Shady Side Academy

What it reported doing in 2024

Instructional: founded in 1883, shady side academy's primary program service is the education of students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in a coed school environment, with an optional boarding experience in high school. We offer pittsburgh-area families four campuses, including the choice between two elementary schools (pk-5): the country day school in fox chapel, nestled in the north suburbs, and the junior school in point breeze, located in the heart of the city's east end. Our middle school (6-8) and senior school (9-12) campuses are both located in suburban fox chapel and draw students from across the region. In january 2026, the academy consolidated from four campuses to three.the academy enrolled approximately 1,265 students across all four campuses during the 2024/2025 academic year. The academy's mission is to challenge students to think expansively, act ethically and lead responsibly. Inspired by this 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. We deliver on our mission by creating a unique and valuable education for families and bright, curious students who want small classes and big opportunities, desire a balanced and informed worldview, and who seek real-world learning and to become the leaders of a connected, digital future.shady side is intimate enough to know, support and care for individual learners, but also large enough to offer a program where all students can find their place to connect, lead, and succeed, often on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights. Shady side pairs western Pennsylvania's most geographically diverse student body (125 zip codes, 14 states and four countries) with a broad and balanced curriculum, challenging students who see the world in remarkably different ways to engage in a dialogue that is essential to expansive thought and responsible leadership. We empower our students to engage confidently in civil discourse and foster productive relationships that promote unity and bridge divides both locally and globally.as pittsburgh continues to evolve as a hub for technology, research, and design, ssa has made strategic investments in these areas and now has the distinctive opportunity to develop leaders at the expanding nexus of technology and the liberal arts. The academy has the capacity to provide our students with real-world learning experiences that will prepare them to become ethical, humane leaders in a rapidly changing world. To further enhance these three unique points of value, shady side continues to make appropriate investments in the people, program, and places that bring our mission and strategy to life for students. At shady side, we make room for students to make their move. We believe learning should be expansive and exciting for students, so they can be the architects of their own adventure. We empower teachers who love teaching, so students can feel joy in every classroom. We go beyond standard education, so graduates will be ready for college and everything after. We move with the world, so our students can too. Athletics: all shady side academy students are offered a wide range of physical activities throughout the school year to encourage healthy choices, develop skills and learn the importance of sportsmanshipshady side is intimate enough to know, support and care for individual learners, but also large enough to offer a program where all students can find their place to connect, lead, and succeed, often on the biggest stage and under the brightest lights.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 67.4%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 71.8%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.21 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.4%; rating input score 94; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Fail
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 84%; rating input score 84; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.8%; rating input score 63; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.16; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.12; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 5.2% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings