A completed applicant file includes the application, visit/play date, teacher recommendation, testing/screening and transcript (grades 1-5). For all appointments, please call the Junior School admissions office at 412-473-4437.

Application Deadlines

• Grades PK/K: Wednesday, Jan. 2
• Grades 1-5: Friday, Jan. 18

Recommended Steps

1. Schedule a Campus Tour

Schedule an appointment to meet with Maggie Marquette, director of admission, and to tour campus.

2. Attend an Admissions Open House

3. Attend our "Parent to Parent" Event

Meet current Junior School parents to learn more about the SSA experience and ask questions on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m.

Please register online through Ravenna.

4. Complete the Online Application

Please submit the online application through Ravenna by Monday, Dec. 17. If you inquire after this date, submit your application as soon as possible. The application fee is $50.

4. Request a Teacher Recommendation

After Nov. 19, request a teacher recommendation through Ravenna. You can "delegate" a recommendation form by entering the teacher’s email address. Ravenna will email the teacher instructions to complete and submit the recommendation form online. You will receive a real-time update in your Ravenna account when the form has been submitted.

5. Request Transcripts (Grades 1-5 only)

After Nov. 19, download the Transcript Request Form from Ravenna and submit it to your child's school to request they send your child's transcript to SSA.

6. Schedule a Visit Day and Register for the Readiness Evaluation/Admissions Testing

Junior Pre-Kindergarten, Senior Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

• Schedule your child's readiness evaluation. The evaluation can occur on the same day your family tours the school, or on a separate day. Parents wait in the reception area during the evaluation.
• Group play dates will be held from Jan. 11-19; families will register online through Ravenna beginning November 1.

Grades 1-5

• Student visit days can be scheduled beginning in October.
• Applicants for grades 1-2 will be evaluated on the visit day.
• Applicants for grades 3-4 will take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on Saturday, Feb. 2, at SSA's Junior School. Register online at www.iseetest.org or call 800-989-3721 ext. 312. The Junior School code is 393903.
• Applicants for grade 5 will take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on either Saturday, Dec. 15, or Saturday, Feb. 2, at SSA's Middle School. Register online at www.iseetest.org or call 800-989-3721 ext. 312. The Junior School code is 393903.

A completed applicant file includes the application, interview and visit, two teacher recommendations (English and math), admissions testing, transcript and student questionnaire.

For all appointments, please call the Middle School admissions office at 412-968-3164.

Application Deadline

Monday, Feb. 4

Recommended Steps

1. Schedule a Campus Tour and Interview

Schedule a personal interview and a campus tour with Jeff Gross, director of admission.

You can also arrange for your child to spend a day in classes with a current student.

2. Attend an Admissions Open House

3. Complete the Online Application

Please submit the online application through Ravenna by Monday, Dec. 17. If you inquire after this date, submit your application as soon as possible. The application fee is $50.

4. Register for Admission Testing

All applicants must take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) on Saturday, Dec. 15, or Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Middle School. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. Register online at www.iseetest.org or call 800-989-3721 ext. 312. The Middle School's code is 393902.

5. Request Teacher Recommendations

Request teacher recommendations through Ravenna. You can "delegate" recommendation forms by entering your child's English and math teachers' email addresses. Ravenna will email the teachers instructions to complete and submit the recommendation forms online. You will receive a real-time update in your Ravenna account when the forms have been submitted.

We recommend initiating this step after the second quarter, which is usually early January, or after the first trimester, which is usually late November so that your child's teacher has worked with them a few months prior to providing us feedback.

6. Request Transcripts

Download the Transcript Request Form from Ravenna and submit it to your child's school to request they send your child's transcript to SSA. The official school transcript must include previous years as well as the current year.

Please submit this form to your child's school after the completion of their school's first term or semester.

7. Complete the Student Questionnaire

Student applicants must complete the online student questionnaire in Ravenna. This can be submitted any time prior to the Feb. 4 application deadline.

For day and domestic boarding applicants:

A completed applicant file includes the application, interview and campus tour, two teacher recommendations (English and math), admissions testing, transcript and student questionnaire. For all appointments, please call the Senior School admissions office at 412-968-3180.

Application Deadline

Monday, Feb. 4

Recommended Steps

1. Schedule a Campus Tour and Interview

Schedule a personal interview and a campus tour with Bob Grandizio '91, director of admission. You can also arrange for your child to spend a day in classes with a current student.

There are also a number of predetermined applicant visit days which can be registered for in Ravenna.

2. Attend an Admissions Open House

3. Complete the Online Application

Please submit the online application through Ravenna by Monday, Dec. 17. If you inquire after this date, submit your application as soon as possible. The application fee is $50.

4. Option for boarding applicants

Shady Side Academy also accepts the Standard Application Online (SAO) and our school code is 7307. To learn more about using the SAO and begin your application, click here. For students using this option, steps 6 and 7 below will be completed through the SAO.

5. Register for Admission Testing

All students must take an entrance exam. The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is offered at the Senior School on either Saturday, Dec. 15, or Saturday, Feb. 2. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. Register online at www.iseetest.org or call 800-989-3721 ext. 312. The Senior School's code is 393901. Alternately, students may sit for the SSAT, which is offered at the Senior School on Saturday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Jan. 5. Register online at www.ssat.org. The Shady Side Academy testing code for the SSAT is 7307.

6. Request Teacher Recommendations

Request teacher recommendations through Ravenna. You can "delegate" recommendation forms by entering your child's English and math teachers' email addresses. Ravenna will email the teachers instructions to complete and submit the recommendation forms online. You will receive a real-time update in your Ravenna account when the forms have been submitted.

We recommend initiating this step after the second quarter,
which is usually early January, or after the first trimester, which is usually late November so that your child's teacher has worked with them a few months prior to providing us feedback.

7. Request Transcripts

Download the Transcript Request Form from Ravenna and submit it to your child's school to request they send your child's transcript to SSA. The official school transcript must include previous years as well as the current year.

Please submit this form to your child's school after the completion of their school's first term or semester.

8. Complete the Student Questionnaire

Student applicants must complete the online student questionnaire in Ravenna. This can be submitted any time prior to the Feb. 4 application deadline.

9. Submit a Student Writing Sample (Grades 11-12 Only)

For applicants to grades 11-12 only, an additional analytical writing sample is required.

For international boarding applicants:

Shady Side Academy welcomes interest from international families. Our rigorous academic program and seven-day residential option attracts talented students from around the world. For all appointments, please call the Senior School admissions office at 412-968-3180.

Application Deadline

Monday, Feb. 4

Applicants From China

Shady Side Academy has an exclusive agreement with the China-US Leading Schools Association (CULSA). All applicants from China who require an F1 Visa must contact CULSA to begin the application process for Shady Side Academy. Please email CULSA or visit CULSA’s website at www.aligneducation.com.

All Other International Applicants

1. Submit the Applicant's TOEFL Score

The Senior School Admissions Office MUST receive an applicant's TOEFL score to begin the application process. A score of 100 or above (or equivalent performance on the iELTS) must be submitted before any other step in the admissions process is initiated for any student for whom English is a second language. Scores must come directly from the TOEFL organization. Our school code is 7706. Upon receipt, SSA will contact the family to discuss the scores and whether the applicant should proceed with the process below.

2. Complete the Online Application

Please submit the online application through Ravenna by Monday, Dec. 17. If you inquire after this date, submit your application as soon as possible. The application fee is $100.

Shady Side Academy also accepts the Standard Application Online (SAO) and our school code is 7307. To learn more about using the SAO and begin your application, click here. For students using this option, steps 5 and 6 below will be completed through the SAO.

3. Schedule a Personal Interview and Tour

Schedule a personal interview and campus tour with Bob Grandizio '91, director of admission. For applicants who are unable to visit campus, a Skype interview can be arranged by calling 412-968-3080.

4. Complete Admissions Testing

In addition to an English proficiency test, applicants are required to take either the SSAT or ISEE. Shady Side Academy must receive the test scores directly from SSAT or ISEE (including the essay in handwritten form). The Shady Side Academy testing code for the SSAT is 7307 and for the ISEE is 393901.

5. Request Teacher Recommendations

Request teacher recommendations through Ravenna. You can "delegate" recommendation forms by entering your child's English and math teachers' email addresses. Ravenna will email the teachers instructions to complete and submit the recommendation forms online. You will receive a real-time update in your Ravenna account when the forms have been submitted.

We recommend initiating this step after the second quarter, which is usually early January, or after the first trimester, which is usually late November so that your child's teacher has worked with them a few months prior to providing us feedback.

6. Request Transcripts

Download the Transcript Request Form from Ravenna and submit it to your child's school to request they send your child's transcript to SSA. The official school transcript must include previous years as well as the current year.

Please submit this form to your child's school after the completion of their school's first term or semester.

7. Submit a Student Writing Sample (Grades 11-12 Only)

For applicants to grades 11-12 only, an additional analytical writing sample is required.

8. Other Application Requirements

Prior to completion of the application process, international applicants must show proof of a valid passport, credit card and mobile phone.

International applicants also must show evidence of sufficient funds to cover all tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Therefore, Shady Side Academy requires completion of a Certification of Finances form and collects all personal and business taxes from the parents or legal guardians of international applicants.

9. After Enrollment

The I-20 will be submitted for the F1 Visa by Shady Side Academy’s admissions office after the applicant has been accepted, the signed enrollment contract has been returned and the tuition deposit has been paid.

PIAA athletic eligibility paperwork and previous school head’s sign-off must be completed and submitted to SSA by the student’s parents over the spring and summer before the student arrives in the U.S.

Enrolling international students must be members of a health care insurance plan that offers coverage in the United States and must show proof of immunizations as directed by the summer Family Information Update process, which has a deadline of Aug. 1.