Applicant Criteria

Southwest Christian High School is an independent, inter-denominational Christian school. Our mission is to train Christian students to think and act biblically toward the world in their academic, athletic, and artistic achievement. We do this because we want students to become mature disciples who love God by obeying His commands and excel as scholars of the Truth, stewards of God’s resources, statesmen of His Church, and servants of their communities.

A student is considered for application to SWCHS on the basis of a desire to grow in the Lord, a desire to learn, and a desire to work together.

A desire to grow in the Lord: The student will have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. The student should be able to exhibit a desire to follow Christ and have a current testimony of an active relationship with Him. The student will be willing to respect his peers.  The student should demonstrate a willingness to submit to training in personal holiness through spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and Bible study. The student should desire to practice Christian service, including missions and community service.

A desire to learn: An Admission Exam and previous academic performance will help to determine a student’s readiness to profit from the academic program offered at SWCHS. In general, grades should be C or above in the previous two years; standardized tests (Iowa, CAT, or Stanford tests) should be at or above grade level in reading and math; and students should have assumed the responsibility for learning. SWCHS has a Discovery Program that is designed to help students of average or above-average ability who have specific cognitive or perceptual difficulties, as determined by independent testing. (There is an added cost involved. Consult the student support page for further information regarding the Discovery Program.)

A desire to work together: Southwest views its role as one of partnering with and assisting parents in the training of its students.  We ask that parents be in agreement with the Vision, Mission, Philosophy, and Core Principles and Values of SWCHS, and be committed to working with the school to accomplish them. On admission to Southwest Christian High School, the student and parents consent to enter a mentoring relationship with the high school faculty.  They consent to be in unity with the letter and the spirit of all school policies. Further, parents are asked to uphold the principles of a Christian home in a positive manner. At least one parent should be in agreement with (and living by) the SWCHS “Statement of Faith,” and raising their child in a church that supports the same.