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Our Story

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We Create the Next Generation of Leaders

Shady Side Academy is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s best private school for pre-k through grade 12, offering an exceptional coed education with an optional boarding experience for high school students in grades 9–12.

Inspired by our mission, Shady Side’s driving purpose remains the development of responsible, transformative leaders for the City of Pittsburgh and beyond. This reason for existing was embedded at our inception, as the pioneers of the American steel industry founded a preparatory school designed to ensure next-generation leadership for what they envisioned would become the great, enduring industrial city of the 20th century.

Quick Facts

8:1

8:1

classroom ratio
39%

39%

Students of color
189

189

campus acres
125

125+

zip codes
1,260 Students

1,260

Students
13

13

states
27

60+

athletic teams
8

8

countries
30%

30%

receive aid
$8M

$8M

in aid awarded
30+

30+

languages spoken

Mission

Shady Side Academy challenges students to think expansively, act ethically, and lead responsibly.

Guiding Principles

In 1977, the Senior School established its first guiding principles—honesty, responsibility, and safety—articulating the reasons for its system of rules. Later, respect and kindness were added, and the Academy adopted these values across all grade levels.

Strategic Vision

Shady Side’s strategic vision builds upon our unique capacity to deliver a valuable education for families and students, who are moved to connect with teachers and classmates, consider a different perspective, and learn beyond the classroom.

Relational Teaching in a Robust Community

With the combination of our intimate and highly relational teaching, coaching, and advising models, Shady Side can know, support, and care for individual learners. At the same time, we are large enough to offer the programmatic scale and broad community spirit, allowing all students to find their place. This environment allows them to lead and succeed, often on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights.

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A Balanced, Informed Worldview

Given the manifold perspectives that make up our community—we have Western Pennsylvania’s most geographically diverse student body—Shady Side has an unparalleled opportunity to challenge students who see the world in remarkably different ways to engage in dialogue that is essential to expansive thought and responsible leadership.

Real-World Learning

As Pittsburgh continues to evolve as a hub for technology, research, and design, Shady Side develops leaders at the expanding nexus of technology and the liberal arts. With all that is happening in our city and region—and our countless connections to all of it—the Academy provides students with real-world learning experiences that prepare them to become ethical, humane leaders in a rapidly changing world.

James S