diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
index 14399b4..3ecb5f5 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { SchoolSearchModal } from './SchoolSearchModal';
 import { EmptyState } from './EmptyState';
 import { LoadingSkeleton } from './LoadingSkeleton';
 import type { ComparisonData, MetricDefinition, School } from '@/lib/types';
-import { formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, CHART_COLORS, schoolUrl } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { formatPercentage, formatProgress, formatAcademicYear, CHART_COLORS, CHART_TEXT_COLORS, schoolUrl } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { fetchComparison } from '@/lib/api';
 import { track } from '@/lib/analytics';
 import styles from './ComparisonView.module.css';
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export function ComparisonView({
   const router = useRouter();
   const pathname = usePathname();
   const searchParams = useSearchParams();
-  const { selectedSchools, removeSchool, addSchool, isInitialized } = useComparison();
+  const { selectedSchools, removeSchool, addSchool, replaceSchools, isInitialized } = useComparison();
 
   const [selectedMetric, setSelectedMetric] = useState(initialMetric);
   const [isModalOpen, setIsModalOpen] = useState(false);
@@ -69,16 +69,22 @@ export function ComparisonView({
   // While true, auto-phase detection is suppressed so manual selections aren't overridden.
   const phaseLockedByUser = useRef(false);
 
-  // Seed context from initialData when component mounts and localStorage is empty
+  // Seed context from the URL on mount. An explicit ?urns=… (e.g. a link a
+  // parent shared with their partner) always wins over this visitor's stored
+  // selection — otherwise the recipient silently sees their own old schools.
+  // The replacement is then persisted like any other selection change.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isInitialized) return;
-    if (selectedSchools.length === 0 && initialUrns.length > 0 && initialData) {
-      initialUrns.forEach(urn => {
-        const data = initialData[String(urn)];
-        if (data?.school_info) {
-          addSchool(data.school_info);
-        }
-      });
+    if (initialUrns.length > 0 && initialData) {
+      const urlSchools = initialUrns
+        .map(urn => initialData[String(urn)]?.school_info)
+        .filter((info): info is NonNullable<typeof info> => Boolean(info));
+      const sameSet =
+        urlSchools.length === selectedSchools.length &&
+        urlSchools.every(s => selectedSchools.some(sel => sel.urn === s.urn));
+      if (urlSchools.length > 0 && !sameSet) {
+        replaceSchools(urlSchools);
+      }
     }
   }, [isInitialized]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
@@ -378,7 +384,8 @@ export function ComparisonView({
                   {activeComparisonData[school.urn] && (
                     <div className={styles.latestValue}>
                       <div className={styles.latestLabel}>{metricLabel}</div>
-                      <div className={styles.latestNumber} style={{ color: CHART_COLORS[index % CHART_COLORS.length] }}>
+                      {/* Text uses the AA-dark variant; the swatch dot keeps the true series colour */}
+                      <div className={styles.latestNumber} style={{ color: CHART_TEXT_COLORS[index % CHART_TEXT_COLORS.length] }}>
                         <span
                           style={{
                             display: 'inline-block',
diff --git a/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonContext.tsx b/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonContext.tsx
index 697d702..c017cc2 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonContext.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonContext.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ interface ComparisonContextType {
   error: any;
   addSchool: (school: School) => void;
   removeSchool: (urn: number) => void;
+  replaceSchools: (schools: School[]) => void;
   clearAll: () => void;
   isSelected: (urn: number) => boolean;
   canAddMore: boolean;
diff --git a/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonProvider.tsx b/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonProvider.tsx
index ea5cee5..27f569e 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonProvider.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/context/ComparisonProvider.tsx
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ export function ComparisonProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode })
     setSelectedSchools((prev) => prev.filter((s) => s.urn !== urn));
   }, []);
 
+  // Replace the whole selection — used when a shared /compare?urns=… link
+  // must take precedence over whatever this visitor had stored.
+  const replaceSchools = useCallback((schools: School[]) => {
+    setSelectedSchools(schools.slice(0, MAX_SCHOOLS));
+  }, []);
+
   const clearAll = useCallback(() => {
     setSelectedSchools([]);
   }, []);
@@ -86,6 +92,7 @@ export function ComparisonProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode })
         error: null,
         addSchool,
         removeSchool,
+        replaceSchools,
         clearAll,
         isSelected,
         canAddMore: selectedSchools.length < MAX_SCHOOLS,
diff --git a/nextjs-app/hooks/useComparison.ts b/nextjs-app/hooks/useComparison.ts
index 7a165bc..f7ed256 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/hooks/useComparison.ts
+++ b/nextjs-app/hooks/useComparison.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export function useComparison() {
     selectedSchools,
     addSchool,
     removeSchool,
+    replaceSchools,
     clearAll,
     isSelected,
     canAddMore,
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export function useComparison() {
     error,
     addSchool,
     removeSchool,
+    replaceSchools,
     clearAll,
     isSelected,
     canAddMore,