- Enrollment
- 2,006
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · El Centro, CA
Southwest High
Federal NCES profile for Southwest High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060801004486
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest High earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #5 of 6
- high schools in El Centro · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.1:1
- students per teacher
- 58.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in El Centro, CA.
School address
District: Central Union High · California
NCES ID 060801004486 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Southwest High held near 1,842 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-47 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 92.8 → 91.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-47 students YoY 060801004486 · El Centro, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,846 enr · 20.1:1 · 58.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Central Union High (2,006 students)
Southwest High held near 1,842 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-47 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 92.8 → 91.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Southwest High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central Union
Central Union High
2,006 students
- This school
Southwest High
1,846 students
- Desert Oasis H 138
Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
138 students
- Mt. Signal Vir 60
Mt. Signal Virtual Academy
60 students
- Phoenix Rising 20
Phoenix Rising High
20 students
What this shows Southwest High reports 1,846 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest High compares
Southwest High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.1:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.0% | ▲ 5% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,846 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.1:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,846
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 35% in California - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
27.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$19,038
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors5.2 FTE
Per 355 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 95.5%
White 2.9%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 95.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.7, Southwest High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Central Union High reports $19,038 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Union High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert Oasis High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mt. Signal Virtual Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Phoenix Rising High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 138
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 60
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 20
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar high schools in El Centro
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Central Union High
Standard public school
2,006 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Imperial Pathways Charter
Standard public school
246 students 35.1:1 students per teacher
Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
138 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Mt. Signal Virtual Academy
Alternative education program
60 students 20:1 students per teacher
Phoenix Rising High
Alternative education program
20 students 10:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,846 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest High
How many students attend Southwest High?
Southwest High has 1,846 students enrolled. It is a high school in El Centro, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,889 (2022-23) → 1,842 (2023-24), nearly flat (-47).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest High?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest High is 20.1:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 28% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest High?
58.0% of students at Southwest High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest High?
The largest demographic group at Southwest High is Hispanic or Latino at 95.5% of enrollment, in El Centro, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest High?
Southwest High has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southwest High rank among high schools in El Centro?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest High ranks #5 of 6 high schools in El Centro, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in El Centro on the city page.
What other schools are in Central Union High?
Besides Southwest High, Central Union High also operates Central Union High (2,006 students), Desert Oasis High (Continuation) (138 students), and Mt. Signal Virtual Academy (60 students). See the Central Union High district page for the complete list.