Is Your School’s Website Really Yours? 

Your website is more than a digital brochure—it’s the first stop for parents, students, faculty, and prospective families. But if your site is built on a platform like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify, there’s something important to consider: 

Do you actually own it? 

While proprietary platforms are easy to launch, they often come with restrictions. Many schools are surprised to learn: 

• You may not be able to migrate your site to another host 
• You might have limited access to back-end code 
• Changing vendors could require a full rebuild 

At Stamp, we build school and college websites using open-source platforms like WordPress and ExpressionEngine—giving your team: 

• Full access and control over your site’s content, design, and structure 
• Full ADA Compliance  
• The ability to host your site wherever you choose 
• Freedom to evolve without being locked into one vendor 

Open Source vs. Proprietary: What’s the Difference?   

Open-source platforms (like WordPress and ExpressionEngine):   

• Use code that’s freely available and community-supported   
• Can be hosted on virtually any server, so you’re free to move your site as needed   
• Give you access to the full code and database with full design & functionality control   
• Subscription costs are generally low, but scalable depending on features   
• You own the site and data   
• There can be a slight learning curve, and it’ll require a trusted developer partner   

Proprietary platforms (like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify):   

• Tied to the platform, locking you into their hosting and software ecosystem   
• Often restrict access to backend code or database exports   
• Make migration difficult or impossible without rebuilding   
• Limited customization, but ease of use with drag-and-drop content in most cases   
• Bundle features—but at the cost of flexibility   
• Subscriptions can be costly and include features you don’t need   

So… Do You Own Your Website?   

If you’re unsure, that’s a red flag. Ownership means control, flexibility, and the ability to grow on your own terms. Whether you run a private or independent grade school or college, community college, trade school, or other education institution, you don’t want to be renting your most important marketing tool. 

At Stamp, we help organizations build flexible, secure, and future-ready websites that put them in control. As your curriculum, staff, and student needs evolve, your website should too. Don’t settle for a site you don’t fully own. Let’s connect.