Notre Dame High School

Notre Dame is a rigorous, vibrant, Diocesan Catholic high school drawing college-bound students from a broad range of cities and towns in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Scope

Why They Came to Us:

With strong competition from several area private and Diocesan Catholic high schools, Notre Dame’s brand needed revitalizing.  While proudly fulfilling its mission of educating a diverse population of smart, ambitious students, the School wasn’t effectively conveying the value and impact of that mission, both externally and internally.  As a result, admissions numbers were declining and the Notre Dame image was tarnished.

Our Approach:

We began our work at Notre Dame with a brand audit that revealed gaps and opportunities in the School’s positioning and marketing messaging. A new brand platform was developed, aimed at reinforcing Notre Dame’s core mission and educational commitments while elevating associations with transformative, high value, learning. Quickly, this new brand platform was integrated into a new, comprehensive suite of admissions communications – new printed collateral, a refreshed website (working in collaboration with their in-house web developer), new advertising, development of an admissions video, and more.  In addition, we worked with Notre Dame’s principal and admissions director to revitalize their Open House program and visit experience, including updating interior campus aesthetics, tour guide training, and new presentation materials.

As the new Notre Dame brand took root, we extended our involvement to advancement, re-designing new annual fund communications and launching a new annual Notre Dame Magazine.

Beyond the impact on marketing communications, our continued consulting association with Notre Dame’s leadership team of president, principal, admissions and advancement directors, continues to keep the School’s focus on further development and growth.  We helped Notre Dame as it crafted an innovative partnership with nearby Sacred Heart University, providing enhanced learning opportunities for Notre Dame students, with the promise of a substantial tuition discount for those who are admitted to SHU. We are working to guide Notre Dame in the development of its second five-year strategic plan. And in terms of results, new recruitment and overall enrollment numbers have increased significantly each of the past five years, and the brand of Notre Dame today rightly reflects an outstanding school with energetic leadership, driven by a serious and proven commitment to the vibrant academic, personal, and spiritual development of its students.