How to Take Advantage of Google’s Review Removal Policy
If your school has a Google Business Profile, there’s a good chance your reviews are already gone.
On April 30, Google began removing all reviews and star ratings from listings categorized under “General Education Schools”—which includes primary, middle, and high schools. At the same time, they permanently disabled the ability to leave new reviews for these types of institutions.
This global change applies to all schools fitting that classification, regardless of whether they’re public, private, charter, or faith-based (such as Catholic and Lutheran schools).
This change applies globally— and permanently.
Why Did Google Remove Reviews from Schools?
Google’s rationale is rooted in their effort to protect what they call “critical services.” This includes healthcare facilities—and now, K–12 schools.
The idea is to prevent misleading or prank reviews from affecting institutions that provide essential public services.
But the practical result? For schools that have invested time in building a positive online presence, this sudden change means losing a valuable reputation asset overnight.
This Isn’t New — But It’s Now Official
Many schools didn’t realize this had been happening already.
For years, Google quietly “froze” reviews for certain school listings. You might’ve noticed: reviews stopped coming in. Star ratings never changed. But the review section still looked active—so no one raised the alarm.
Now, the freeze has become official policy, and all school Google reviews are being permanently removed.
How the Google Review Removal Impacts Your School
This change has three major effects on school marketing and visibility:
1. Your Local SEO Could Suffer
Google reviews have always played a role in how listings rank in local search results. Without this key ranking signal, your school’s Google Business Profile may see decreased visibility in search— especially in competitive metro areas where rankings matter most.
2. You’ve Lost a Key Source of Social Proof
Parent testimonials and community feedback help prospective families build trust. With Google reviews gone, your listing appears less credible to families researching educational options for their children.
3. You Need a New Reputation Strategy
Google reviews weren’t perfect, but they were free, visible, and expected. Now that you can no longer depend on Google to showcase parent feedback, schools must be proactive about developing alternative reputation channels.
Smart Strategies to Respond to Google Review Removal
This isn’t the end of digital reputation building—it’s a strategic pivot.
Here’s how Spiral Marketing for Schools is helping K–12 institutions respond strategically:
Diversify Your Review Portfolio
Actively encourage families to share their experiences on education-specific platforms like Niche, Private School Review, and GreatSchools, which remain unaffected by Google’s review removal policy and still accept parent testimonials.
Showcase Family Testimonials
Develop a dedicated “Family Testimonials” page on your website featuring authentic parent quotes, video testimonials, and impact stories that highlight your school’s strengths.
Leverage Social Proof on Social Media
Transform positive parent feedback into engaging social content through student spotlights, alumni success stories, and community event highlights.
Implement a Systematic Reputation Management Plan
Rather than relying on a single channel, establish a comprehensive approach to consistently collecting, monitoring, and showcasing parent and student feedback across multiple platforms.
Moving Beyond the Google Review Removal
Google’s decision to remove school reviews from school listings is more than a policy update—it’s a wake-up call. This shift must fundamentally change how educational institutions approach online reputation management.
Schools that adapt quickly will maintain their visibility and credibility, while those that fail to respond may experience declining enrollment inquiries without understanding why.
The good news? With the right expertise, this challenge can become an opportunity to build an even stronger, more diversified reputation strategy that isn’t vulnerable to a single platform’s policy changes.
Ready to Rebuild Your School’s Online Reputation?
We’re helping schools like yours turn this Google review removal challenge into a strategic advantage.
Want to get started today? Schedule a Free Consult or Download Our School Digital Marketing Checklist
Let’s make sure your school continues to shine— even without Google’s stars.
