Pacific Academy - Irvine Campus

I enjoy the school life at PA. Their teachers are so friendly and really patient with all students. I learn a lot from this place.

Great school, Great teachers, Great environment.

Not only did my son have a meaningful and memorable high school experience at Pacific Academy (PA), but he also enrolled at the Tandon School of Engineering at NYU last year. I am so proud of the effort my son dedicated to his studies, but so much of his success is the result of Pacific Academy and their educational standards. I am pleased to share our story here for families who are evaluating academic options for their children, just as we did.
My family moved to America in May of 2017. Our community’s public school placed my son in the 11th grade because of his age. We began searching for a private school because we thought that a more personalized, intimate environment would better help our son adjust to life in a new country. We visited every private school in the area, but, unfortunately, found that most private schools had closed their applications in January. Pacific Academy alone remained open, seeming like our only choice. I was so upset at that time, worried that PA was too small and had many international students. When I talked with Mrs. Kelly, the CEO of PA, and Mr. Corpus, the Principal of PA, I was impressed by their passion for and positive attitudes towards education. They gave me confidence in PA, and now it is clear that our decision was the correct one. PA was the best school for my son.
Everything has two sides. We worried that PA is too small. Because the school is small, my son consistently received individual attention. First, my son felt welcomed from his first day, when almost all of PA’s faculty and staff knew him and could address him by name. Second, he received close attention and substantial support from his teachers. For instance, when his math teachers (Ms. Catherine and Mrs. Kile) recognized my son’s strength in math, they encouraged him to establish a Math Club to help students needing assistance in math, which allowed my son to develop self-confidence as well. PA also arranged a special fast-paced math plan for my son that allowed him to complete all the high school math courses in the10th grade and then study college-level math, such as multi-variable equations and online courses through Johns Hopkins, from the 11th grade. This demonstrated my son’s math ability and made him a more competitive student in pursuing STEM majors. When his English teacher, Mrs. Green, realized that my son was interested in logic games, she inspired him to design his own game and helped him establish a Murder Mystery Club. He worked together with the club members to create murder scripts, edit games, and organize events where teachers and students played the games together. This activity not only enhanced the relationship between teachers and students but also helped my son strengthen his writing and leadership skills.
Finally, I must recognize the outstanding faculty and staff at PA. They are committed not only to helping students build a strong academic foundation but also to enriching their study experience. My son benefited tremendously from PA, and the skills and knowledge he learned there continues to help him in his current college studies. No doubt, Pacific Academy was instrumental in our son’s success, and we were lucky to make the best choice for him.

Choosing Pacific Academy is one of the best choices I have made! When I first moved to the U.S. three years ago, I attended another private school in my neighborhood. Everything seemed awkward and unfamiliar to me. I felt lonely and depressed almost every day, and did not feel like I belong here. Then everything changed when I came to PA. I noticed that teachers cared about and remembered each student on my very first day. What really helped me was PA’s small-size class, usually 5-10 students per class, allowing teachers to provide personalized attention to students. In terms of academics, PA focuses on what you can do, and not what the stipulations dictate. PA provided me with tailor-made curriculum plans that perfectly fit in my strength and needs for my future academic path. PA teachers are also willing to use their free time to help the students and provide extra sessions, which was never the case in my previous schools. The class environment at PA allows students to find smooth and strong bonding, and the support from teachers enables students to try different things while being exceptional academically.

Regarding extra-curriculums, I had the opportunities to take part in the Science Olympiad and Math Club. Additionally, I established the Murder Mystery Club from scratch, drafting stories and making clues by ourselves, which turned out to be one of the most anticipated events at school for both faculties and students each year. I also organized a benefit concert for Moringa for Love, in which I planned all the performing details and donated all the profits to help Haitians in the aftermaths of a natural disaster. Without the support of PA, none of these would have been possible and I would not have created memorable moments during my high school life and get into Computer Science major at New York University.

I’m so thankful for having attended PA when I came to the U.S. PA gave me so much support in both my academic and personal interests, and it is like a second home to me. PA helped me rebuild my confidence and pursue what I love, which eventually got me into NYU majoring in Computer Science. I thank PA for who I am today!

When I saw last week a friend of mine posted on social media that her daughter in Irvine School District was so happy to start online school and had one hour math every day, I realized that how lucky my daughter was.
Pacific Academy resumed the entire curriculum online on March 20th, the day after California lock-down. The Principle and school staff kept frequent communications with students and parents, in both English and Chinese. I was even more impressed by the teachers who reached out to their students in the evenings and on weekends to have 1:1 sessions to endure each student could attend online Zoom classroom with no difficulties. Every morning, my 9th grader starts her online school at her desk by 8am with her laptop and headphone. I'm working from home. I keep her schedule next to my computer so that I can remind myself to prepare lunch for her. This virus pandemic is an unprecedented test for all of us. Pacific Academy demonstrated professionalism, responsiveness, reliability, and leadership to the young generation. It's not just about a few online lessons, I'm certain it'll impact the long-run growth of the young talents.