South Washington Alternative High School

Summary:

South Washington Alternative High School is a public high school serving grades 10-12 in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, with a relatively small student population of 85 students. The school faces significant challenges compared to other nearby high schools in the South Washington County Schools district.

Academically, South Washington Alternative High School has consistently ranked in the bottom 10-15% of Minnesota high schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's 4-year graduation rate is only 41.6%, much lower than the state average and the graduation rates of nearby schools like East Ridge High School (94.6%) and Park High School (91.0%). Correspondingly, South Washington Alternative High School has had high dropout rates, reaching as high as 23.9% in the 2017-2018 school year.

The school's student population is more racially diverse compared to the other nearby high schools, with a higher percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. However, this diversity is not reflected in the higher academic performance of the school. South Washington Alternative High School's academic performance is significantly below the averages for the South Washington County Schools district and the state of Minnesota as a whole, across all subject areas and grade levels.

Detail:

Public 7-12

8400 E Point Douglas Rd S
Cottage Grove, MN 55016-3324

(651) 425-7001

District: South Washington County Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $24,479

Student/teacher ratio: 12.9

Number of students: 85

Racial breakdown:

White:

34.1%

African American:

27.1%

Hispanic:

22.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 67.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Washington Alternative High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.16. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South Washington Alternative High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at South Washington Alternative High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (34.1%), African American (27.1%), Hispanic (22.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 67.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the South Washington County Schools District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Washington Alternative High School is 12.9, which is the lowest among 6 high schools in the South Washington County Schools District! (See more...)

Compare South Washington Alternative High School employs 6.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Washington Alternative High School is $24,479, which is the highest among 6 high schools in the South Washington County Schools District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

South Washington Alternative High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

South Washington County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks South Washington County Schools 135^th of 463 Minnesota school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Washington Alternative High School

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Rank History for all students at South Washington Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2004	11.93	379^th	433	12.5%
2005	12.20	402^nd	452	11.1%
2006	6.66	427^th	450	5.1%
2007	9.41	415^th	463	10.4%
2008	8.15	419^th	460	8.9%
2010	21.03	403^rd	540	25.4%
2011	8.88	468^th	545	14.1%
2012	24.02	392^nd	539	27.3%
2013	8.10	456^th	534	14.6%
2014	6.21	439^th	483	9.1%
2015	18.08	407^th	504	19.2%
2016	6.19	435^th	489	11.0%
2017	6.03	443^rd	489	9.4%
2018	6.36	449^th	494	9.1%
2019	7.97	437^th	492	11.2%
2022	5.12	452^nd	472	4.2%
2023	5.16	461^st	476	3.2%

See the entire list of Minnesota High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Washington Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile
2018	4.91	361^st	374	3.5%
2019	5.61	358^th	370	3.2%
2023	6.62	380^th	393	3.3%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Washington Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	4.58	380^th	398	4.5%
2019	3.48	390^th	411	5.1%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at South Washington Alternative High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	1.65	405^th	414	2.2%
2019	2.31	403^rd	412	2.2%

See the entire list of Best Minnesota High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Minnesota Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

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Enrollment information for South Washington Alternative High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1994	129	2	2	4	3	n/a	n/a	140
1995	111	2	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	121
1996	111	2	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	121
1997	93	2	1	4	1	n/a	n/a	101
1998	104	3	2	3	2	n/a	n/a	114
1999	105	6	2	4	4	n/a	n/a	121
2000	121	8	3	5	4	n/a	n/a	141
2001	106	10	0	3	3	n/a	n/a	122
2002	88	5	2	5	3	n/a	n/a	103
2003	88	5	2	5	3	n/a	n/a	103
2004	102	5	3	6	3	n/a	n/a	119
2005	78	12	4	10	2	n/a	n/a	106
2006	76	14	7	9	1	n/a	n/a	107
2007	80	12	12	11	6	n/a	n/a	121
2008	72	17	7	13	7	n/a	n/a	116
2009	63	14	8	7	3	n/a	n/a	95
2010	54	9	5	6	7	n/a	n/a	81
2011	53	7	5	5	2	0	5	77
2012	68	21	7	14	1	0	4	115
2013	75	12	2	10	0	0	4	103
2014	71	12	5	10	0	0	8	106
2015	61	11	2	16	2	0	7	99
2016	71	5	0	15	0	0	9	100
2017	64	7	0	17	1	0	8	97
2018	37	8	0	12	0	0	9	66
2019	49	8	3	14	0	0	7	81
2020	55	13	8	14	0	1	6	97
2021	49	14	9	19	0	1	9	101
2022	50	22	2	17	0	0	10	101
2023	29	23	2	19	0	0	12	85

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Washington Alternative High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	140	12.9	10.9	48.6
1995	121	12.0	10.1	37.2
1996	121	12.0	10.1	37.2
1997	101	7.6	13.3	19.8
1998	114	n/a	0.0	14
1999	121	15.3	7.9	22.3
2000	141	12.6	11.2	29.8
2001	122	11.7	10.4	25.4
2002	103	13.0	7.9	27.2
2003	103	13.0	7.9	27.2
2004	119	12.9	9.2	24.4
2005	106	12.0	8.8	28.3
2006	107	11.9	9.0	22.4
2007	121	12.3	9.8	32.2
2008	116	13.0	8.9	39.7
2009	95	12.4	7.7	37.9
2010	81	10.6	7.6	33.3
2011	77	11.2	6.8	45.5
2012	115	11.6	9.9	51.3
2013	103	15.4	6.6	41.7
2014	106	9.4	11.2	48.1
2015	99	14.0	7.0	53.5
2016	100	14.0	7.1	44
2017	97	13.8	7.0	44.3
2018	66	13.6	4.8	51.5
2019	81	11.6	6.9	49.4
2020	97	7.4	13.1	35.1
2021	101	7.2	13.8	31.7
2022	101	6.2	16.0	34.7
2023	85	6.5	12.9	67.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Washington Alternative High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	140	12.9	10.9	48.6
1995	121	12.0	10.1	37.2
1996	121	12.0	10.1	37.2
1997	101	7.6	13.3	19.8
1998	114	n/a	0.0	14
1999	121	15.3	7.9	22.3
2000	141	12.6	11.2	29.8
2001	122	11.7	10.4	25.4
2002	103	13.0	7.9	27.2
2003	103	13.0	7.9	27.2
2004	119	12.9	9.2	24.4
2005	106	12.0	8.8	28.3
2006	107	11.9	9.0	22.4
2007	121	12.3	9.8	32.2
2008	116	13.0	8.9	39.7
2009	95	12.4	7.7	37.9
2010	81	10.6	7.6	33.3
2011	77	11.2	6.8	45.5
2012	115	11.6	9.9	51.3
2013	103	15.4	6.6	41.7
2014	106	9.4	11.2	48.1
2015	99	14.0	7.0	53.5
2016	100	14.0	7.1	44
2017	97	13.8	7.0	44.3
2018	66	13.6	4.8	51.5
2019	81	11.6	6.9	49.4
2020	97	7.4	13.1	35.1
2021	101	7.2	13.8	31.7
2022	101	6.2	16.0	34.7
2023	85	6.5	12.9	67.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Washington Alternative High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$24,479

Data source: Minnesota Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Washington Alternative High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 437^th of 492 High schools	Ranks 461^st of 476 High schools	8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Math (South Washington Alternative High School)	3.3	0	3.3%
11th Grade Math (South Washington County Schools)	59.9	43.6	16.3%
11th Grade Math (Minnesota)	45	36	9%
End of Course Science (South Washington Alternative High School)	4.6	0	4.6%
End of Course Science (South Washington County Schools)	64.5	49.3	15.2%
End of Course Science (Minnesota)	54.4	41.8	12.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	81	85	4.9%
African American	8	23	187.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	14	19	35.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	49	29	40.8%
Two or More Races	7	12	71.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49.4%	67.1%	17.7%

Schools Near South Washington Alternative High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MCA-III Math (2024)		MCA-III Reading (2024)		MCA-III Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MCA-III Math 11th Grade	MCA-III Math All Grades	MCA-III Reading 10th Grade	MCA-III Reading All Grades	MCA-III Science End of Course	MCA-III Science All Grades	Total
South Washington Alternative High School	Public	7-12	8400 E Point Douglas Rd S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-7001	85	7	12.9	67.1%	29 (34.1%)	23 (27.1%)	19 (22.4%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (14.1%)								(n/a)	0.0	0.0					$24,479
Access	Public	10-12	8400 E Point Douglas Rd S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-2341	6	0			2 (33.3%)	1 (16.7%)	2 (33.3%)	1 (16.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$8,857
Park High School	Public	9-12	8040 80th St S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-3702	1,938	55	35.1	33.2%	1,208 (62.3%)	160 (8.3%)	241 (12.4%)	168 (8.7%)	9 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	151 (7.8%)	51.6	248^th of 480 public high schools	48.3%		54.7	227^th of 476 public high schools	52.3%	21	30.2	30.2	47.5	47.5	33.9	33.9	$11,998
Next Step Transition Program	Public	12	7155 80th St S	Cottage Grove	55016	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-5104	85	2	42.5	48.2%	57 (67.1%)	11 (12.9%)	5 (5.9%)	7 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (5.9%)								(n/a)							$23,298
East Ridge High School	Public	9-12	4200 Pioneer Dr	Woodbury	55129	Washington County	South Washington County Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 425-2301	2,021	47	42.6	14.8%	1,273 (63.0%)	192 (9.5%)	161 (8.0%)	291 (14.4%)	5 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	98 (4.8%)	89.3	26^th of 480 public high schools	94.6%		93.1	18^th of 476 public high schools	96.2%	8	59.3	59.3	69.4	69.4	51.2	51.2	$11,060
199 Online High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	2920 80th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(651) 306-7009	24	0	12.6	66.7%	12 (50.0%)	1 (4.2%)	9 (37.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (8.3%)								(n/a)
Simley Alternative Program	Public	9-12	2920 80th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 306-7000	29	0	18.8	72.4%	9 (31.0%)	4 (13.8%)	9 (31.0%)	1 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (20.7%)								(n/a)	0.0	0.0					$3,587
Simley Senior High	Public	9-12	2920 80th St E	Inver Grove Heights	55076	Dakota County	Inver Grove Heights Schools	No	No	No	No	(651) 306-7000	1,062	49	21.8	49.0%	492 (46.3%)	102 (9.6%)	320 (30.1%)	53 (5.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	93 (8.8%)	25.3	371^st of 480 public high schools	22.7%		39.8	314^th of 476 public high schools	34.0%	57	20.5	20.5	32.7	32.7	21.5	21.5	$13,480
Hastings Alternative Center	Public	9-12	200 General Sieben Dr	Hastings	55033	Dakota County	Hastings Public School District	No	No	No	No	(651) 480-7690	33	2	17.9	51.5%	23 (69.7%)	3 (9.1%)	2 (6.1%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (12.1%)								(n/a)	7.1	7.1					$17,677
HOA High School	Public, Virtual	9-12	200 General Sieben Dr	Hastings	55033	Dakota County	Hastings Public School District	No	No	Yes	No	(651) 480-7470	45	0		22.2%	34 (75.6%)	2 (4.4%)	2 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (15.6%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about South Washington Alternative High School

What district is South Washington Alternative High School in?

South Washington County Schools

What is the racial makeup of South Washington Alternative High School?

Students at South Washington Alternative High School are 34% White, 27% African American, 22% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend South Washington Alternative High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 85 students attended South Washington Alternative High School.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Minnesota Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.