Success Academy Website: Improvement Concepts

Prepared for onsite interview, March 3, 2026. Updated March 9, 2026.
Kevin Middleton
Product Manager
1Current Site
2School Finder & Match
3Family Onboarding
4Unified Family Hub
5Platform Approach
Live view of successacademies.org. The current site drives enrollment through Salesforce (successacademies.my.site.com) but fragments the post-enrollment family experience across three separate authenticated platforms: eSchoolData (grades), ParentSquare (messaging app), and the Salesforce family dashboard. The Family Handbook lives on a public Google Site and is publicly accessible.
Concept 1 — Acquisition

School Finder & Match

An interactive tool that helps prospective families find the right SA school based on their borough, child's grade, and priorities. Bridges the gap between "I'm curious" and "I'm applying."

The Problem Today

The current Schools page shows a map and borough buttons, but gives families no way to narrow down which of 57 schools is right for their child. Parents research on their own, leave to check external sites, and many never come back to apply. There's no middle-funnel engagement between "browsing" and "Apply Now."

What This Solves

Give families a personalized answer to "Which school is right for us?" based on where they live, their child's age, and what matters to them. Every result includes a clear path to apply or schedule a tour. Value first, commitment second.

Interactive Mockup

About Tours & Events Find Your School Apply Now

Find the Right School for Your Family

Answer a few questions and we'll match you with SA schools near you.

Borough
Brooklyn
Child's Grade
Kindergarten
Zip Code
11216

4 Schools Near You

Sorted by distance from 11216

SA Bed-Stuy 1

Seats Available
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn · 0.4 mi
Grades: K–4 · Scholars: 475
97%
Math Prof.
95%
ELA Prof.
4.8
Family Rating
92
Strong match based on your location and grade. This school has open Kindergarten seats for Fall 2026.

SA Bed-Stuy 2

Seats Available
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn · 0.7 mi
Grades: K–8 · Scholars: 680
96%
Math Prof.
93%
ELA Prof.
4.7
Family Rating
88
Great match. K–8 means your child could stay through middle school without switching.

Why This Matters

The current site asks families to browse a map and click through boroughs. That works if you already know what you want, but the assumption is that most parents start with a simpler question: "Is there a good school near me?" This tool tests that hypothesis by answering with personalized results and a clear next step. The bet: giving families useful information before asking for commitment will lift application conversion. To validate, we'd want to measure current drop-off between the Schools page and the Apply flow, then A/B test a guided path against the existing browse experience.

What We'd Need to Solve

  • A school data source that exposes location, grade range, seat availability, and performance metrics in a queryable way
  • A match-scoring approach that weighs family inputs (zip, grade, priorities) against school attributes. Logic should be transparent to families, not a black box
  • Search performance that feels instant. Families will abandon a slow tool
  • Funnel instrumentation from search through results, school detail, and apply click to understand where interest converts or drops

Projected Impact

3–5x
Potential application conversion lift from personalized school matching
57
Schools surfaced with context, not just pins on a map
<2 min
Time from landing to personalized school recommendations
Concept 2 — Activation

Family Onboarding Journey

A guided post-enrollment experience that replaces the current "Helpful Links" page with a step-by-step flow. Meet your school, set up your tools, know what's coming.

The Problem Today

After enrollment, the Family Resources page links out to three separate authenticated platforms: eSchoolData for grades (parentportal-ren.eschooldata.com), ParentSquare for messaging (mobile app), and Salesforce for the family dashboard and enrollment portal (successacademies.my.site.com). Each has its own login and its own interface. New families have to figure out on their own which tool does what, where to log in, and what to do first. There's no guided path.

What This Solves

Turn the post-enrollment experience into a structured journey. Families see their school, their contacts, their key dates, and a checklist of what to set up, all in one place. Reduces calls to the Family Care team and gets families engaged before day one.

Interactive Mockup

Welcome, Hernandez Family
Getting Started 2 of 5 complete
Accept Enrollment
Verify Info
3
Set Up Tools
4
Review Calendar
5
Ready for Day 1

Set Up Your Family Tools

These tools help you stay connected with your child's school. Set them up now so you're ready before the first day.
  • Download the Success Academy app (ParentSquare)
  • Log in to the Family Dashboard to confirm registration
  • Set up eSchoolData to view grades and attendance
  • Read the 2026 Family Handbook for your school
  • Save your school's main office number to your phone

Your School

SA Bed-Stuy 1

832 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Main Office (718) 638-1875
Your Child's Teacher Ms. Rodriguez, Room 204

Key Dates

Upcoming
Aug 11 Back-to-School Orientation
Aug 13 Field Day (Grades K–2)
Aug 18 First Day of School

Why This Matters

Right now, the post-enrollment experience is a grid of links to six different platforms with no guidance on where to start. The assumption: this is where families form their first impression of SA as an organization, not just a school. If that's true, a structured onboarding journey should reduce Family Care call volume, increase tool adoption before day one, and set the tone that SA is invested in the relationship early. The first thing to validate would be current call drivers and drop-off points in the enrollment-to-first-day window.

What We'd Need to Solve

  • An orchestration layer that knows each family's enrollment status and surfaces the right next steps dynamically, not a static checklist
  • Persistent checklist state per family, resumable across sessions and devices
  • Document upload handling with validation (format, size, completeness) so families know immediately if something's wrong
  • Notification triggers tied to progress: reminders for incomplete steps, confirmations when milestones are hit. Should work through whatever channel families already use (email, SMS, app push)

Projected Impact

↓ 30%
Reduction in onboarding-related Family Care calls
↑ 2x
Family Dashboard and app adoption before first day of school
5 steps
From enrolled to fully set up, tracked and guided
Concept 3 — Retention

Unified Family Hub

A single authenticated experience that brings grades, messages, calendars, and resources together. Replaces the fragmented external tool links with one place for everything.

The Problem Today

Families currently navigate between three separate authenticated platforms plus the main website: eSchoolData for grades (parentportal-ren.eschooldata.com), ParentSquare for messaging (mobile app), and Salesforce for enrollment and the family dashboard (successacademies.my.site.com). Each has its own login, its own interface, and its own mental model. This fragmentation makes it harder for families to stay engaged and creates unnecessary support volume.

What This Solves

One login, one interface, one place for everything. Families see their children's grades, messages from teachers, upcoming events, and action items in a single dashboard. Data still flows from existing backend systems, but the family never has to know that. A unified experience layer over existing infrastructure means faster time-to-value without a costly backend rewrite.

Interactive Mockup

Dashboard
Grades
Messages
Calendar
Resources
Hernandez Family
MH

Your Scholars

AL
Amber, Grade 3
RL
Regina, Grade 1
TL
Tiéress, Pre-K

Quick Links

Amber Hernandez

Grade 3 · SA Bed-Stuy 1 · Ms. Rodriguez, Room 204

Recent Grades

View All
MathematicsA
ELAA-
ScienceB+
Social StudiesA

Messages

View All
MR
Ms. Rodriguez
Amber did a great job on her presentation today...
2h ago
SA
SA Bed-Stuy 1
Reminder: Early dismissal this Friday at 12:30pm
Yesterday
CT
Chess Team
Tournament schedule for March posted
2 days
Action Required

Spring conference sign-up closes March 7. Choose your time slot now.

Sign Up Now

This Week

Tomorrow
Early Dismissal
12:30pm pickup
Thursday
Chess Club
3:15 – 4:30pm, Room 108
Friday
Science Fair Prep
Projects due next Monday
Mar 7
Conference Sign-Up Deadline
Spring parent-teacher conferences

Your Scholars

AL
Amber, Grade 3
RL
Regina, Grade 1
TL
Tiéress, Pre-K

Quick Links

Amber's Grades

Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
3.7
GPA
98%
Attendance
0
Missing Work
Mar 12
Next Conference
SubjectTeacherCurrent GradeTrendLast Assignment
Mathematics Mr. Thompson A · 94% ▲ +2% from T1 Multiplication Quiz · 96%
English Language Arts Ms. Rodriguez A- · 91% ▲ +3% from T1 Book Report: Charlotte's Web · 93%
Science Ms. Park B+ · 88% ▬ Same as T1 Plant Growth Lab Report · 85%
Social Studies Mr. Davis A · 95% ▲ +4% from T1 NYC Boroughs Project · 98%
Art Ms. Chen A · 96% ▬ Same as T1 Self-Portrait · Pass
Chess Mr. Okafor A+ · 99% ▲ +1% from T1 Tournament Performance · 1st Place

Recent Assignments

Multiplication Quiz
Mathematics · Mr. Thompson · Feb 28
96%
NYC Boroughs Project
Social Studies · Mr. Davis · Feb 27
98%
Book Report: Charlotte's Web
ELA · Ms. Rodriguez · Feb 25
93%
Plant Growth Lab Report
Science · Ms. Park · Feb 24
85%
Reading Comprehension Ch. 14
ELA · Ms. Rodriguez · Feb 21
90%

Your Scholars

AL
Amber, Grade 3
RL
Regina, Grade 1
TL
Tiéress, Pre-K

Quick Links

Messages

MR
Ms. Rodriguez
Amber did a great job on her presentation today!
2h ago
SA
SA Bed-Stuy 1
Reminder: Early dismissal this Friday at 12:30pm
Yesterday
CT
Chess Team
Tournament schedule for March posted
2 days
MP
Ms. Park
Science fair project guidelines and due dates
3 days
SA
SA Bed-Stuy 1
Spring conference sign-up is now open
Feb 26
MT
Mr. Thompson
Multiplication quiz results - great progress!
Feb 25
DB
Debate Club
Practice schedule change for next week
Feb 24
FC
Family Care
Updated cafeteria menu for March
Feb 22
Ms. Rodriguez
ELA Teacher, Room 204 · Today at 1:24pm · To: Hernandez Family

Hi Hernandez Family,

I wanted to share that Amber did a wonderful job on her oral presentation about Charlotte's Web today. She spoke clearly, made eye contact with the class, and answered questions from her classmates with real confidence.

This is a big step from the beginning of the year when she was nervous about presenting. She's been putting in the work and it's showing.

Her written book report also came back strong at 93%. I've posted the full rubric in eSchoolData if you'd like to see the breakdown.

Let me know if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing you at conferences in March!

Best,
Ms. Rodriguez

Your Scholars

AL
Amber, Grade 3
RL
Regina, Grade 1
TL
Tiéress, Pre-K

Quick Links

March 2026

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
SA Interview!
4
Chess Club
5
Chess Club
6
Early Dismissal
7
Conf. Sign-Up Due
8
9
SA Interview!
10
11
12
Parent Conf.
13
Parent Conf.
14
15
16
17
Field Trip: Museum
18
19
Chess Club
20
21
22
23
Math Assessment
24
25
26
Chess Club
27
Half Day
28
29
30
No School
31
No School
1
2
3
4

Upcoming Events

Mar 6
Early Dismissal
12:30pm pickup for all scholars
Mar 7
Conference Sign-Up Deadline
Choose your time slot before it closes
Mar 9
Science Fair Projects Due
Submit to Ms. Park, Room 310
Mar 12-13
Spring Parent Conferences
Your slot: Mar 12, 3:45pm
Mar 17
Field Trip: Met Museum
Permission slip signed ✓
Mar 30-31
Spring Break Begins
No school Mon-Tue. Resumes Apr 1.

Legend

Academic
Activities
Schedule Changes
No School / Deadlines

Your Scholars

AL
Amber, Grade 3
RL
Regina, Grade 1
TL
Tiéress, Pre-K

Quick Links

Resources

Everything your family needs, organized by category. No more hunting across different websites.

Your School

📍

SA Bed-Stuy 1

832 Marcy Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Main Office: (718) 638-1875

Get Directions →
📅

Academic Calendar

Full 2025-2026 academic calendar with holidays, half days, and key dates.

View Calendar →
📞

Staff Directory

Contact information for teachers, administrators, and support staff.

View Directory →

Handbooks & Policies

📖

2025 Family Handbook

Parent responsibilities, school policies, dress code, and what to expect.

Read Handbook →
👔

Scholar Dress Code

Uniform requirements, approved items, and where to purchase.

View Details →
🍴

Cafeteria & Meals

March menu, dietary accommodations, and allergy information.

View Menu →

Forms & Requests

✏️

Report an Absence

Notify the school if your child will be absent or arrive late.

Submit Form →
📄

Request Transcripts

Request official academic records for high school scholars.

Start Request →
📅

Schedule a Meeting

Book time with your child's teacher or school administration.

Book Meeting →

Help & Support

💬

Family Care

Questions? Contact our Family Care team.
Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm: (646) 472-1911

Send Message →

FAQs

Answers to common questions about enrollment, transfers, and school life.

Browse FAQs →
📱

Download the App

Get the Success Academy app for real-time updates on your phone.

App Store & Google Play →

Why This Matters

This is the long-term vision: a single family experience that wraps existing systems (eSchoolData, ParentSquare, Salesforce) into one cohesive interface. Families shouldn't need to know that grades come from one system and messages come from another. The assumption is that consolidating platforms will reduce cognitive load for families and support volume for the network. The architecture approach, a unified front-end over existing backends via APIs, is lower risk than replacing systems outright. The open question is which integrations to prioritize first; that should be driven by current support ticket data and family feedback on where the fragmentation hurts most.

What We'd Need to Solve

  • An integration approach that reads from existing systems (eSchoolData, ParentSquare, Salesforce) without requiring those systems to be replaced or rewritten
  • Start with read-only aggregation first. Layer in interactive features (reply to message, RSVP to event) as integrations mature and trust is established
  • A clear data freshness strategy: some information (grades, attendance) can refresh on a schedule; other information (messages) needs to feel real-time
  • A unified authentication layer so families log in once, regardless of which backend system the data comes from
  • Privacy and access controls that reflect actual family-to-student relationships across all data sources

Projected Impact

1
Login for families instead of 5+ separate platforms
↑ 40%
Projected increase in family engagement with digital tools
22,000
Scholars' families served through a single experience
How I'd Approach This

Platform Approach

A strategy for consolidating the family digital experience without replacing existing systems.

Proposed Architecture

Family Experience Layer
Website + Mobile App — one interface, one login
↑ ↓
Integration Layer
APIs · Data Normalization · Orchestration
↑ ↓
Shared Services
Authentication · Notifications · Analytics · Access Controls
↑ ↓
Current Systems
eSchoolData (grades) · ParentSquare (messaging) · Salesforce (enrollment + dashboard)

Build Sequence

Take an inventory, consolidate, build, iterate.

Phase 1: Understand & Consolidate

Audit existing systems. Map data sources, identify available APIs, and establish where the source of truth lives for each type of family information. Then build a read-only dashboard that pulls grades, messages, and calendar into one view.

Success metric: A clear integration inventory and families accessing information in one place instead of five.

Phase 2: Build

Add interactive features: reply to messages, RSVP to events, upload documents. Guided onboarding for new families that reduces the support burden on Family Care and school operations teams.

Success metric: Daily active engagement with the hub, reduction in Family Care call volume.

Phase 3: Iterate

Assess what's working and what needs to change. Migrate backend functions based on what Phase 1 and 2 reveal. Add the School Finder as the public-facing entry point. Connect the full journey from discovery through daily engagement.

Success metric: Families complete their most common tasks without leaving the platform. At least one legacy system retired.

Guiding Principles

Consolidate the front-end first. Evaluate each system's API and data portability over time to inform what stays, what gets improved, and what eventually gets replaced.
Product defines the problem. Engineering decides the how. Product owns the requirements, the priorities, and the user outcomes. Architecture and implementation are engineering decisions.
Let data drive the sequence. Which integrations come first should be determined by where families experience the most friction, validated through support ticket data and family research.
Deprecation decisions driven by operational cost, capability overlap, and integration burden, not just convenience.
Ship something families can use at every phase. Each phase is useful on its own, not dependent on completing the full vision.
Secure at every step. Unified auth, role-based access, and data privacy built into the architecture. We're handling children's information.