Overview
Southwest Christian High school is a college-preparatory school that emphasizes six core areas of study: English, history, Bible/theology, math, science, and world languages. A combination of several curriculum sources is used, including original source documents, classical literature, and both Christian and secular publishers.
On the ACT, Southwest Christian students have consistently scored above the state average and well above the national average. 98 percent of Southwest Christian students pursue college after graduation.
PSOS/CIS: SWCHS offers classes taught by our teachers that earn dual high school and college credit. Because these courses are aligned with Crown College and the University of Northwestern-St. Paul students, you will need to apply to those schools as well.
Biblical curriculum
While focusing on establishing a strong biblical worldview, Southwest Christian also teaches discernment of other worldviews, including secular humanism, naturalism, and postmodernism. SWCHS encourages students to ask honest questions. In the faith-formative years of adolescence, students must be given permission to connect life-giving truth with their deepest needs, desires, relationships, and hopes for the future. All staff, including teachers, administrators, directors, and coaches are leaders in the discovery process as we seek to build up each student as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The following is a summary of the courses that are required for graduation:
*All students in grades 9–11 are required to have 7 courses/semester.
*All seniors are required to have at least 6 courses/semester.
- English 9 or Honors English 9
- Old Testament Survey or Honors Old Testament Survey
- Geography (1 semester)
- Health (1 semester)
- Math (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses)
- Biology or Honors Biology (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses)
- World Language
- Fall Elective Option
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
See the Four Year Plan to understand how 10th-grade courses fit into the four years of high school.
- English 10 or Honors English 10
- New Testament Survey or Honors New Testament Survey
- World History or AP World History
- Math (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses or Four Year Plan )
- Science (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses or Four Year Plan -- very important as there are math requirements for some science classes)
- World Language
- Fall Elective Option
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
See the Four Year Plan to understand how 11th-grade courses fit into the four years of high school.
- English 11, Honors English 11 or AP English 11
- Christian Doctrine & Spiritual Formation or Honors option
- Readings in Christian Thought or Honors option
- US History or PSOS History
- Math (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses)
- Science (see flowchart in Curriculum Guide Courses)
- Fall Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
- Fall Elective Option #2
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option #2
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
*Only register for 1 elective each semester if you plan on continuing with a world language
See the Four Year Plan to check students have taken all courses necessary for graduation.
- English 12 or PSOS English 12
- Worldview & Culture, Honors Worldview & Culture, or PSOS Philosophy
- U.S. Government or PSOS US Government(1 semester)
- Principles of Economics or PSOS Economics (1 semester)
- Fall Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
- Fall Elective Option #2
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option #2
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
- Fall Elective Option #3
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #1
* Fall Alternative Elective Option #2
- Spring Elective Option #3
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #1
* Spring Alternative Elective Option #2
*If choosing to continue with math and/or a world language, register for fewer electives.