Private Schools

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The
Challenge

The core challenge was designing a system, not just a site, that could scale across multiple regions without becoming fragmented or unmaintainable. Gutenberg imposed constraints that required a robust custom block implementation capable of handling complex layouts without degrading into an unstructured page builder. Content needed to be modular and reusable, while still giving non-technical users enough flexibility to build pages independently. At the same time, the frontend needed to meet a high visual standard, reflecting a premium private school brand through polished design, subtle motion, and strong performance.

The
Solution

We implemented a modular architecture combining Gutenberg blocks with Blade templating powered by Acorn, using Score as the foundational theme framework. Blocks were developed with React for the editor experience and rendered using Blade templates to maintain clean separation of concerns and improve maintainability. On the backend, I structured content using custom post types and fields, enabling reusable and scalable data models across the main and franchise sites. The use of Acorn allowed for a more modern, Laravel-inspired architecture within WordPress, improving code organization and developer experience. Frontend implementation focused on translating the design system into consistent, reusable components, with subtle animations to elevate perceived quality while maintaining performance. The block system included constraints and patterns to ensure content editors could build pages reliably without breaking layout or design standards. As additional contributors extended the system, I maintained architectural consistency and coherence across implementations.

The
Result

The result was a maintainable and extensible multi-site platform built on a modern WordPress stack. The combination of Gutenberg, Blade, Acorn, and Score enabled a clean, scalable codebase while delivering a flexible editing experience for content teams. The system reduced long-term development overhead by enforcing reusable patterns and eliminating reliance on page builders, while still supporting regional variation across U.S. and Canadian sites. The final product delivered a performant, high-quality frontend aligned with a premium private school brand and provided a solid foundation for future expansion.