Signature Experience
LEARNING THAT MOVES
Our signature experience is designed to bring learning to life through an approach that grows and adapts with the world. Research shows that active, hands-on learning fuels deeper engagement and intrinsic motivation, which in turn drives students to achieve at their highest potential.
From their first days with us to their final year, every Shady Side student is exposed to thinking, purpose, and connections that will move them as learners. At Shady Side Academy, this movement is more than an approach—it’s our identity as a school that challenges your children to think expansively, act ethically, lead responsibly, and excel in a world that never stands still.
Thinking That Moves
Our students don’t simply absorb knowledge—they apply it, rethink it, and push it forward. In every classroom and every grade, we foster a mindset of inquiry and critical thinking that allows students to:
Challenge Assumptions
Our curriculum encourages students to question the status quo and think independently, considering topics from all angles.
Adapt with Agility
With opportunities to explore a diverse array of subjects and interests, students learn to navigate and embrace change, fostering a resilience that prepares them for a dynamic future.
Pursue Innovation
We place a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, where students apply concepts across fields and develop innovative solutions that matter.
Purpose that Moves
We emphasize content that has purpose by integrating it into practical scenarios and meaningful challenges that mirror real-life current topics. Here, students experience learning that is applicable and builds impact.
Learning algebra by tracking Bigfoot.
Read about Justin
about Learning algebra by tracking Bigfoot.
solving real-world problems
From designing sustainable urban spaces to developing new technologies, students engage with complex topics and projects that demand advanced problem-solving and analytical skills.
engaging with authentic scenarios
We present subject matter in relation to the surrounding circumstances, setting, or conditions, making the material more meaningful and understandable within real-life frameworks.
exploring Connecting pathways
Students integrate concepts from multiple subjects through interdisciplinary learning, applying their knowledge to dynamic projects that tackle real-world challenges in the arts, sciences, technology, and more.
Connection That Moves
Education at Shady Side extends beyond classroom walls with partnerships that make learning immersive. Through connections with diverse fields, industries, and communities, students experience firsthand how knowledge intersects with life by:
Building partnership with experts
Through collaborations with universities, research institutions, businesses, and community organizations, students gain insights from professionals, gaining practical skills and learning directly from experts in the field.
Learning through travel
Expeditions give students first-hand experiences that enrich their understanding of diverse cultures and environments. Whether tracing civil rights history in the American South or researching wildlife in China’s Xishuangbanna rainforest, these journeys expand perspectives and bring learning to life.
Connecting learning to impact
By developing realistic solutions, students gain a deeper understanding of how their knowledge and skills can effect positive change, preparing them to be thoughtful, engaged citizens.
LEARNING THAT MOVES in Action
Discover real stories showcasing how our signature experience is brought to life.
A week to dive deep and dream big.
In the bustling hallways of the Middle School during Project Week, sixth-grade students huddle over blueprints, sketching out life on Mars; seventh-grade students are deep in debate over how to design the perfect wellness plan; and eighth-grade students consider ways they can leave a lasting impact on their Middle School community. It’s an electric week—one that turns classrooms into think tanks where ideas soar and students dive into real-world challenges. Guided by teachers and fueled by curiosity, they collaborate, experiment, and push the boundaries of what they think is possible to accomplish in one week. By the end, they’re not just sharing projects—they’re sharing visions of what the future could be.
Nature as a classroom.
What begins as hesitant steps into the woods quickly becomes a journey of imagination and bravery as students transform into explorers, risk-takers, and creators. The forest becomes their playground, a place where curiosity reigns and where small risks lead to big rewards. By the time these young adventurers return to the classroom, they carry with them a newfound confidence and resilience. The pride is evident as they recount their stories of survival, creativity, and self-discovery—not just to their peers, but to their families and even to themselves. Led by the beloved “Ranger D,” Karen DiFiore, in the Outdoor Adventure program at Country Day School, students don’t just walk into nature—they dive into it.
Where knowledge meets real-world application.
There’s always plenty to do here, but you aren’t confined to our grounds, either. Take advantage of opportunities to get off campus in the Senior School's Immersives: You might learn about the ethical use of AI with tech entrepreneurs or discuss global finance with Pittsburgh’s industry leaders. For three weeks, students immerse themselves in a single subject, exploring it from every angle. These interdisciplinary courses push students to think critically and solve real-world problems, applying their knowledge in unexpected and exciting ways. You could gain a deeper understanding of why medicine rose to prominence in Pittsburgh, surpassing the city’s historic steel industry or explore the past of our city’s neighborhoods through a hands-on oral history project.
turning ideas into impact.
In the Social Innovators program, Senior School students aren’t just dreaming of change—they’re building it. Partnering with the University of Pennsylvania and Schoolyard Ventures, these young entrepreneurs turn ideas into ventures that tackle real-world challenges, from sustainability to social justice. Through hands-on workshops and mentorship, they gain the skills and confidence to make a tangible impact. And as their projects take root, the excitement is undeniable: they’re not just imagining a better future, they’re creating it.
From classroom to cutting-edge discovery.
In Science Research Seminar, Senior School students become explorers of the unknown, charting new frontiers in science. From hands-on experimentation in class to summer internships at university labs, they wrestle with real-world challenges that don't have neat, textbook answers. It's during their internships that the magic truly happens—collaborating with professional researchers, students experience the thrill of discovery firsthand. Whether analyzing genetic sequences or engineering sustainable solutions, each breakthrough is a step closer to understanding the intricacies of the world around them. And when they return to share their findings with classmates the following fall, you can see it in their eyes: confidence, pride, and the quiet realization that they are no longer just students—they are scientists.
Stepping into the global arena.
Embarking on life-changing journeys each summer, Senior School students participating in the Parkin Fellowships for Global Service truly step beyond the classroom and into the world. With travel grants in hand, they dive into service and environmental projects that leave a lasting impact on communities in need. From participating in conservation efforts to protect the Crested Ibis on Sado Island, Japan to providing social services for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, each Fellow’s work has real impact while deepening their understanding of global issues. When they return, they carry with them not just memories, but a renewed sense of purpose, ready to continue making a difference both at home and abroad.