7 Signs Your School’s Network Infrastructure Needs an Upgrade

Is your school network infrastructure upgrade long overdue?

If your school’s network feels more like a bottleneck than a bridge to learning, you’re not alone. Across the U.S., many charter schools are grappling with outdated infrastructure that holds back teaching, testing, and overall student success.

Knowing the warning signs early can help you upgrade your systems strategically before costly disruptions occur.

1. Unreliable Student Connectivity

When students and teachers frequently complain about Wi-Fi issues or slow internet, it’s more than just an inconvenience—it’s a sign that a school network infrastructure upgrade is needed. Reliable internet is foundational to digital classrooms, assessments, and research.

Stat: EducationSuperHighway reports that over 28% of schools lack adequate Wi-Fi coverage in every classroom.

Case: A charter school in Ohio faced delays during state testing due to poor Wi-Fi. After upgrading their access points and increasing bandwidth, test session time improved by 20%.

2. Network Slows During Peak Hours

If your school’s internet crawls to a stop during certain hours, it’s likely that your bandwidth isn’t keeping pace with demand. As digital tools become more integral to instruction, your infrastructure must be able to scale.

Stat: Cisco’s 2023 Annual Internet Report notes a 32% increase in traffic volume year-over-year in educational environments.

Tip: Use analytics tools to track traffic spikes and justify investment in a school network infrastructure upgrade.

3. Outdated Networking Hardware

If your switches, routers, or access points are over 5 years old, you’re already behind. Legacy hardware lacks the power, security, and functionality required today.

Case: A Texas charter school struggled with cloud app reliability due to decade-old switches. After upgrading to PoE-enabled hardware, they reduced support tickets by 40%.

Reminder: A school network infrastructure upgrade should begin with auditing physical devices.

Contact for a Free Network Infrastructure Assessment

4. Rise in Cybersecurity Incidents

Cyberattacks on schools have surged. Outdated infrastructure with unpatched software or expired firewalls leaves your school vulnerable.

Stat: K12 SIX reported over 1,300 cybersecurity incidents in U.S. schools in 2023 alone.

Case: A California charter school lost three weeks of access after a ransomware attack, attributed to an expired firewall that wasn’t replaced.

Action: Incorporate security enhancements into your school network infrastructure upgrade plan.

5. Increased Use of Devices and Smart Tech

Adding more Chromebooks, tablets, smartboards, and cameras without expanding network capacity can cripple performance. Your infrastructure must grow with your tech stack.

Case: A California STEM charter school integrated IoT lab devices, which caused network congestion. They later restructured their network to prioritize academic traffic.

Pro Tip: A school network infrastructure upgrade should consider both current and future tech adoption.

6. Trouble Supporting Remote and Hybrid Access

Many schools now offer hybrid learning, tutoring, and remote PD sessions. If your network struggles with remote access or VPNs, it’s time for an upgrade.

Reminder: Remote learning support is now a permanent part of infrastructure planning.

Ask Your Tech Team: Can your current system reliably support off-campus logins and traffic?

7. Your IT Team is Constantly Troubleshooting

If your IT staff spends more time fixing recurring network problems than improving systems, your infrastructure is costing you more than you think.

Quote: “We were stuck in fix-it mode until we upgraded our core and adopted cloud-managed tools,” said an IT director from a Georgia charter school. “Now we’re finally ahead of the curve.”

Outcome: The right school network infrastructure upgrade enables proactive IT, reducing downtime and improving performance.

What Charter School Leaders Should Do Next

• Conduct a Full Network Assessment with a trusted MSP or IT vendor.
• Create a Phased Upgrade Plan prioritizing high-impact areas.
• Apply for E-Rate Funding to reduce infrastructure costs.
• Set KPIs and Track Performance post-upgrade.
• Train Staff to make full use of the new network.

Final Thoughts

A school network infrastructure upgrade isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s an investment in your students’ educational success. Don’t wait until outages, slowdowns, or cybersecurity issues force your hand. Be proactive and strategic.

With the right upgrades, your network becomes an enabler, not a barrier.