Learning That Moves
Education is Expansive and Exciting
At Shady Side, education is action-oriented and borderless, adapting every day and every environment to become something new. Your child might find themselves crafting arguments for a mock trial or collecting specimens in a creek bed. They’ll face challenges, build character, and gain confidence as they learn by doing, seeing, and engaging beyond their desks.
Learning Should Be...
Stimulating and Fulfilling
Every Junior School student is brimming with energy and curiosity. Inspired by acres of outdoor space and a dedicated Early Learning Center, teachers maximize all that a classroom can be. With Shady Side’s curriculum, your child will be constantly on the move—growing, expanding, and thriving.
joyful and intentional
At the Country Day School, teachers and students know that learning is a journey—not a race—that takes them from intimate classrooms to our expansive outdoor spaces every day. Active and inquisitive, Country Day students explore the world by asking questions and engaging both their bodies and their brains.
inspiring and purposeful
Middle school is a time of exploration and discovery. With teachers guiding them every step of the way, Middle School students begin to take ownership of their learning journeys, challenge their assumptions, and develop the skills to pursue their passions. This is where we prepare students to step confidently into the next phase of their learning journey.
inclusive and growth-oriented
In the Senior School, we offer an elite education in a welcoming and dynamic environment. Our community of educators and learners is grounded in gratitude, openness, and respect, with a healthy balance of challenge and support that pushes each Bulldog to thrive. Here, students aren’t just “doing school” but are fully engaged in their own growth that extends beyond their time here at the Academy.
How We Learn
We believe that while traditional academics lay the foundation for a strong learner, education today must reach further and do more than ever before. Our faculty cultivates thinkers who thrive at the intersection of disciplines, where cognitive and emotional intelligence are inseparable. Our unique approach blends rigorous intellectual growth with character development, recognizing that resilience, perseverance, and a deep engagement with learning are just as crucial as mastering content.
How We Move
We recognize that physical activity builds essential life skills that complement academic growth, which is why it’s embedded within our academic program rather than offered as an optional extracurricular activity. For children, adolescents, and teens, physical movement fosters not only physical health but also mental clarity, confidence, and emotional balance. Our approach integrates movement into daily school life, knowing that active bodies fuel active minds, and that true education engages the whole student.
How We Grow
We know that character skills often outshine pure academic rigor in driving long-term success, and this understanding shapes our philosophy. We don’t see it as a choice between intellect and character—it’s about the powerful combination of both. Through an array of programming woven in and around the classroom experience, we nurture our students’ ability to not only master content but also grow into the individuals they aspire to be.
Signature Experience
We’re not just preparing students for today’s world—we’re empowering them to move with it, equipped for whatever the future may bring. Learning That Moves is our signature experience, intentionally designed and woven throughout every grade level and classroom from pre-k through grade 12. It’s a journey that sparks curiosity and a drive to shape the world, anchored in a commitment to thinking, purpose, and connection.
Learning in Action
Third-grade students from both the Junior and Country Day Schools proudly showcased their U.S. state research projects at the annual Third Grade State Fair, held at each school. The State Fair is a vibrant celebration of learning and patriotism. Students immersed themselves in the rich history, geography, and culture of their chosen states, bringing their research to life through various creative projects.
As part of their world history curriculum, sixth-grade students took a historical lens to the study of religion by visiting four sacred sites across Pittsburgh. This experiential learning opportunity, tied to their unit on the rise and influence of major world religions, offered students a chance to explore how religious movements have shaped civilizations, culture, and architecture over time.
The Junior School gym buzzed with excitement as fourth-grade entrepreneurs eagerly set up their storefronts, transforming the space into a lively marketplace filled with handcrafted goods and homemade treats. The annual Fourth Grade Marketplace wasn’t just a school event—it was the culmination of months of financial learning, creative problem-solving, and hands-on business experience.
Middle School Spanish students took a vibrant journey through Mexican culture, history, and tradition as they explored the artistry of Ballet Folklórico de México. Through an immersive classroom experience and a live performance at the Byham Theater, students deepened their understanding of the cultural expressions that define Mexico’s diverse regions.
Excitement filled the Junior School library as students gathered to meet acclaimed author Stacy McAnulty on Monday, March 3. Known for her engaging nonfiction, playful picture books, and thought-provoking chapter fiction, McAnulty captivated young readers with stories of creativity, perseverance, and the magic of storytelling.
When Vivan P. and Thomas W., both juniors at Shady Side Academy, first entered high school, they wished for more opportunities to explore computer science. Rather than waiting for them to appear, they decided to create their own. The result? shady.Hacks—Pittsburgh’s first high school-led hackathon—an event designed to give middle and high school students the chance to solve real-world problems using technology.
Bundled up against the late-winter chill, Shady Side Academy Country Day School second graders stepped into the quiet woods of Lutherlyn Environmental Education Center, ready to take part in a centuries-old tradition—one that would bring their classroom lessons to life in the most delicious way.
Seven SSA Seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalists, advancing in their consideration for 2025 National Merit Scholarship Awards. These academically talented students have the chance to win one of around 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth about $26 million to be awarded later this spring. There are approximately 15,000 finalists nationwide.
In the cozy, bustling world of Country Day School's Pre-K, teachers Hannah Rich and Marie Forst have found a way to turn a simple idea into something extraordinary: a classroom cookbook that bridges the gap between school and home, one recipe at a time.
Recently, the Senior Pre-K Voyagers at the Junior School welcomed some special guests into their classroom—parents eager to share the traditions of a holiday close to their hearts: Chinese New Year! The classroom buzzed with excitement as the students embraced new traditions and welcomed the new year with open hearts, hoping for all the good fortune it may bring.
First-grade students at the Junior School are setting off on an exciting cross-border exploration of Canada—no passports required! This immersive unit brings the beauty, culture, and wildlife of our northern neighbor right to Pittsburgh, sparking curiosity and a love of learning across multiple subjects.
Eighth-grade students at Shady Side Academy Middle School recently participated in an innovative storytelling project through reGenerations, a platform founded by Adele Ryono, a 10th-grader from California. Designed to preserve oral histories and strengthen intergenerational connections, reGenerations encourages young people to engage in meaningful conversations with older generations, capturing the stories and perspectives that shape our present.
At Shady Side Academy, innovation and initiative thrive among our students, and one inspiring example is the work of Laurence P., who is leading a new project aimed at educating young minds about finance and investing. With a passion for financial literacy that began in middle school, Laurence has taken the next step in his journey by launching The Base Camp Brief, a weekly AI-generated newsletter tailored for young readers.
Shady Side Academy’s Glimcher Tech & Design Hub has been awarded a $2,000 grant from BotsIQ, thanks to the initiative and passion of junior Luke D. The grant will support the creation of a Combat Robotics team, a new addition to the Robotics program at SSA.
On Wednesday, December 11, the Junior School kindergarten students embarked on an enriching field trip to the Carnegie Museum of Art as part of Shady Side Academy’s Real World Learning initiative. This visit also complemented their ongoing artist study unit, providing students with an opportunity to explore art in a dynamic and engaging setting.