Very Good
#2750 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 29% in state
Southwest Senior High
High School · Sweetwater Union High
1685 Hollister St., San Diego, CA 92154
Enrollment
1,586
Student-Teacher
22.3:1
Score
7.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,586
Student-Teacher
22.3:1
Score
7.3
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In San Diego
#99 of 288
public schools
California high schools
#503 of 1,892
In district
#6 of 28
Sweetwater Union High
Academic growth
7.4 / 10
Strong
About Southwest Senior High
Southwest Senior High serves 1,586 students in grades 9-12 in San Diego, California, with a student-teacher ratio of 22.3:1 across 71 full-time equivalent teachers. The school ranks in the 38th percentile statewide, placing it at #5900 out of 9566 California high schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10. Academically, Southwest Senior High shows room for growth, with 48% of students demonstrating proficiency in English Language Arts while mathematics presents a significant area for development with 12% proficiency.
The school's academic score of 4.5 out of 10 reflects these mixed performance levels across core subjects. The school is situated in the 92154 ZIP code area, a diverse community where the median household income is $83,287 and median home values reach $578,700. About 20% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 10%.
This neighborhood of nearly 84,000 residents provides a substantial community context for the high school. Southwest Senior High operates as a regular public school in San Diego's large city setting, serving students in a dynamic urban environment where families are working to build educational opportunities for their children.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Senior High is 22.3:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Southwest Senior High — Students at Southwest Senior High score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
86.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.4/10.
How Southwest Senior High Compares
See how Southwest Senior High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 19% (2019) to 12.43% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 44% (2019) to 48.26% (2024).
Location
1685 Hollister St., San Diego, CA 92154
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Southwest Senior High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Montgomery Senior High (rated 7.2/10, 1.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Launch Virtual Academy (rated 5.4/10, 0.5 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in San Diego, see our San Diego schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nestor Language Academy Charter San Diego | 0.2 mi | 4.6 |
| Godfrey G. Berry Elementary San Diego | 0.5 mi | 6.8 |
| Launch Virtual Academy San Diego | 0.5 mi | 5.4 |
| Southwest Middle San Diego | 0.6 mi | 6.4 |
| Teofilo Mendoza San Diego | 0.8 mi | 6.0 |
| Emory Elementary San Diego | 0.8 mi | 6.6 |
| Sunnyslope Elementary San Diego | 1.0 mi | 7.3 |
| Mar Vista Academy San Diego | 0.9 mi | 6.2 |
| Accelerated Academics San Diego | 1.0 mi | — |
| George Nicoloff Elementary San Ysidro | 1.0 mi | 5.8 |
| St. Charles Elementary San Diego | 1.2 mi | — |
| ST CHARLES CATHOLIC SCHOOL San Diego | 1.2 mi | 5.1 |
| OCEAN VIEW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY San Diego | 1.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Refugio de Amor Academy San Diego | 1.4 mi | — |
| Howard Pence Elementary San Diego | 1.5 mi | 3.4 |
| Montgomery Senior High San Diego | 1.6 mi | 7.2 |
| Central Elementary Imperial Beach | 1.6 mi | 5.7 |
| Montgomery Middle San Diego | 1.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Oneonta Elementary Imperial Beach | 1.7 mi | 7.2 |
| Silver Wing Elementary San Diego | 1.9 mi | 4.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 92154 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$90,035
Median Home Value
$606,400
Median Rent
$2,143/mo
Population
82,832
College Educated
20.7%
Homeownership
60%
Avg Commute
28.8 min
Poverty Rate
11.1%
Median Age
35.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Southwest Senior High has a median household income of $90,035. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $606,400, with a median rent of $2,143/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.1%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Chula Vista Senior High Chula Vista, CA | 7.3 |
| Coronado High Coronado, CA | 7.3 |
| Half Moon Bay High Half Moon Bay, CA | 7.3 |
| Luther Burbank High Sacramento, CA | 7.3 |
| Marshall Fundamental Pasadena, CA | 7.3 |
| Mira Loma High Sacramento, CA | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Southwest Senior High
What grades does Southwest Senior High serve?
Southwest Senior High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Southwest Senior High?
Southwest Senior High has an enrollment of approximately 1,586 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Senior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Senior High is 22.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southwest Senior High rank in CA?
Southwest Senior High is ranked #2750 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Southwest Senior High's MySchoolScout rating?
Southwest Senior High has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Southwest Senior High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Southwest Senior High has 18.0% math proficiency and 49.1% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Southwest Senior High a charter school?
No, Southwest Senior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southwest Senior High a Title I school?
No, Southwest Senior High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southwest Senior High?
86.3% of students at Southwest Senior 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 45 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 31 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 36 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (2,092/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (San Diego). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,586
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 71
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 86.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Diego County
- Phone
- (619) 628-3023
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Sweetwater Union High- District Enrollment
- 35,226
- Schools in District
- 29
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,647
- District Rank
- #6 of 28
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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