Planning Your Yearbook Ladder

You will want to develop a page ladder that shows what is to go onto every page of your yearbook. The ladder will help determine how many pages to allocated to each specific activity (portraits, sports, organizations, academics, advertisements, student life, etc.). The ladder will also help you organize the sequencing of sections to give a nice flow to your yearbook. Your ladder can also be used as a checklist during the year to help track progress.

To get started, determine the approximate number of pages you will need in the book. Base this information on the number of students and staff members, number of grades, extracurricular activities and other activities you might want included in the book. Remember to work in increments of 4 pages unless you are ordering a Smyth sewn book where you’ll work in increments of 16 pages.

Determining what will be on every page of your yearbook can be challenging at first. Use the desk-size ladder worksheet to brainstorm what you think should be included and in what order. Share this with other relevant faculty and students to ensure every event and group has appropriate coverage. Once you have a good idea, put your pagination onto the large wall ladder to track progress.

Keep in mind, what you can include is often determined by when you want your yearbook to arrive. If you want to receive your yearbook before graduation, choose Spring Delivery. This will require your book to be completed and submitted earlier in the year. To include events that happen after you have submitted your book for publishing, a supplement is a great way to provide additional coverage. (Just check with your yearbook representative for details on supplements.) If you want the entire school year included in the yearbook, choose Fall Delivery. This allows your submission deadline to be in the summer and your yearbooks will arrive after school reopens in the fall.