Skip to main content
Hero Light

​
What is ESP Website?

ESP Website is a comprehensive platform designed to help manage the logistics of preparing for and running large, short-term educational programs. Originally created for MIT Splash and maintained by members and alumni of the interscholastic Splash community and Learning Unlimited, it powers educational programs worldwide. The platform handles everything from student and teacher registration to class scheduling, payments, communications, and on-site management.

​
Key Features

Student Registration

Intuitive class browsing, lottery registration, waitlists, and real-time schedule management

Teacher Management

Class creation, availability tracking, student app reviews, and materials upload

Admin Tools

Powerful scheduling, communications, financial aid processing, and program dashboards

Payment Processing

Integrated Stripe and Cybersource support with line items, discounts, and financial aid

Quickstart Guide

Get started with your first program in minutes

Installation

Set up a local development environment

Program Modules

Learn about the modular system for customizing your program

GitHub Repository

View the source code and contribute

​
Student Features

ESP Website provides students with a seamless registration experience:
  • Class Catalog: Browse classes with filtering by category, difficulty, grade level, and more
  • Multiple Registration Modes: Support for lottery registration, priority-based selection, and first-come-first-served
  • Real-time Schedule: View your schedule with classroom locations and teacher information
  • Financial Aid: Built-in financial aid application and approval workflow
  • Optional Purchases: Add meals, t-shirts, and other items during registration
  • Mobile-Friendly: Student webapp for on-site schedule viewing, class changes, and surveys

​
Teacher Features

Teachers can easily manage their classes through the platform:
  • Class Creation: Create multiple class sections with detailed descriptions and materials
  • Availability Management: Indicate when you’re available to teach
  • Student Applications: Create custom application questions for your classes
  • Materials Upload: Share class materials and resources with students
  • Teacher Training: Sign up for required training sessions and interviews
  • Attendance Tracking: Mark student attendance through the web interface or mobile app

​
Admin Features

Program administrators have access to powerful management tools:
  • AJAX Scheduler: Visual drag-and-drop interface for assigning classes to rooms and times
  • Communications Panel: Send targeted emails to students, teachers, and other user groups
  • Dashboard & Analytics: Real-time statistics on registrations, payments, and program health
  • Resource Management: Manage classrooms, equipment, and time blocks
  • Class Review: Approve, edit, and manage submitted classes
  • Financial Aid Processing: Review and approve financial aid applications
  • Custom Forms: Create surveys and collect additional information
  • Program Modules: Enable only the features you need for each program

​
Payments

ESP Website integrates with major payment processors:
  • Stripe Integration: Accept credit card payments with automatic receipt generation
  • Cybersource Support: Enterprise payment processing (used by MIT)
  • Flexible Line Items: Configure program fees, optional purchases, and donations
  • Financial Aid: Automatic discounts and grants
  • Sibling Discounts: Built-in support for family discounts

​
Program Module System

One of ESP Website’s most powerful features is its modular architecture. Each program can enable only the modules it needs:
  • Student Class Registration (catalog, schedule, enrollment)
  • Lottery Registration (two-phase and priority-based)
  • Student Profile Editor
  • Financial Aid Application
  • Extra Costs (meals, t-shirts)
  • Student Acknowledgement
  • Surveys
  • Student Onsite Webapp
  • Teacher Class Registration (create and edit classes)
  • Teacher Availability
  • Teacher Profile Editor
  • Teacher Bio and Photo Upload
  • Teacher Events (training/interview signup)
  • Teacher Quiz (logistics verification)
  • Application Reviews
  • Teacher Onsite Webapp
  • AJAX Scheduling Module
  • Communications Panel
  • Admin Dashboard (AdminCore)
  • Class Management
  • User Morphing (view site as another user)
  • Admin Review Apps
  • Vitals Display
  • Resource Management (rooms, time blocks)
  • Volunteer Management
  • Payment Processing (Stripe/Cybersource)
  • Program Printables (rosters, schedules)
  • Survey Creation and Results

​
Technology Stack

ESP Website is built with proven, reliable technologies:
  • Backend: Django (Python web framework)
  • Database: PostgreSQL 14
  • Caching: Memcached
  • Frontend: JavaScript, jQuery, Bootstrap
  • Deployment: Docker, Docker Compose
  • Version Control: Git, GitHub

​
Who Uses ESP Website?

ESP Website powers educational programs at universities and organizations worldwide:
  • MIT Splash: Weekend educational programs at MIT
  • Learning Unlimited Chapters: Programs at universities across the US and internationally
  • HSSP (High School Studies Program): Multi-week enrichment programs
  • Other Educational Initiatives: Custom programs using the flexible module system

​
Community & Support

LU Wiki

Additional documentation for Learning Unlimited chapters

Contribute

Learn how to contribute to the project

Code of Conduct

Our community standards and expectations

Contact

Get in touch with the development team

​
Getting Started

Ready to get started? Follow our quickstart guide to set up your first program:

Quickstart Guide

Set up ESP Website and create your first program in under 30 minutes
Or if you’re a developer looking to contribute or customize the platform:

Installation Guide

Set up a local development environment with Docker

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us