Visual Arts Department

The Visual Arts Department at SCPA fosters creative expression through rigorous instruction in both traditional and digital art forms. Our mission is to help students develop strong observational skills, refined techniques, and a personal artistic voice—preparing them for further study in college, entry into creative industries, or a lifelong engagement with the arts.

Preparatory Division
(Grades K–6)

In grades K–3, students explore a range of visual art materials and concepts through broad creative experiences. In third grade, they audition for placement into the arts discipline that best suits their interests and strengths. From grades 4–6, Visual Arts students begin focused skill development in drawing, painting, sculpture, and design. Admission is through the CPS lottery (K–3) or by audition (grades 4–6).

Check out examples of artwork from grades 4-6.

Pre-Professional Conservatory
(Grades 7–12)

The Visual Arts program for grades 7–12 is part of SCPA’s Pre-Professional Conservatory. Admission is by audition, including for current sixth graders continuing at SCPA. The high school Visual Arts program (grades 9–12) is also a designated Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, offering students professional-level training in preparation for college or careers in the arts and creative industries.

Students engage in an intensive curriculum that includes fine art, design, and digital media. Courses include drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, design, digital arts, and motion graphics. Advanced Placement (AP) Art courses are also available, allowing juniors and seniors to earn college credit while building competitive portfolios. Through this comprehensive studio and academic program, students develop and refine technical skills, explore personal expression, and build strong portfolios. The curriculum emphasizes critique, exhibition, and problem-solving, helping students become holistic learners who think creatively, critically, and pluralistically.

The CTE framework further supports students with opportunities to earn Adobe industry certifications and participate in real-world learning experiences that enhance college and career readiness. Whether students pursue careers in the arts or other fields, visual art education at SCPA fosters visual literacy, innovation, and lifelong creative thinking.

The program stresses a strong emphasis on:

• developing processes based on research, concepts, and personal expression
• craft and technique
• observational skills

Adobe Certification

An Adobe certification is an OED career tech industry-recognized credential that effectively validates a student’s skills in Adobe digital media software.

A student earning certification has approximately 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with the software, is familiar with product features and capabilities, and is also familiar with relevant career concepts.

SCPA students can earn certification:

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Animate

AP 2D & 3D Classes

Students can be selected to earn college credit in AP Drawing, AP 2D Design and/or 3D Design. Working within the framework of assignments based on specific concepts and/or limited to specific materials, students in these classes learn to work in an independent manner as mature artists.