Guide to High-Performing Class Listings

Every detail of your class listing—from your cover image to your summary—plays an important role in helping families discover your class and feel confident enrolling.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key components of a high-performing Outschool class listing and share practical, actionable tips to improve your visibility, engagement, and enrollments. 

Topics covered include:

1. How families find Outschool
2. How search and discovery works on Outschool
3. How families make decisions
4. The anatomy of a high-performing class listing

Whether you’re launching your first class or improving an existing one, this guide can help you align your listing with how families search, discover, and enroll on Outschool.

1. How Families Find Classes on Outschool

Families don’t all begin their journey in the same place, but they all end up in the same one: your class listing.

Some families first encounter Outschool outside of the website. They might search Google for a specific learning need, see an ad on social media, or receive a recommendation from another parent. In many of these cases, they land directly on a specific class page.

Others begin on Outschool.com. They browse categories, use the search bar, or explore personalized recommendations to find options that fit their child.

No matter where the journey starts, every path leads to your class listing. That page must immediately communicate who the class is for, what learners will gain, and why families can trust you.

Discovery Outside of Outschool

Many families first encounter Outschool – and individual classes – outside of Outschool.com. 

Search Engines (e.g. Google)

When families search for specific learning needs online (for example, “online phonics tutor”) search engines often return relevant Outschool pages.

Search engines may direct families to:

• Class Listings: A specific class that closely matches the search query.
• Category Landing Pages: Broader subject or themed collections designed around a specific learner need (e.g., Reading, Algebra, Coding).
• Teacher Profile Pages: An individual educator or organization’s profile, where families can explore their background, credentials, and full class offerings.

Paid Ads & Social Media

Outschool also promotes classes through:

• Catalog Ads: rotating sets of classes
• Class Listing Ads: a single class promoted directly
• Static or Video ads: Linking to class or category landing pages

In many cases— especially with Class Listing Ads — Outschool Ads are a direct reflection of the details on your class page. 

Referrals & Word of Mouth

Families also discover classes through parent recommendations, shared links, and online communities. These visitors often arrive with limited context about Outschool.

💡 Key Takeaway: No matter how families find you, your class page must quickly communicate who the class is for, the outcomes learners will gain, and why you’re a trusted choice. You can also bring more traffic to your class listing by sharing with your own social network or homeschool groups you might be part of.

2. How Search and Discovery Works on Outschool

Once families are on Outschool, search helps them quickly find classes that best match what they’re looking for based on their query, selected filters, and past behavior.

1) Request: What the Family Asks For

When a family searches, the following components can be taken into consideration:

• Search text — what they type into the search bar
• Selected filters — age, subject, format, time range, price, etc.
• Context — login status, learner profile, past activity, device type, etc.

This is why two people can see slightly different results for similar searches.

💡Key takeaway: Search results are personalized. There is no single universal results page — only results tailored to a family’s request and context.

2) Filter: Identifying Eligible Classes 

Before ranking begins, Outschool creates a pool of eligible classes. If a class fails any check, it won’t appear.

Classes must:

• Be published and available to enroll (live classes need an upcoming bookable section; self-paced must have “Accepting enrollments” set to Yes).
• Match all selected filters (subject, age, format, etc.). Filters are “hard gates”—if you don’t match, you won’t show.
• Match the search text (title and summary must align with the keywords families are using, or the class won’t be eligible for that query).

If there’s no meaningful match, the class is excluded from the pool.

Note: Match is forgiving: it’s case-insensitive, accounts for synonyms and spelling variations, stems related words, and uses flexible logic (e.g., mathematics tutor = math tutor).

💡Key takeaway: Include the keywords families are most likely to search for directly in your class title and summary, and make sure your subject and age range settings are accurate, because filters are hard requirements for appearing in search results.

3) Rank: ordering results within the eligible set

Once Outschool has the relevant list of classes, our search algorithm determines which eligible classes should appear first.

Ranking balances three goals:

• Relevance — How well the class matches the search and learner profile
• Conversion — The likelihood of families to click and enroll
• Value over time — The predicted long-term value of the class (price, retention, re-enrollment, etc.)

Those predictions are combined into a single score, with a higher score = higher placement.

Models are retrained regularly using recent search behavior so results stay aligned with what families respond to today.

We also provide a small boost to newly published classes so new listings have an opportunity to gain visibility. For classes without sufficient enrollment data, we estimate long-term value using performance patterns from similar classes on the marketplace.

💡Key takeaway: Ranking rewards alignment and performance over time. When your class clearly matches what families are searching for — and consistently converts interest into enrollment — it is positioned to perform well.

3. How families choose a class

Parents are usually deciding whether a class is for them in under a minute. They’re trying to answer three questions, in order:

Is this for my learner?

• Make sure it’s clear who the class is for: age, difficulty, interests, and any learning needs (for things not already covered by class tags and fields)
• Make the purpose of the class clear too, such as academic outcomes, skills, socializing, enrichment, exploration
• Also highlight activities that get learners engaged such as quizzes, projects, or discussions

Can I trust this?

• Use specific, relevant professional or personal details about yourself and why you’re a good teacher for this class (your reviews can be a great source for attributes to highlight)
• Give enough detail about the syllabus or what will happen in the class that parents can verify that it will achieve its goals
• Use spellcheck and grammar check to communicate professionalism (TODO: link to spell check)

What am I committing to?

• Be explicit about format and any other requirements like homework or materials so parents know what they’re signing up for.
• For live classes, describe the kind of participation expected and for how long (e.g. semester, full year)
• For self-paced classes, describe how much time is required and what kind of help you provide

💡Key Takeaway: Families enroll when they quickly see fit, feel trust, and understand expectations. A strong listing answers these three questions clearly and confidently.

4. The Anatomy of an Outschool Class Listing

Now that you understand how families find classes and how search works, let’s break down the individual elements of your listing.

Each component plays a specific role in either:

• Getting you discovered
• Earning the click
• Driving enrollment

A high-performing listing aligns all three.

Class Title

Your title affects both search matching and click-through rate. It should clearly communicate what the class is about and what outcomes learners will achieve.

Strong title structure:

Outcome + Topic + Format (optional) + Audience (optional)

Best practices:

• Use language families actually search for
• Keep it clear and scannable
• Avoid stuffing extra unrelated topics

Examples:

• Academic
  
  • Full Kindergarten Curriculum
  • Second Grade Full Year Curriculum (Math, Science, ELA)
  • Algebra 2 Concepts – A Summer Boot Camp
  • Elementary Math Tutoring
  • Singapore Dimensions Math 5A
• Skill development
  
  • Master High School Essay Writing
  • Friendship Facts: Social Skills Workshop (ASD, ADHD, 2e)
  • Python for Absolute Beginners
  • Creative Reading Comprehension Through Art
  • Money Masterclass for Teens: Banking, Budgeting, and Building Wealth
• Social/Interest
  
  • Crazy for Birds: Bird Watchers Group
  • Engineering of Everyday Things for Kids

🎯 Ask Yourself: Does your title align with what you’d expect families to search for?

💡 Key Takeaway: Clear, searchable titles improve both visibility and clicks.

Cover Image

Your cover image is a key driver of clicks. It appears across all search and discovery surfaces (Search results, Browse pages, Paid ads, Category pages, etc). Families decide in seconds whether to click. Your image should communicate what the class is and feel trustworthy.

A Strong Cover Image:

• Makes the topic obvious at a glance
• Feels clear and professional
• Looks good at both small and large sizes

Best practices:

• Include a clear subject cue (books, math symbols, art samples, etc.)
• Show the outcome or product learners will create (art piece, completed project, etc.)
• Keep the design simple and uncluttered
• If adding text, limit to 1–5 readable words
• Avoid cluttered collages, tiny text, pixelation, and generic stock photos.

Examples:

🎯 Ask yourself: Would a parent understand this class in 2 seconds?

💡 Key Takeaway: Your image earns the click. If it’s unclear or untrustworthy, families won’t move forward. For technical requirements and more design tips, see Image Guidelines for Teachers.

Class Summary

Your short summary is your 1-2 sentence elevator pitch to families in search.

A strong summary answers:

• What is this class?
• Who is it for?
• What outcome will learners achieve?

Simple formula:

“In this [format] class, learners will [outcome]. Ideal for [audience], using [approach] so learners can [benefit].”

Keep it:

• 1-2 sentences
• Outcome-focused
• Identifies who it's for
• Specific to this class (not generic)
• Natural and easy to read (avoid keyword stuffing)

Example:

“In this interactive ongoing course, students will master topics on a weekly basis found in the 8th grade common core math curriculum. This is a full year course (with holiday breaks), with practice and feedback.”

🎯 Ask yourself: Would a parent feel more confident after reading this?

💡 Key Takeaway: Your summary turns curiosity into serious consideration. For additional tips on positioning your class effectively for families, see Crafting a Class Listing That Stands Out and Attracts Learners.

Class Description

Your description converts interest into enrollment. Parents are looking for clarity and reassurance. They want to know exactly what to expect.

A strong description includes:

• Clear Learning Outcomes: What skills will learners build? What will they be able to do?
• Defined ‘Best-Fit Learner’: Who this class is for (age, level, prerequisites).
• Clear Expectations: Class Pace, Supplies Needed, Assignments (if any),

Example: Chemistry – Full Year Curriculum High School Course With Labs

🎯 Ask yourself: Would a parent feel fully confident enrolling after reading this?

💡Key Takeaway: Clarity reduces hesitation. Specifics drive enrollment. Reviewing Sample Class Listings for New Teachers can help you see how successful educators structure their descriptions.

Availability & Schedule

Availability is one of the most overlooked performance drivers.

If your class doesn’t have an upcoming, bookable option in the family’s selected time window, it may not appear in search at all.

Best practices:

• Post sections consistently
• Offer options within the next few weeks
• Keep seats open when possible
• Update availability regularly
• Add extra sections ahead of seasonal peaks (e.g., back-to-school, January enrollment surge, summer break, holiday periods) when family demand is highest

Note: Please ensure you are available and prepared to teach any new section you create. Avoid scheduling overlapping sections solely for visibility, and do not transfer families between sections without their consent.

🎯 Ask yourself: Do I have availability posted within the next few weeks?

💡 Key Takeaway: Even the strongest listing can’t perform if it isn’t eligible to appear. Consistent, upcoming availability is essential for visibility — and visibility is the first step toward enrollment.

Reviews & Ratings

Reputation builds trust and trust drives enrollment. Enrollment history and ratings influence how your class listing(s) perform in search ranking.

How to strengthen reputation signals:

• Deliver strong first sessions
• Set accurate expectations in your listing
• Ask for feedback at appropriate moments

🎯 Ask yourself: Am I creating strong first impressions in my earliest sessions?

💡 Key Takeaway: Trust drives enrollment. Enrollment strengthens visibility over time.

Class Video

A short intro video reduces uncertainty and builds connection.

Effective videos:

• 30-60 seconds
• Warm introduction
• Clear explanation of outcomes
• Brief preview of teaching style
• Avoid delays and start speaking right away

Examples:

🎯 Ask yourself: Do I clearly explain learning outcomes for this class while letting my personality and teaching style shine?

💡Key Takeaway: When families can see and hear you, confidence (and enrollment) goes up.

How it all works together

A high-performing listing works because every element reinforces the others. It matches what families are searching for, looks trustworthy in search results, clearly communicates value, sets accurate expectations, and ultimately converts interest into enrollment. Your cover image drives clicks, your title improves matching, your description strengthens conversion, and strong conversion supports ranking over time. When everything aligns, your listing doesn’t just generate views—it attracts the right learners.

💡Looking for feedback on a published or draft class? 

Try our free Outschool Class Listing Optimizer—a custom AI tool that uses this guide to help you improve your title, summary, and more in minutes.