EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING, ADVOCACY & PRIVATE TUTORING
Welcome to
Sunnyside Academy!

Established in 2021, Sunnyside Academy is a private, multi-age micro school located in Columbia, South Carolina. At Sunnyside, we believe that every student, given the proper method, pace, and approach to instruction, can be successful. We understand the value of social and emotional growth and believe this to be a vital component to achieving optimum academic success. At Sunnyside, learning is personal, relationships matter, and every student is seen, known, and supported. Our approach is rooted in the belief that education should be as unique as the child receiving it. We are proud to offer a learning environment where individualized instruction and genuine connection drive meaningful growth.
The face of education is changing. What worked in the past no longer serves every learner today. Families are increasingly seeking more personalized, flexible, and student-centered alternatives. 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.
At Sunnyside Academy, we know that one size does not fit all. Too many students are defined by data points and standardized assessments rooted in a system that hasn’t evolved in hundreds of years. We know that our students are more than just test scores. They are thinkers, creators, problem solvers, and individuals who deserve to be seen and supported for who they truly are. They learn and grow best when this understanding is fostered and promoted through an individualized education approach, balancing academic rigor with appropriate emotional and social support.

Sunnyside Academy is a proud member of the National Microschool Center

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.

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.











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."
"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 like it here because I don't feel like I 'm going to a place where I will be disrespected."
"I love my new school at Sunnyside"


"Building a child's emotional intelligence is a straightforward way to enhance physical and mental health, memory, decision-making,creativity, relationships, grades and job performance. "
- Daniel Goleman
Psychologist and Author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ













