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Southwest High students showcase growth in AP access and earn AP Honor Roll recognition

Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees · January 29, 2026
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Summary

Southwest High students told the Sweetwater Union High School District board that expanded AP offerings and rising AP participation have boosted college readiness; the school earned AP Honor Roll silver recognition. Students credited new courses and teachers for improved exam passage rates.

Southwest High students and Principal Easter Findlay on Monday told the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees that expanded Advanced Placement offerings have increased student access and college preparedness.

"We are very grateful that you have asked us to share and highlight some of the things that are going on at Southwest High," Principal Easter Findlay said as she introduced a four-student ASB presentation. ASB President Zaimare Gerano described growth in AP participation since 2014 and the addition of courses such as AP environmental science, AP Calculus BC and AP African American studies.

ASB Vice President Sarah Lopez said the number of students taking AP exams has "increased by double and triple," and several student presenters described individual exam successes. "With this opportunity I'm very blessed and confident in my college future," Lopez said, adding that she had passed six AP exams with scores of 3 or higher and earned AP Scholar recognition.

The students told trustees that Southwest High — for the first time in the school's history — met criteria for the AP Honor Roll silver recognition. The presenters described three criteria used for the honor roll: a measure of senior participation in at least one AP course during high school; the percentage of seniors scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam; and a college-optimization measure focused on students who took five or more AP exams beginning in ninth or tenth grade.

Students acknowledged teachers by name for expanding course offerings and cited specific departments — social science, science, math, English and Spanish — where new or strengthened AP courses supported the school’s results. "Thank you for giving us the opportunity and the access to have those AP courses at Southwest," student Diane Sandoval said.

Trustees and district leaders praised the students' presentation. Superintendent Moises Aguirre and board members commended the student leaders and credited longstanding program and staff supports for the progress. The board did not take action on the presentation; the moment concluded with trustees taking a photo with the students and staff.

The presentation was part of the board's regular meeting on Jan. 26, 2026. Next steps were not specified during the presentation.