• Consistent, high quality programming
• Research-based instructional strategies
• Shared accountability for student learning
• Affirmation and development of student, family, and community asset

Core Values: Our work is guided by the following values;

• Bilingualism is an asset
• All teachers are teachers of English Learners
• All MPS staff are responsible for the success of English Learners
• Every parent is a partner

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program at Southwest:

High school students attend ESL classes as part of their daily schedule. ESL services are provided during co-taught mainstream grade-level classes and/or  in stand-alone English Language Development (ELD) classes. Stand-alone ELD classes offered at Southwest are:

• ESL 1, ESL 2, ESL 3
• Beginning Reading
• Intermediate Reading
• Social Studies Concepts
• Science Concepts
• Math Concepts
• Academic Language 9, 10, 11, 12

Academic Language Development classes support English Learners with the vocabulary, academic discourse, and writing demands of core content classes. Units of instruction are aligned with WIDA English Language Proficiency standards and are designed to increase students’ social and academic English skills to ensure success in content classes.