About Southwest

Statistics - 2012-2013

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 187
Alumni: 483
Feeder elementary schools: 25
Administration & staff: 9 full-time, 4 part-time
Faculty: 14 full-time, 5 part-time
Classroom building: 63,000 sq. ft.
Classrooms: 20
Varsity sports: 17
Courses offered: 73
AP courses: Calculus, English 11, English 12, US History, US Government and Politics, Macro-Economics, World History
Christmas concert: >900 people in attendance
Tuition: $9,150 plus $500 student fee
ACT average score: 24.0 (state average is 22.8)
National Merit Scholars: 8 commended, 9 semi-finalists, 2 National Merit Scholars
College placement: Students placed in many outstanding Christian and secular colleges.

History

1996 SWCHS was founded with 36 students and deep faith in God. The school rented space in a Minnetonka school with two full-time and five part-time teachers. Mr. John Newton was the founding administrator.
1997 Enrollment grew to 51 and staff nearly doubled.
1998 Enrollment of 87 students in grades nine through twelve. First graduating class with seven students.
1999 Moved to rented space in an Eden Prairie church. The school grew to 124 students and 25 teachers.
2000 God led SWCHS to the former Nordic Track headquarters in Chaska with a student body of 156.
2002 Enrollment grew to 184 with a teaching staff of 33. The conditional use permit was extended to 2010.
2004 God brought Dr. Joseph Tewinkel to be the interim administrator. Dr. Tewinkel is a former professor, former acting president of Crown College, and a retired pastor.
2005 Dr. Paul Norby is called as the new Head of School.
2006 Enrollment at SW is at all-time high of 196.
2008 SWCHS locates a potential new property in Chaska and receives preliminary approval by the City of Chaska to build a new campus.
2008 Dan Beckering becomes Principal of SWCHS.
2011 SWCHS purchases 29-acre piece of farmland off Hwy 212 and Bavaria Rd in Chaska for future campus.
2012 SWCHS relocates to new 63,000 sq. ft. campus after 1 year of construction and opens doors to 185 students.

Governance

The school is governed by a school board consisting of 12 representatives elected by members of the corporation.

The school’s extensive discipleship program involves all staff members and students with a goal to develop Christ-centered scholars, stewards, and servants.
The school is committed to an integrated Biblical worldview in every discipline. Students are inspired to recognize and worship God not only in chapel, but also in physics class, English, sports, choir, and art.
Teachers work together to integrate the vision into a curriculum with high academic standards. For example, seniors work on a worldview project that involves the Bible dept., English dept. and Social Studies / History Dept.
The senior class participates in an annual week-long mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

Community

Current SW students are from over 25 towns and metro suburbs, including: