Welcome to
Sunnyside Academy!
The face of education is changing. What once worked, no longer works for all students and too many students are defined by data points and standardized assessments rooted in a system that hasn't evolved in hundreds of years.
Microschools are intentionally small, relationship-based learning environments that are gaining momentum across the country, offering opportunities for students of all ages to receive an individualized education that enables them to learn, grow, and thrive. Established in 2021, Sunnyside Academy is a private, multi-age micro school located in Columbia, South Carolina. At Sunnyside Academy, our approach is rooted in the belief that education should be as unique as the child receiving it.
At Sunnyside, learning is personal, relationships matter, and every student is seen, known, and supported. We believe that every student, given the proper method, pace, and approach to instruction, can be successful. We are proud to offer a learning environment where individualized instruction and genuine connection drive meaningful growth.
We know that our students are more than just test scores. They are thinkers, creators, problem solvers, and individuals who learn and grow best when this understanding is fostered and promoted through an individualized education approach, balancing academic rigor with emotional and social support knowing that by meeting the needs of the whole child, optimum growth across all areas will occur.
Sunnyside Academy is a proud member of the National Microschool Center
MTC schools are reimagining what students learn in high school, and how they best learn it. They embrace real-world, collaborative, project-based learning, and prioritize 21st Century skills, SEL, and meta-cognitive skills. Member school leaders appreciate that traditional ways of reporting on student progress are poorly aligned to learning models of the future.
The VELA Founder Network is the nation's leading community of entrepreneurs providing alternatives to conventional schooling. Sunnyside Academy is a Vela Founder and 2025 recipient of a Vela founder micro grant.
What parents have to say about Sunnyside:
"We will always be thankful for Sunnyside Academy. Micro schools are a special place that helps children in a way that other schools are not able."
"So thankful for Sunnyside Academy at Peace of Mind and all of the wonderful teachers!"
"There are not enough words to describe our gratitude... for the safe, inviting, and warm place you've created. For the peace of mind you provide. For the love of learning you instill, the team you've pulled together. For the progress our child has made, for seeing her, loving her, and welcoming her as she is-and offering her a place to call home."
What our students have to say about Sunnyside:
"This opportunity has brought out the best in me. Thank y'all so much."
"Sunnyside has stolen my heart."
"I have a second family here."
I am at a place where I can be myself.
"I love my new school at Sunnyside."
