At a glance
Reported students
97
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
13.34
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
7.3:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
06–12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Minnesota high enrollment
52nd percentile
Compared with 996 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
559
South Washington Alternative HS: 97 reported students.
State peer staffing position
16th percentile
7.3:1 reported; state peer median 14.3:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 94
- Teachers (FTE)
- 12.4
- Student–teacher ratio
- 7.6:1
What the reported data says about South Washington Alternative HS
South Washington Alternative HS is a public high school serving grades 06–12 in Cottage Grove. It is one of 28 current school records connected to South Washington County Schools. NCES reports 97 students for 2024–25.
Among 996 high schools in Minnesota with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 84 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 52nd percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 7.3:1, below the Minnesota median of 14.3:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (41.2%) and Hispanic or Latino (23.7%). English learners represent 13.8% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 13.8%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking South Washington Alternative HS
- 1How do the reported 7.3:1 student–teacher ratio and 13.34 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Have the reported academic programs changed since the 2021–22 CRDC collection?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 13.8%
- Students with disabilities
- 13.8%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 49.5%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0.2
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White41.2%
- Hispanic23.7%
- Black14.4%
- Asian8.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial11.3%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
AP student enrollment
No students enrolled reported
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
Computer science
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in South Washington County Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Next Step Transition Program
High · Grades 12–12
86 reported students
SoWashCo Online 9-12
High · Grades 09–12
47 reported students
Great Rivers Adult Education
High · Grades 10–12
7 reported students
Woodbury High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,943 reported students
Park High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,992 reported students
East Ridge High School
High · Grades 09–12
2,072 reported students
Public schools near South Washington Alternative HS
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Rivers Adult Education High · South Washington County Schools | 10–12 | 7 | under 0.1 mi |
| Park High School High · South Washington County Schools | 09–12 | 1,992 | 1.2 mi |
| Next Step Transition Program High · South Washington County Schools | 12–12 | 86 | 1.6 mi |
| East Ridge High School High · South Washington County Schools | 09–12 | 2,072 | 4.7 mi |
| Simley Alternative Program High · Inver Grove Heights Schools | 09–12 | 25 | 5.5 mi |
| Simley Senior High High · Inver Grove Heights Schools | 09–12 | 1,030 | 5.5 mi |
Frequently asked questions about South Washington Alternative HS
What grades does South Washington Alternative HS serve?
South Washington Alternative HS reports grades 06–12 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a high school (alternative school) in South Washington County Schools.
How many students attend South Washington Alternative HS?
South Washington Alternative HS reported 97 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 52nd percentile among 996 Minnesota high schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 94 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at South Washington Alternative HS?
The calculated ratio is 7.3:1, based on 97 students and 13.34 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Minnesota median for the same school level is 14.3:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is South Washington Alternative HS a public, charter, or magnet school?
South Washington Alternative HS is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on South Washington County Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of South Washington Alternative HS students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
49.5% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is South Washington Alternative HS in?
South Washington Alternative HS is part of South Washington County Schools, based in Cottage Grove, MN, which operates 28 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near South Washington Alternative HS?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Great Rivers Adult Education (under 0.1 mi), Park High School (1.2 mi), Next Step Transition Program (1.6 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.