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Very Good

#2472 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 26% in state

Southwest High

High School · Central Union High · EL Centro, CA

A Central Union High high school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.

2001 Ocotillo Dr., EL Centro, CA 92243

  • Math 18% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 56% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.5Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.31 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.0Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-10.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+0.1 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)32% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+4.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile57th
College Readiness8.0Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation16.6%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20.2:1
District spending per student$19,038
Chronic Absenteeism21.1%

Students at Southwest High score 37% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency18%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency56%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 37% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
55%
ELA
49%
2011
Math
59%
ELA
53%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
56%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
56%
2014
Math
21%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
28%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
63%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
63%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
63%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
63%
2024
Math
18%
ELA
56%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

75.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Southwest High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 36Car-Dependent
  • Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High1,607/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (EL Centro), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$55,890

Median home value

$286,100

Median rent

$992/mo

College educated

16.2%

Homeownership

51.5%

Poverty rate

20.2%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92243; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offeredIB Programme
16.6% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·167 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics26sports offered
13 boys'·13 girls'·38 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Christian Home AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–121.0 mi8Compare →
Central Union HighEnrollment path unverified6.99–121.3 mi1,955Compare →
Calvary Chapel Christian School EL CentroPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–121.4 mi42Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Central Union High

Schools in district
5
Rank in district
#1 of 4
District spending per student
$19,038NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
23.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Southwest High is listed in Central Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Southwest High

Southwest High is a public high school in EL Centro, CA, part of Central Union High, serving approximately 1,842 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,472 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Southwest High

What grades does Southwest High serve?

Southwest High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Southwest High?

Southwest High has an enrollment of approximately 1,842 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest High?

The student-teacher ratio at Southwest High is 20.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Southwest High rank in CA?

Southwest High ranks #2,472 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Southwest High's MySchoolScout rating?

Southwest High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Southwest High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Southwest High has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Southwest High a charter school?

No, Southwest High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Southwest High a Title I school?

No, Southwest High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest High?

75.1% of students at Southwest High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,842
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
91
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Imperial County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.1%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
Area population (ZIP 92243)
48,556
Area average commute
22.6 min
Area median age
31.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92243; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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