Southwest Career And Technical Academy

Posted: March 27, 2019

Teachers and counselors at this school are very helpful in student academic planning and are willing to meet student's needs to succeed.

Posted: March 27, 2019

SWCTA has a very friendly, accepting community. I feel safe going to school every day and this school manages to develop great character in its students.

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

Overall, Southwest is an amazing school and if you are offered a seat, accept the offer. Our school offers so many advanced college prep programs that help you prepare for your future post high school. The community is very welcoming and will help you out. There are rarely any disciplinary issues within the school and the amount of students getting suspended or expelled is close to none. The only downside to attending this school is giving up any music or sport programs you may be interested in. Implanting a music program at this school would make the experience even better than it already is. As for sports, you can still play for your zoned school, but if you plan on playing sports at Southwest, you’re out of luck. I’m definitely looking forward to what the future at Southwest holds. 

Posted: March 27, 2019

Depending on your class placement (AP, Jumpstart, Honors, Regular) the workload will differ. However, each class manages to give a reasonable amount of homework based on the course level.

Posted: May 17, 2018

This school has very high standards, which is great, but they are unable, or unwilling, to help struggling students.

Posted: May 17, 2018

My child's bullies were allowed to relentlessly harm my child every day he attended this school. They tormented him physically and emotionally as well as hazed him on social media. One particular bully, the main offender, was even allowed to torment a teacher continuously. When administration was approached about the bullying, they stated they would look into it. The child remained at the school after my child left.

Posted: May 17, 2018

Posted: May 17, 2018

Depends on the teacher. Teachers like Mr. LaPorte are amazing.

Posted: May 17, 2018

If you a part of the current pop culture society then they embrace you. If you are a free thinker, you are not welcome.

Posted: May 17, 2018

I had 3 different students at this school. The first one had an amazing high school education!! The second one, after administration changed, had a mediocre experience, due to their own issues. The last one had such a horrible experience that I no longer recommend this school to anyone. No child should be ostracized at school. Allowing bullying turns "weird" kids into school shooters or victims of suicide. It is not ok. It has lasting consequences and a school of this magnitude should do better.

Posted: September 29, 2017

My experience at this school was amazing! The teachers are so supportive and so is the faculty.

Posted: September 29, 2017

Posted: September 29, 2017

Posted: September 29, 2017

Posted: September 29, 2017

Posted: September 29, 2017

Posted: January 16, 2016

I am currently a freshman in the fashion design program at Southwest, and I love it! I feel so lucky to be learning how to sew and put together garments: skills I would never learn at a normal high school. I'm only halfway through my first year at SWCTA, but I already know how to operate a sewing machine and make a pair of pants -- impressive considering I was a complete beginner at the start of the year!

I've found that the students here are generally much nicer than public school kids. I have a lot more friends than I did last year at my old school. It's easier to "fit in" at Southwest because the students are more diverse. Whereas I sometimes felt like an outsider at my old school, here I feel like I belong.

One of the only downfalls I've noticed is a lack of school spirit. I'd say the number one complaint among students is that Southwest is "boring." The focus here is definitely on academics rather than a social life. Nevertheless, I believe you can still make your time at Southwest fun by going to the dances, participating in spirit days, etc.

Posted: April 22, 2015

I am currently a Sophomore in Web Design at Southwest and I love it! All of my friends and I are very grateful that we don't attend a public high school and we have a great time here for many different reasons. The environment is great- everyone seems to know everyone and is friendly, the teachers and students get along very well and only few other students have I heard say they disliked a teacher. Also, in the two years that I have been here, there has not been a single fight on campus and very few suspended or expelled. I'd say the classes are definitely advanced compared to regular public schools, but if you're on top of things, it's definitely manageable. One of the greatest things is that the learning techniques are creative and interactive. Some days we may do skits to learn about Napoleon or web-quest scavenger hunts to learn about the history of the internet or make food to learn about foreign culture. And also all of the programs are amazing! If you're interested in any of the programs offered, this is a great place to go as you get many opportunities like working with companies or doing internships, etc. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to go to a magnet school!

Posted: December 2, 2014

My son is a senior at Southwest CTA. He transferred in from out of state because his dad and I are military. I have to say that this is the WORST school I have had the misfortune of sending my child to. The administrative staff/ Counselor are unresponsive; it took them months to assess his credits because they were lost in the back of someone's car. I've made numerous attempts to contact the counselor and the vice principal through email and phone to resolve some issues. My son went from being a very motivated straight A student ranked number two at his previous school to being very frustrated and resentful because he cannot get the right support and help from a school that is supposed to be highly rated. You would think that this school would be invested in helping its seniors navigate a successful year, but it seems that because he is a transfer student that he cannot get the help or support he needs. I can only hope that this change, but I am not optimistic.

Posted: July 9, 2014

I have only attended Southwest for two years and the school has already provided great opportunities. I am a Fashion Design major. In just a few months I learned how to sew. Two years of learning these skills and I've made several garments. Enough about me, the school is great at participating in community service. Each major does different activities to help the community. As a fashion major, I made sling packs for the less fortunate and helped to run a Girl's In Tech conference (helps empower and give confidence to middle school girls) I know this is long but please hear me out. The school has amazing test scores. My tenth grade english teacher (Mr. Moore) prepared us so well for the porficiencies that almost no one failed. I got a score of 493/500, and English is one of my weakest subjects. Overall the school is great academically. The ONLY downfall is that the school does not provide sports or performing arts. This is just how magnet schools in CCSD are. This problem is easily fixed, though. Students can join sports teams from their home school. Anyways, the school is pretty great!

Posted: March 23, 2014

I recently graduated from Southwest CTA and I have to say I was more than prepared to transition into a university. I was really happy to know that I was ahead of the game on a lot of things that have to do with my major as well as public speaking and professionalism. The school has amazing staff and resources. I also really liked the fact that there is different majors that people can participate in. Overall I am extremely happy to say that I made the right choice coming to Southwest CTA.

Posted: December 19, 2013

I'm an alum. I started as a freshman the first year the school opened in 2009, and I graduated with the class of 2013. I would hear all about my friends at other public high schools, and how they just wanted to get done with it. Southwest made me involved though, "getting done with it" wasn't an option. Now, as a freshman at UNLV, I'm incredibly thankful for what SWCTA did for me. Like one of the parents commented, staff sometimes leave. I had two teachers leave due to their pregnancies. That can happen at any school. Some staff could've been better, yes, but that's anywhere. Nowhere is perfect. But Southwest Career and Technical Academy really had some of the most amazing staff. I had so many opportunities attending high school there, I wish I would've taken full advantage of all the opportunities. The administration is obsessed with the stars and stats, but they make sure their students represent the school properly. I'm not a nerd by any means, but southwest was a home to me. I had my web design and broadcast family there. Parents need not enroll their students unless their student actually wants to participate in the best education possible.

Posted: May 19, 2013

My daughter in in 9th grade. She loves the school. Class rooms are clean and safe. Most teachers are helpful and accessible. The Principal plans to expand the usage of the campus to include some college-level classes in the future.