About Us
Principal Message
Welcome to Southwest High School!
It is my honor to introduce myself as the new principal of Southwest High School. My name is Jose Luis Vargas, and I am proud to join the Raider family!. I look forward to working alongside our students, staff, and families as we continue building on the strong foundation this school community has established.
Southwest High School is a community defined by The Raider Way: a commitment to rigor, relevance, and restorative practices that empower every student to thrive. As we move forward together, my goal is to create memorable opportunities for our students that make their high school experience meaningful, while preparing them for success in college and careers beyond graduation. Every student who walks through our doors deserves access to the opportunities, experiences, and support that will open doors for their future.
We will continue to champion our rigorous academics, AP and AP Capstone coursework, and career pathways. From Biomedical Science and Eco-Engineering to Culinary Arts, Digital Media, and the Arts. Alongside athletics, clubs, and leadership opportunities that help students discover and pursue their passions. Together, students, staff, and families share the responsibility of ensuring every Raider is equipped with the skills to succeed at grade level and beyond. I am excited for what lies ahead and grateful for the opportunity to serve this school community. Please don't hesitate to reach out. Go Raiders!
Jose Luis Vargas
Proud Principal of Southwest High School
Southwest High School is a vibrant community school in South San Diego that prepares students for success in college, careers, military service, and beyond. Students can choose from rigorous academics, AP and AP Capstone courses, career pathways in fields such as Biomedical Science, Eco-Engineering, Culinary Arts, Transportation, Digital Media, Photography, Dance, Folklórico, and Mariachi, as well as a wide range of athletics, clubs, and leadership opportunities. At Southwest High, students are encouraged to explore their passions, develop their talents, and build a strong foundation for their future.
Southwest High School is a community of learners that build relationships to educate and empower students to become productive members of society by living The RAIDER WAY.
The RAIDER WAY contributes to an equitable environment that provides a rigorous, relevant, and restorative campus where all the Southwest High School stakeholders: students, staff, and parents share the collective responsibility for ensuring that each student is equipped with 21st Century skills to achieve college and career readiness at grade level literacy.
As a Raider Student, I will:
- Embrace a college-career going culture.
- Take advantage of rigorous classes.
- Participate in college and job fairs.
- Strive to succeed at the highest level to be at grade level or above in literacy and numeracy.
- Bring materials to school every day.
- Be prepared for rigorous daily learning and study.
- Seek academic assistance and emotional support when needed.
- Focus on learning and apply it to your life.
- Arrive on time and ready to learn.
- Complete meaningful community service.
- Contribute to a safe, restorative, and welcoming school environment.
- Be an active member in a restorative school where all are valued.
- Participate in extracurricular activities.
- Celebrate success.
As a Raider Staff, I will strive to build relationships to:
- Embrace a college-career going culture for each student.
- Commit to the work of the Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)with a growth-mindset approach to learning.
- Become facilitators in the teaching and the learning for each student to be at grade-level or above in literacy and numeracy.
- Focus on teaching, learning, assessing, and providing feedback.
- Provide a safe, restorative, and trauma-informed classroom environment.
- Foster high expectations for our students, our colleagues, and ourselves.
- Celebrate success.
As a Raider Parent, I will:
- Embrace a college-career going culture.
- Support your student academically and emotionally to be literate at grade level or above.
- Seek academic assistance and emotional support for your student when needed.
- Attend school events.
- Contribute to a safe, restorative, and welcoming school environment.
- Monitor grades, communicate with teachers and support staff.
- Celebrate success.
O’er the horizon of victory.
Our Southwest sun,
Shines through with spirit free.
The Red the Gold we will truly see,
Beyond the Raider dawn
We hail the Red, the Gold, the White
In our faithful song
With loyal courage we raise our hands,
Eternal glory we command,
Southwest High forever, ever stand.
