Pacific Crest Institute · San Diego
A San Diego art and academic institute where students learn from working professionals, build portfolios, and prepare for the tests and competitions that open doors.
About PCI
PCI is based in San Diego and named after the Pacific Crest Trail. Getting good at something is a lot like hiking a long trail: you get there by putting in steady work.
We teach on weekends and after school, in the subjects our students care most about: digital art, competition math and science, and test prep for college. Our instructors actually work in these fields.
What we teach
Our main program: a 16-week Saturday studio in digital art. Students learn rendering, color, and the whole production process professionals use, and each student gets the chance to publish a page of their own in a real book.
Competition math, science olympiads, AP review, and the SAT, ACT, and TOEFL, taught by instructors who took these same tests and did well. Classes are small, we find each student’s weak spots before we start, and we don’t use AI shortcuts.
Why we started PCI
“Most weekend programs are just test drills. I wanted a place where students learn real skills from people who do this work every day.”
Ethan Alvarée · CEO, Pacific Crest Institute
What students walk away with
Finished, high-resolution pieces ready for college and art school applications.
Guest critiques from working pros: Kurt Michael Russell, Scott Shaw, Ken Penders.
Higher scores on the SAT, ACT, TOEFL, and AP exams, with a teacher tracking your progress the whole way.
Art Institute students finish with a page in a real hardcover, their name in the credits, and a copy of the book to keep.
Get in touch
We’ll tell you whether PCI is a fit. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you that too.
