Visit

The best way to learn more about Shady Side Academy is to visit! We invite you to come and explore our beautiful campuses, learn more about our programs, and meet the faculty and students who make our community so special. There are several ways to visit, including open houses, campus tours and shadow days. Read more about each below and choose the option that is most comfortable for your family!

If you are visiting us for the first time, please begin the inquiry process by completing our online inquiry form or by calling a member of our admissions team.

Open Houses

The best opportunity to meet members of our school community is at an open house. These informal events will give you the opportunity to speak directly with our talented faculty about our programs, to tour campus with a current student who will share his or her unique Shady Side journey, and learn more about the value of a Shady Side education. Open houses are held throughout the year at each of our campuses.

RSVPs are encouraged but not required. If these dates do not work with your schedule, please see the "Tour Campus" section below to schedule a personal visit.

Upcoming Open House Schedule

Junior School (PK-5) | RSVP Form

  • Thursday, Oct. 19, at 9:15 a.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 9:15 a.m.

Country Day School (PK-5) | RSVP Form

  • Friday, Oct. 20, at 9:30 a.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 7, at 9:30 a.m.

Middle School (6-8) | RSVP Form

  • Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m.

Senior School (9-12) | RSVP Form

  • Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Campus Tours

Spend some time with one of our student ambassadors as they lead you on a tour of campus, share their personal SSA journey, and answer questions about the school and the SSA experience. We offer campus tours daily to prospective families.

Junior School (PK-5)

  • Parents tour the school with a fifth grade tour guide. Children are welcome to join.
  • Families have the opportunity to meet with Maggie Marquette, director of admission, and Ellen McConnell, head of school.
  • Call Joyce Greece at 412-473-4437 to schedule your appointment.

Middle School (6-8)

  • The student applicant interviews with Jeff Gross, director of admission, and spends the day in class with a current student.
  • Parents tour the school with an eighth grade tour guide.
  • Jeff Gross meets with parents after the tour to learn more about the applicant and answer questions about the school.
  • Call Becci Carter at 412-968-3164 to schedule your appointment.

Senior School (9-12)

  • The student applicant and parents tour the school separately with a student admissions ambassador.
  • The student applicant interviews with Bob Grandizio '91, director of admission.
  • Bob Grandizio meets with parents after the tour to learn more about the applicant and answer questions about the school.
  • Typically the student applicant will "shadow" a current student on a separate day (below) or, if offered by their school, come with other classmates on a school visit day.
  • Call Vanessa Cannon at 412-968-3180 to schedule your appointment.

Shadow Days

A shadow day is an opportunity for an applicant to spend a day at Shady Side alongside a current student, attending classes, meeting teachers and students, eating lunch and getting a true sense of what it feels like to be a student at SSA.

Junior School (1-5 only)

  • Student applicants to grades 1-5 may shadow beginning in October.
  • Call Joyce Greece at 412-473-4437 to schedule your appointment.

Middle School (6-8)

  • Student applicants may shadow the same day they tour and interview (above), beginning in late September. Visits are best completed by late January, since the admissions deadline is Feb. 6, 2017.
  • Call Becci Carter at 412-968-3164 to schedule your appointment.

Senior School (9-12)

  • Student applicants may shadow any time during the application process. Visits are best completed by late January, since the admissions deadline is Feb. 6, 2017.
  • Some students choose to begin their exploration of Shady Side with a shadow day, while others choose to tour and interview first (above).
  • Call Vanessa Cannon at 412-968-3180 to schedule your appointment.
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