Southwest Preparatory School District Offers Unique Scholarship Incentives to Students

rrodriguez — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:50:07 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Richard Rodriguez
PH: (210) 829-8017, Option 1
richard.rodriguez@swprep.org

San Antonio, TX (May 15, 2012) – The Southwest Preparatory School (SWPS) District, a public charter school known for strong college and career preparation programs, announces a unique scholarship incentive for students enrolled in grades 6-12. Students can earn $300 per semester throughout their middle school and high school years while at SWPS. The application for scholarship eligibility can be completed when enrolling for the school.

Dr. Gary Short, SWPS Superintendent, states, “SWPS places a strong emphasis on preparing students for college and the scholarship program promotes preparation for college success and productive careers as all candidates must maintain high academic, attendance and behavior standards. In addition to the $300 per semester scholarship opportunity, students can also earn over $20,000 in college scholarships through Our Lady of the Lake University’s College Connéxion Program which is offered to SWPS students. This unique opportunity to earn college scholarship money at the middle school and high school level offers an excellent financial boost before students enter college.”

Southwest Preparatory School Northeast Campus is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Northwest and Southeast Campuses are schools in candidacy for accreditation. The school is currently enrolling students for both middle school and high school, grades 6 through 12, for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.

About Southwest Preparatory School District

For over 14 years, Southwest Preparatory School District, located in Bexar County, Texas, has provided an adaptive and effective learning environment that prepares youth to succeed in the workplace or college. The district differentiates itself with its career-themed academies, smaller classes, and free tuition at its campuses. The public charter school offers great choices for parents and a quality educational experience for both middle and high school students. Information about the school district can be found online at www.swprep.org.

National Academy Foundation Accepts Southwest Preparatory School to Offer Curriculum in the Fall

rrodriguez — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:57:37 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Richard Rodriguez
PH: (210) 829-8017, Option 1
richard.rodriguez@swprep.org

San Antonio, TX (April 5, 2012) - The Southwest Preparatory School (SWPS) District has been accepted by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) to offer a curriculum in Hospitality & Tourism management for the 2012-13 school year. The curriculum will help students chart their career paths in one of the world’s largest industries, from hotel management to sports, entertainment, and event management, and includes the study of geography, economics, and world cultures.

Dr. Gary Short, SWPS Superintendent, states, "The National Academy Foundation is a leader in the movement to prepare young people for college and career success. Since the sports, entertainment and tourism industry is one of San Antonio's largest economic generators, our agreement with NAF, along with our business partners within the industry will give our students the edge they need to become the leaders of tomorrow.” The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism curriculum has received industry validation from the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) and The Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT). The district is currently enrolling students for both middle school and high school, grades 6 through 12, for the upcoming 2012-13 school year.

The National Academy Foundation was created as a partnership between business leaders and educators to address the need to prepare students for professional careers. NAF was founded by Sanford I. Weill, Chairman Emeritus of Citigroup Inc. NAF serves over 50,000 students in over 500 Academies in 41 states and the District of Columbia in urban schools through small learning communities. The National Academy Foundation operates four Academies: the Academy of Finance, the Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, and the Academy of Information Technology. Employees of more than 2,500 corporations are involved with local Academies, securing internships, volunteering in classrooms, acting as mentors and serving on local Advisory Boards. The NAF curriculum contains essential content based on industry and educational expertise. NAF’s record of success with 90% graduation rates and more than 80% of these graduates going on to college, has garnered the support of corporations and public policy makers, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about the foundation, visit www.naf.org.

About Southwest Preparatory District

For more than 14 years, the Southwest Preparatory School (SWPS) District, located in Bexar County, Texas, has provided an adaptive and effective learning environment that prepares youth to succeed in the workplace and/or college. The district differentiates itself with its career-themed academies, smaller classes, and free tuition at its campuses. It offers great choices for parents and offers high quality educational opportunities for both middle and high school students. Information about the SWPS district and its campuses can be found online at www.swprep.org.

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Southwest Preparatory School Campus Earns Accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council

rrodriguez — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:16:10 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Richard Rodriguez
PH: (210) 829-8017, Option 1
richard.rodriguez@swprep.org

Southwest Preparatory School Campus Earns Accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council

San Antonio, TX (April 9, 2012) – The Southwest Preparatory School (SWPS) Northeast Campus completed a rigorous self-assessment process for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School (SACS) Improvement, an accreditation division of AdvancED™. An external evaluation team visited the school in late February and conducted a thorough evaluation of the school's vision, strategies, priorities, leadership, programs and resources. The team interviewed faculty, staff, students, parents, and board members in addition to reviewing multiple documents and artifacts of the school.

Dr. Gary Short, SWPS Superintendent, states, “The visiting evaluation team was extremely pleased with the results of the visit and notified the school that it will be recommended for full accreditation with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED. Parents should feel a great deal of satisfaction with accreditation of their children's school. Students from SACS accredited schools experience ease in transferring credits from one school to another. They also gain greater access to highly rated colleges and universities, federal loans, scholarships, and military programs that require students to attend accredited institutions. Since schools must meet rigorous academic standards to raise student performance and accountability, while maintaining safe and enriching learning environments, all students greatly benefit from the accreditation.” The Southwest Preparatory School District is currently enrolling students for both middle school and high school, grades 6 through 12, for the upcoming 2012-13 school year.

AdvancED insists on a relentless pursuit of excellence -for itself and for the institutions it accredits. The ethic of excellence ensures that institutions will find rich benefits from accreditation and that parents can confidently make informed decisions about their children's education, knowing that their child's accredited school has been identified as meeting rigorous standards and being committed to continuous improvement in education. While accreditation is a set of rigorous protocols and research based processes for evaluating an institution's organizational effectiveness, it is far more than that. Today, accreditation examines the whole institution, the programs, the cultural context, and the community of stakeholders who determines how well integrated the system is for meeting the needs of students. Ultimately, the focus is always on providing the best learning environment for students in order to prepare them for the demands of the future. For more information about SACS accreditation and AdvancED™ visit www.advanc-ed.org online.

About Southwest Preparatory School District

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Middle Schools Open in 2012-13 for Two Southwest Preparatory School District Campuses

rrodriguez — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:53:59 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Richard Rodriguez
PH: (210) 829-8017, Option 1
richard.rodriguez@swprep.org

San Antonio, TX - The Southwest Preparatory School District announces its middle school expansion at their Northeast campus located at 1258 Austin Hwy and at their Southeast campus located at 735 S. WW White Rd. The district is currently enrolling students for both middle school and high school, grades 6 through 12, for the upcoming 2012-13 school year. The new middle schools will feature small classes with individual assistance.

Dr. Gary Short, Superintendent, says, “Many of our parents have asked us to expand into the middle school grades to help prepare students for our high schools and so younger members of their family can enroll in our district. The middle schools will have an academic enrichment curriculum focused on preparing middle school students for taking on the rigors of college preparatory courses and the STAAR Test and also laying a foundation for success in college. The district has long recognized that incoming freshmen are often challenged in making the transition to a college preparatory high school without important critical thinking skills.”

Middle school students who have successfully passed 7^th or 8^th grade have the opportunity to participate in a weeklong Summer Enrichment Academy for high school readiness at three of the Southwest Preparatory campuses during the week of June 4^th through June 8^th daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. Students can prepare for the rigors of high school by participating in projects involving math, science, social studies, and reading. Enrollment is limited on a first come, first served basis. Registration and detailed information for the summer program can be found online at www.swprep.org.

About Southwest Preparatory School District

For more than 14 years, the Southwest Preparatory School (SWPS) District has provided an adaptive and effective learning environment that prepares youth to succeed in the workplace and/or college. The district differentiates itself with its career-themed academies, smaller classes, and free tuition at its four campuses in the Bexar County region. It offers great choices for parents and offers high quality educational opportunities for high school students. Information about the SWPS district and its campuses can be found online at www.swprep.org.

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Recent News Articles for Southwest Preparatory School

Southwest Preparatory School District Offers Unique Scholarship Incentives to Students

National Academy Foundation Accepts Southwest Preparatory School to Offer Curriculum in the Fall

Southwest Preparatory School Campus Earns Accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council

Middle Schools Open in 2012-13 for Two Southwest Preparatory School District Campuses