If you haven’t heard, Google stopped allowing reviews on school Google Business Profiles since April 30, 2025. This includes removing any existing reviews already on your profile.

For some schools, this might be a bit of good news. That one star review from an anonymous person five years ago may have been weighing you down for a long time. But for many, this wipes out years of effort spent collecting positive feedback from your community.

Relying too heavily on third party platforms is always a risk (looking at you Instagram algorithm!) and now Google reviews is following a similar path. Even though reviews have become less trusted lately with incentives and software tools influencing them, it was still a reassuring sign to have that four-plus star rating visible. But, that’s now a thing of the past.


So what can you do instead?

Just because Google removed reviews doesn’t mean prospective families no longer care about what others have to say about your school. If anything, now is the time to double down. People still want honest feedback from others who’ve been in their shoes.

Reviews also gave you a temperature check on how your school was doing. Seeing a bunch of five star reviews? Great. Keep it up! Seeing a few two or three stars? That was an opportunity to understand what could be improved and helped move your school forward. 

Now what? Families will still be looking for feedback, referrals, and social proof. The need hasn’t gone away. So if Google won’t collect the reviews for you, it’s time to start doing it yourself.


Here are a few ways to get started…

Niche.com
Niche.com remains one of the most trusted platforms for families researching schools. Your school page includes a review section, and with hundreds of thousands of visitors a month, you should definitely be utilizing this functionality.

You should still have access to your historical Google Reviews. Reach out to a few of those families to see if they would be willing to write another review on your Niche page. 

Aryval Events
Shameless plug, but that’s why you’re here, right? With Aryval Events, every family who attends one of your events or tours receives an automated follow-up email asking them to rate their experience. This means you get immediate feedback on their school experience and valuable insights from the families who are actively engaging with your school.

Want more than just a star rating? Leverage our platform to automate a follow-up email to families who gave you five stars and ask them to write a full testimonial. Want to reach out to someone who gave a lower score? You have all the context you need—name, email, phone number, and the event they attended.

Your School Website

Don’t underestimate the value of your own platform. Now’s a great time to create or expand a testimonials section right on your website. Use quotes from parents, students, and alumni—grouped by audience (e.g., international families, new parents, graduates). Make sure it’s easy to read, mobile-friendly, and ideally linked from pages that prospective families are already visiting, like admissions or tuition.

Digital Media
Already have great testimonials but not sure how to showcase them? Consider creating a short video that features parents, students, and even staff talking honestly about what they love most about your school. I know this is a much larger ask, but at least put it on your roadmap. This kind of media can become the foundation of a brand awareness campaign that runs across your social platforms and beyond. Real stories still matter, maybe now more than ever.

Lead By Example

Google’s announcement is still fresh, but this is also a chance to lead. Be the school that finds a new way to highlight your reputation and the community behind it.

Have questions about how Aryval could work for your school? Fill out our form here and we’d be happy to help!