Mission & Philosophy

Mission

Shady Side Academy offers an exceptional PK-12 academic and balanced educational experience by challenging each student to realize his or her potential in a stimulating and nurturing environment.

Philosophy

Shady Side Academy is a community of learners which devotes itself first and foremost to its students. Its teachers and staff adhere to the principles of creative, developmentally appropriate education and have as their primary responsibility the balanced development of the students' analytical, artistic and physical abilities, their ability to reason ethically, to listen carefully, to speak, to write and to read with clarity and precision.

Shady Side Academy strives to teach and to live by democratic and ethical principles and values which acknowledge and celebrate cultural differences. The school safeguards the individual's place in the community and is dedicated to every individual's freedom and responsibility to think, to communicate and to act with critical reflection. Academy students and employees value competence, creativity, goodness, knowledge and wisdom.

Shady Side Academy fosters the joy of learning and close student-teacher relationships. Shady Side students are taught to maintain respect for themselves and acceptance of others, to develop a competitive spirit and good sportsmanship, and while maintaining humility and concern for others, to take pride in academic performance and individual achievement.