The Building

During the early years of the 1920's the need was felt for a high school to serve the rapidly growing Country Club District. Consequently in early 1925, the ground was broken on a portion of the old Armour farm, and Southwest began to take shape. In the fall of the same year, students entered the sweltering, newly-built and, as yet, far from hallowed halls of Southwest High School.

The building consisted of only that portion of the present building that faces Wornall Road, exclusive of the north wing, and possessed few of the advantages known by most of us. When assemblies were held, the students sat on the floor of the make-shift gymnasium on the site of the present auditorium. There was no cafeteria and tables were set up on the fourth floor hall. Throughout the fall, classes were conducted to the buzzing of saws and the pounding of hammers.

For more information, Ed Matheny's book, "The Rise and Fall of Excellence" on the history of Southwest High School is a must read for all Southwest Alumni. Click here for more info and images of Southwest.

What's going on at 6512 Wornall now?

Southwest Early College Campus (SWECC) is a Kansas City, Missouri School District (KCMSD) math and science campus for students in grades 6-12.Students will have the opportunity to take college-level courses and prepare for the rigors of college through a mix of training and relationships with professors and master teachers from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. By the time a student graduates from SWECC, they will have earned 20 to 60 hours of college credit from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Click here for more information.