Shady Side Academy (Top Ranked Private School for 2025)

5.00 (3 reviews)

423 Fox Chapel Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

View full size Get directions

Tel: (412) 968-3179

www.shadysideacademy.org

REQUEST INFO

SAVE SCHOOL

Shady Side Academy Photo #1 - Shady Side Academy Senior School resides on a 130- acre campus which offers incredible facilities and resources that enable students to fuel their passions. Advanced level courses, teachers that motivate and support, and a college-like campus all help to prepare students for college and beyond.

Shady Side Academy Photo #2 - Both 5- and 7-day boarding are offered at SSA. We have two dormitories: Morewood for girls and Croft for boys. This year we have 65 boarders who come from 5 countries and 9 states. Proximity to the city of Pittsburgh gives boarders the option for many activities close by while living on a beautiful 130-acre campus. Best of both worlds.

Shady Side Academy Photo #3 - Small class sizes and strong student-teacher relationships help each student to be his/her best both academically and personally. SSA faculty go beyond subject matter to serve as mentors to students, getting to know each child as an individual. As one parent recently put it, "Shady Side Academy is all about having an opportunity to participate and pursue ones passions".

Shady Side Academy Photo #4 - The McIlroy Center is the new home of the Senior School Science Department and includes 10 flexible classroom/lab spaces for physics, biology and chemistry; spaces for research, collaboration and independent study; faculty offices; and an outdoor amphitheater for classes, lectures and events.

Shady Side Academy Photo #5 - In the Hillman Center for Performing Arts students have the opportunity to participate in the fall drama, the winter musical, and the Original Theater Works Festival in the spring. There are numerous musical performances each year including Chamber Choir, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble and the String Ensemble, among others. This is also where our twice-weekly community assemblies are held.

Shady Side Academy Photo #6 - The arts are an important part of the balanced curriculum at Shady Side Academy. In addition to the performing arts, students have the opportunity to try 2-D and 3-D art classes which include painting, drawing, ceramics, glass, photography, and architecture.

Shady Side Academy Photo #7 - Athletic offerings include 27 team sports and numerous non-competitive options. Among the athletic facilities include two gymnasiums, a hockey arena, six athletic fields including a turf field with lights, two fitness facilities, three squash courts, ten tennis courts, and an eight-lane all weather track.

Shady Side Academy Photo #8 - Three full-time college counselors maintain relationships with college admissions offices around the world by visiting dozens of school in person and hosting 140 admissions representatives on campus every year. They share their knowledge of colleges with families during regular one-on-one meetings, ensuring students find the place where they will thrive.

Shady Side Academy is a nationally respected private school in Pittsburgh for boys and girls in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with an optional boarding experience in high school.

Four age-specific campuses with extraordinary resources, teachers who actively mentor, a forward-thinking curriculum, a diverse and inclusive community, and a legacy of alumni accomplishments all inspire Shady Side students to high achievement in academics, the arts and athletics, and to meaningful ambitions in life.

Quick Facts (2025)

Top Ranked PA School
Grades: Prekindergarten-12
Enrollment: 1,221 students
Yearly Tuition: $36,975
Acceptance rate: 30%
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: Feb. 1
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Shady Side Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for:

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-12

Year Founded

1883

Summer School Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

School Calendar

View School Calendar

First Day of School

Mon. Sep 1, 2025

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

Campus Size

130

Student Body

Total Students

1,221 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

30%

State avg.: 27%

Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

125 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

National avg.: 13:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

83%

Average Class Size

15 students

Number of AP Courses

6 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

All Courses are considered honors level.AP classes include Calculus AB

Calculus BCComputer Science

French and ChineseGerman

Level 5 of Spanish

Average SAT score

1330

(Out of 1600)

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Feb. 1

Yearly Tuition Cost

$36,975

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

The above tuition is for a day student in grades 9-12. 5-day and 7-day boarding are available for students in grades 9 - 12: the 5-day boarding fee is $19,425 and the 7-day boarding fee is $22,575.

% on Financial Aid

30%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$22,000

Acceptance Rate

30%

National avg.: 81%

Admissions Director

Bob Grandizio

Admissions Associate

Kasey Fron

Endowment Size

$60 million

Sports

Total Sports Offered

20 sports

Sports

TennisTrack and Field

Ultimate FrisbeeVolleyball

Show More (4)Hide

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

58 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Academian - YearbookAcademic Quiz Bowl

Angles - non-fiction magazineAnime Club

Astronomy ClubBlack Student Union

Cabaret ClubChiapas Club

Chinese ClubChristian Fellowship

Club for Animal Respect and Education (CARE)Community Service Learning

Dance ClubDemocratic Student Union

Diversity Leadership CouncilDnD Club

Egerian - fiction magazineEnvironmental Club

French ClubFuture Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Gender and Sexuality AllianceGerman Club

Jewish Student UnionLatin Club

Left Politics ClubLibrary Ambassadors

Math TeamModel UN

Patriot SocietyPersonal Finance Club

Philosophy ClubPhysics Club

Piano ClubPolitical Science Club

Portfolio Art ClubPre-Med Club

RoboticsRocketry Club

Science OlympiadSki Club

Special Education Awareness ClubSpeech and Debate Club

SSA App ClubSSA Film Club/SSA News

SSA NewspaperTechnical Theatre

WorldQuestWriting Center

Show More (32)Hide

Arts and Music Programs:

Chamber ChoirConcert Band

Concert ChoirGargoyle Society (Performing Arts)

Hillman Center UshersIntonations

Jazz EnsembleString Orchestra

Symphonic band

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Health and Fitness Club

School Notes

School Motto: Truth and Honor
School Mascot: Bulldogs

The Senior School (grades 9-12) offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum driven by a traditional liberal arts philosophy, where students begin to make curricular choices as early as their freshman year. A great range of opportunities exist for students to discover their talents and experience success. The program is comprehensive and allows students to learn through a variety of experiences while working closely with peers and faculty members in the classroom, art studio, playing field and even the dining hall. Every experience contributes to the learning and development of students. 100% of Shady Side Academy seniors matriculate to highly respected collegesand universities supported by the efforts of three full-time college counselors. Five- and seven- day boarding is available.

Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- David McCullough '51 - Pulitzer Prize winning author
- Bentley Weiner '92 - VP and Senior Producer, HBO Sports
- Christian Borle '91 - Broadway actor, Tony Award recipient
- Courtney Hershey Bress '92 - Principal Harpist, Colorado Symphony Orchestra
- Jonathan Zittrain '87 - Professor of Law, Harvard University, Former Chair of FCC Open Internet Advisory Committee
- Nia Phillips '08 - Producer Good Morning America, Emmy Award recipient
- Chris Meyer '84 - Research Zoologist, Smithsonian Institute
- Marisa Muscari '01 - Senior Manager, Activision
- Peter Ackerman '88 - Actor, writer, producer. Ice Age films and the Amazon series, The Americans

Source: Verified school update

REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Shady Side Academy cost?

Shady Side Academy's tuition is approximately $36,975 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Shady Side Academy?

The acceptance rate of Shady Side Academy is 30%, which is lower than the national average of 81%. Shady Side Academy's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Pennsylvania with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from Shady Side Academy?

Shady Side Academy famous alumni include: David McCullough '51, Bentley Weiner '92, Christian Borle '91, Courtney Hershey Bress '92, Jonathan Zittrain '87, Nia Phillips '08, Chris Meyer '84, Marisa Muscari '01 and Peter Ackerman '88.

Does Shady Side Academy offer a summer program?

Yes, Shady Side Academy offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What sports does Shady Side Academy offer?

Shady Side Academy offers 20 interscholastic sports: Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball. Shady Side Academy is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for most sports offered.

What is Shady Side Academy's ranking?

Shady Side Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Pennsylvania for: Highest average SAT score, Lowest average acceptance rates, Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees, Largest student body, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments.

When is the application deadline for Shady Side Academy?

The application deadline for Shady Side Academy is Feb. 1.

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (3 reviews)

5 12/13/2024

Having two children at the Country Day campus is amazing. Parents are seen as partners in the learning process, and their input is valued. The outdoor learning aspect at the campus is enjoyed by the children, and they come home with great facts about nature and tiredness, which is awesome. The warmth and care shown by the teachers and a desire to help your child succeed is evident at all levels.Wonderful experience.

- Posted by Parent - Sunpreet Gill

5 5/8/2019

We found this to be a tremendous academic institution for our son. He obtained a diversity of skills that still serve him to this day. He was granted admittance to a prestigious college and has thrived as a result. We have never regretted the significant financial challenge we incurred by sending him here. He still thanks us all of the time for having made the sacrifice to allow him to benefit from this great institution.

- Posted by Parent - Sam Prentice

5 5/17/2016

This school is easily one of the best in the region. If you are looking for somewhere for your child to go to school not only to get into a good college but to learn and thrive, Shady Side is your school. I am convinced that I learned more information and skills here than I would have at any other school in the Pittsburgh area. One thing that bothered me was that Shady Side only offered a few AP courses(Math, Computer, Spanish, French, Chinese). However, I was still able to take APs in Chemistry, Biology, and History as well as in Math and Spanish because of how well Shady Side prepares you, even if their courses aren't labeled as "AP" courses.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - jsmit

Endorse Shady Side Academy. Endorsements should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Academic or athletic awards

Recent Articles

August 18, 2025

7 Ways Kids Can Avoid Summer Brain Drain

The summer "Brain Drain," also known as the "Summer Slide" is a term commonly used by educators and parents alike to describe the learning loss that takes place for many students during summer months. We polled the experts and found the 7 best ways parents and kids can combat the problem head on.

August 12, 2025

What's Being Taught?

This article examines the academic offerings in American private high schools, discussing graduation requirements, college preparation, accreditation, and advanced programs like AP and IB. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a school's curriculum when choosing the right educational environment for a child.