About Pacific Crest Institute
Weekend classes,
taught by working pros.
Pacific Crest Institute is a small academic services company in San Diego. We teach digital art and test prep in small groups, mostly on weekends.
The team
Founders, guest artists, and faculty.
The name
Why “Pacific Crest”?
The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, through deserts, mountain passes, and forests. The people who finish it aren’t always the fastest or the strongest. They’re the ones who plan well and keep walking, even on days when the view doesn’t change for hours.
We think learning works the same way. Progress comes from showing up week after week, and our job is to stick with students, here in San Diego and abroad, until they reach the goals they set for themselves.
Our mission
Empower students to reach their full academic and lifelong potential.
Small classes
Experienced instructors and small groups, so we can adjust to each student instead of teaching to the middle.
Clear goals
We work toward specific results: a published page, contest scores, AP exams, the SAT and ACT, and TOEFL.
San Diego and beyond
We’re based in San Diego, and we also work with students across the country and overseas, including help with English and the move into AP classes.
How we operate
An independent company.
PCI is its own company, with its own staff and systems. We work with partner schools and publishers, but we aren’t a subsidiary of any of them. Staying independent lets us do what’s best for each student.
Let’s talk.
If your student is interested in digital art, AP review, competition math, or test prep, we’d be glad to talk.