate agencies, libraries, children’s stores, local cafes, and community centers.

• Sending them home with students and encouraging families to share them.

• Partnering with local businesses willing to display flyers in high-traffic areas. 

Need help designing graphics, flyers, or brochures for your school? Learn more about our unlimited graphic design service for Montessori schools!

4. Run Targeted Social Media Ads

Social media advertising is a powerful way to reach local parents and drive attendance to your open house. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to target specific demographics, ensuring your ads reach the right audience. You can start running social media ads on shorter notice than Google Ads making them a great option for events that are planned on a shorter timeline. 

• Create Engaging Ad Content – Use high-quality images or videos showcasing your classrooms, teachers, and happy students.

• Highlight Key Selling Points – Emphasize what makes your Montessori school unique, such as small class sizes, individualized learning, or hands-on curriculum.

• Use a Clear CTA – Direct parents to RSVP for the open house by including a link to a simple sign-up form.

• Leverage Retargeting Ads – If someone visits your school’s website but doesn’t sign up for the open house, retarget them with a follow-up ad reminding them to register.

5. Make Cold Calls to Interested Parents

While cold calling may seem old-fashioned, it can be highly effective when done thoughtfully. A personal phone call can make a big impression and encourage attendance.

• Follow Up with Previous Inquiries – Call parents who have expressed interest in your school in the past but haven’t yet enrolled. 

• Use a Warm and Friendly Tone – Approach the conversation as an invitation rather than a sales pitch.

• Provide Key Information – Share what they can expect at the open house and why it’s a valuable opportunity to explore your Montessori program.

6. Add Pop-Ups to Your Website

Your website is one of the first places parents visit when researching schools, so make sure your open house gets prime visibility.

• Use Timely Pop-Ups – Set up a pop-up message that appears when visitors land on your homepage, inviting them to RSVP for the open house. By collecting their information, you can also send them follow-up SMS reminders the day before to ensure their attendance. 

• Make it Easy to Register – Include a simple sign-up form with fields for name, email, and phone number.

• Include a Countdown Timer – Creating a sense of urgency can encourage parents to sign up sooner rather than later.

Running Successful Open Houses

Increasing attendance at your open house requires a well-rounded marketing strategy that leverages both digital and in-person outreach. By implementing email campaigns, social media ads, community engagement, and direct follow-ups, you can attract more families and boost enrollment at your Montessori school. It's worth the extra effort because increasing open house attendance could help you recruit more families to enroll and join your Montessori community!

Now is the time to take action—apply these strategies today and make your open house a success! 

Need help when it comes to your Montessori Marketing? Schedule a FREE Montessori Marketing consultation call today and get some strategies to help you start growing your enrollment. 

Book Your FREE Montessori Marketing Consultation