Southwest High School (Minneapolis)

Southwest High School (Minneapolis)
Eames Heard · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Southwest High School
Established	1924
Type	Public
District	Minneapolis Public Schools
Grades	9–12
City	Minneapolis
State	Minnesota
Country	United States
Colors	Cardinal and White
Mascot	Prowl

Southwest High School (Minneapolis) is a public secondary school in Minneapolis serving grades 9–12 as part of Minneapolis Public Schools. Located in the Lind‑Bohanon/Kenwood area near Minnehaha Creek and Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, the school has a long history of academic programs, arts ensembles, athletics, and community partnerships. Southwest combines neighborhood identity with citywide magnet offerings and notable alumni across politics, arts, science, and sports.

History

Southwest opened in 1924 during a period of expansion for Minneapolis Public Schools alongside contemporaries such as West High School and South High School. Early decades saw involvement with organizations including the National Education Association, the Minnesota Historical Society, and civic groups in Hennepin County. During the mid‑20th century Southwest responded to demographic shifts tied to events like the Great Migration and suburbanization influenced by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. In the 1960s and 1970s Southwest students and faculty engaged with movements linked to Civil Rights Movement, the Anti–Vietnam War movement, and local labor actions involving the American Federation of Teachers. Renovations and curricular reforms in the 1980s and 1990s aligned with statewide initiatives from the Minnesota Department of Education and national programs promoted by institutions such as the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. More recent decades brought partnerships with University of Minnesota, collaborations with arts organizations like the Walker Art Center, and responses to policy shifts enacted by the Minneapolis School Board and federal legislation exemplified by the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Campus and Facilities

The Southwest campus sits near Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska, with architectural phases reflecting influences from architects who contributed to other Minneapolis landmarks including designs comparable to those at Northrop Auditorium and academic facilities akin to Mayo Clinic‑area institutional expansions. Facilities include lecture halls used for University of Minnesota outreach programs, a theater hosting performances similar to productions at the Guthrie Theater, music rehearsal spaces supporting ensembles related to practices at the Minnesota Orchestra, science labs equipped for partnerships with researchers from Mayo Clinic and the Minnesota Science Museum (Science Museum of Minnesota), and athletic amenities adjacent to municipal parks managed by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Campus upgrades complied with building codes administered by State of Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and benefited from community fundraising involving entities such as the Minneapolis Foundation and alumni associations linked to civic organizations like the Rotary Club of Minneapolis.

Academics and Programs

Southwest offers a mix of neighborhood curriculum and citywide programs in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education and higher education partners including University of Minnesota and Augsburg University. Students can enroll in Advanced Placement courses administered under the College Board and participate in career and technical education pathways aligned with initiatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The school supports arts concentrations informed by practices at institutions such as the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Walker Art Center, while STEM offerings connect with research and internship opportunities at the Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota Medical School, and regional startups incubated through Greater MSP. Language and cultural programs have ties to consortia like the Consulate of Mexico in Minneapolis and community organizations including the Hmong American Partnership.

Student Life and Extracurriculars

Student life features clubs and organizations affiliated with national groups such as Key Club International, National Honor Society, and the Debate Education Association, alongside local cultural groups connected to the Powderhorn Community Council and neighborhood nonprofits. Arts extracurriculars mount productions resonant with repertory models at the Guthrie Theater and music ensembles that have collaborated with members of the Minnesota Orchestra and participated in festivals sponsored by organizations like the Northwest Council for Computer Education and the Minnesota State High School League. Student civic engagement has included voter registration drives coordinated with League of Women Voters of Minnesota and service projects partnering with Second Harvest Heartland and Volunteers of America Minnesota.

Athletics

Athletic teams compete in the West Suburban Conference and within leagues governed by the Minnesota State High School League. Programs include football, basketball, hockey, soccer, track and field, and swimming with student‑athletes often leveraging facilities at Braemar Golf Course and municipal arenas like Xcel Energy Center for regional events. The school has rivalries with city schools such as South High School and North High School, and its teams have produced athletes who advanced to collegiate programs at institutions including the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and service academies such as the United States Naval Academy.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Notable alumni and faculty represent fields spanning politics, arts, science, and sports. Alumni have included public officials who served in the Minnesota Legislature and interact with institutions like the U.S. Congress; artists and performers who worked with the Guthrie Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and American Ballet Theatre; scientists who contributed to research at the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota; journalists connected to outlets such as the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) and Minnesota Public Radio; and professional athletes who played in leagues including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and National Hockey League. Faculty have included educators who participated in statewide initiatives from the Minnesota Department of Education and artists associated with the Walker Art Center.

Category:High schools in Minneapolis Category:Public high schools in Minnesota