High School Programs
Summer School (9-12)
Shady Side Academy offers Summer School courses for students entering grades 9-12, including for-credit courses in math and science.
Math courses offering a full year of academic credit meet half-days for six weeks. Science courses offering a full year's academic credit meet half-days for five weeks with one additional afternoon lab per week. All courses are held on the Senior School campus. Limited bus transportation is available only with prior registration. For-credit courses include lunch.
Please note some courses have prerequisites in order to enroll. For-credit summer courses are condensed and therefore accelerated due to the shortened duration. Students can expect additional work at home each evening. Read course descriptions carefully before registering. Most courses have enrollment limits so that we can provide a quality learning experience for every student. All courses are subject to cancellation if fewer than five students enroll prior to Friday, May 10, 2024.
Notes on For-Credit Courses
Transfer of Credits: Credit for the purpose of making up a failure has been accepted by public and independent schools. Arrangements for credit transfer should be discussed when registering for Summer School. Shady Side Academy does not assume responsibility for credits not transferring.
Absences: To earn credit in for-credit summer courses, students must attend all class sessions. We recognize that from time to time, circumstances arise beyond the control of students or their families, including illness or emergency, that make attendance impossible. The Summer School director may deem an absence approved or unapproved based on available documentation. Unapproved absence from any course may result in no credit earned.
SSA Families: Please note only one graduation requirement in any discipline can be earned through summer school. For example, Science requires three years of study, and only one of the required Science courses may be taken in the summer. To read the policies regarding summer study, please see the Course Catalog on the Senior School Curriculum page.
Progress Reports
Progress reports are issued in for-credit courses at the middle and the end of the summer session. The Summer School director receives interim reports on students not performing satisfactorily, in which case parents are notified and action plans formulated.
Meet the Summer School Director
Dr. David Barndollar is Shady Side Academy's Summer School Director. He is an experienced educator and school leader deeply committed to the development of students. He serves as the chair of the Senior School's English department and has served in a number of capacities over his career as an educator.
Please contact Dr. Barndollar with any questions.
2024 For-Credit Courses
Science and Math
Chemistry 1
June 17- July 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
$2,775 (1 credit (full-year))
This sophomore-level course covers the fundamental concepts of modern chemical theory, utilizing the laboratory investigation techniques taught in the Physics 1 course. The topics covered include: atomic theory, chemical structure and bonding, molecular geometry, stoichiometry and quantitative analysis, gas laws, acid/base chemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, oxidation/reduction reactions, and basic organic chemistry.
PREREQUISITE: Students must be rising 10th graders or older who have completed Physics 1
Math 2
June 17- July 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.)
$2,775 (1 credit - full-year)
Math II is a study of geometric concepts. In this course, students are active participants in their own learning by completing problems through which key geometric concepts are investigated. Reading, writing, and speaking mathematics are emphasized by requiring students to complete solutions to open-ended word problems and present their findings in class. The students learn new ways of thinking to solve problems and to formalize their logical thinking. New concepts such as vectors, parametric equations, and right triangle trigonometry help the students find alternate ways to solve increasingly complex problems and proofs. The teacher helps the students navigate the problem-solving strategies needed to discover solutions and to make conclusions. Supplemental materials are provided for the students to practice the concepts as needed.
PREREQUISITES: Math I or successful completion of an Algebra I course and a demonstration of mastery of the concepts found in Math I
2024 ENRICHMENT COURSES
AI Scholars with Inspirit AI
AI Scholars
July 29-August 9, 9am-12pm, $1600
Inspirit AI offers an interdisciplinary, project-based artificial intelligence education taught by Stanford, MIT, and top university graduates
What do self-driving cars, Alexa, iPhone's face recognition technology, and ChatGPT have in common? They are driven by modern advances in artificial intelligence. Whether you’re interested in law, healthcare, art, or economics, AI is poised to transform every discipline and industry in the future. AI is already all around us today, and by the end of the program, students will understand the underlying concepts and motivations behind technology such as computer vision, natural language processing, and neural networks.
In this course, we will explore the foundations of machine learning and explore different applications of machine learning models. In the first half of the course, students learn AI’s core technologies including applications, foundational concepts, and programming tools through live lectures and coding labs. Students will not only learn about different types of machine learning models, but also apply those models to real data sets. In the second half of the course, students will complete an instructor-led group project applying AI to the discipline of their choice (e.g., music, healthcare, astrophysics, finance, etc.), utilizing the programming skills they developed in the first half.
Please read more information about the program here.
SAT/ACT Test Prep
Shady Side Academy partners with the alumni-owned Goldstein Test Prep to bring SAT/ACT prep courses to our Senior School campus.
Camp Internships (9-12)
Shady Side Academy offers several opportunities for high school students interested in working in one of our SSA Summer programs. Becoming a member of our close-knit staff is a wonderful opportunity for responsible, vibrant and outgoing teenagers looking to work with children. We provide ample opportunities for leadership and advancement, while also giving lots of training, feedback and positive reinforcement. Working at camp can be one of the most memorable and instructive jobs you'll ever have; join us to see what the fun is all about! The positions below are highly competitive and we typically reach our cap by mid-May.
Grades 11-12: Junior Counselors
Rising juniors and seniors can apply to become junior counselors for our elementary-aged Day Camp Discovery. Junior counselors are responsible for helping counselors lead co-ed groups of campers in lessons/activities, and providing a safe, fun and quality day camp experience for all children. Junior counselors actively lead campers in scheduled programs, oversee activities and assist counselors and specialists.
The application process to become a junior counselor is easy! Simply complete our online employment application, and you will be contacted for a brief interview or phone call. Once accepted, all junior counselors must complete a Pennsylvania criminal background check, a Pennsylvania Childline background check and an FBI background check. These positions are highly limited and very competitive. Interviews begin in March 2023.
Grade 10: Fellows
Fellowships are very limited and competitive opportunities for rising sophomores to volunteer with SSA Summer programs. Fellows have two options: they can join two counselors in overseeing a group of elementary-aged campers at Day Camp Discovery; or they can join an activity area to act as a teaching assistant. All hours are documented so that they can be used towards National Honor Society, scholarships, etc.
The application process to become a fellow is easy. Simply complete our online employment application, and you will be contacted for a brief interview or phone call. Once accepted, all fellows must complete a Pennsylvania criminal background check, a Pennsylvania Childline background check and an FBI background check. These positions are highly limited and very competitive. Interviews begin in March 2024.