Southwest Career and Technical Academy

About Southwest Tech

Southwest Career and Technical Academy is a full Career and Technical Academy magnet. Every seat is filled through the district School Choice and magnet process, so living nearby does not provide automatic admission.

The school describes theme clusters in automotive and diesel technology, culinary and hospitality, dental assisting, nursing, fashion design, multimedia communications, video production, digital game technology and teacher education.

Program names, available seats and entry rules can change. Students apply to a specific track and are generally expected to remain in that program.

How families get in

Students apply through the official CCSD School Choice and magnet system. The process may include a qualification check for criteria-based programs, followed by a random lottery.

• Apply to a specific program track through the district magnet system.
• Recent materials describe dental assisting, digital game technology and nursing as criteria-based, but designations can change.
• Recent materials describe automotive and diesel, culinary, fashion, multimedia, teacher education and video production as interest-based, but confirm current rules.
• Typical applicants are rising ninth- or tenth-grade students. Confirm eligible grades before applying.
• There is no walk-in or direct registration path.
• Sibling, feeder and geographic preferences apply only when provided under current district rules.

Program choices, criteria and application dates change. Confirm all admission details at the time of application.

Who it tends to fit

Competitive NIAA athletics are typically arranged through the student’s zoned high school. Confirm eligibility, scheduling and transportation with both campuses.

Students

The guide reports total enrollment of about 1,600 students using an NCES 2024–25 snapshot. Enrollment and demographic counts can shift.

Gender: Confirm with the school or Nevada Report Card The guide does not provide a gender breakdown.

• Total enrollment is about 1,600 students.
• The reported race and ethnicity shares are approximately 32% Asian, 24% Hispanic, 23% White, 9% Black, 9% two or more races and 3% Pacific Islander, with smaller shares for other groups.
• The guide does not provide exact student counts by race or ethnicity.

Academics

Career and technical coursework is organized around program tracks. The school also states that honors, AP, dual-credit and work-based learning options are part of its academic culture.

• Automotive and diesel technology
• Culinary and hospitality
• Dental assisting and nursing
• Fashion design
• Multimedia communications and video production
• Digital game technology
• Teacher education
• Honors, AP and dual-credit options
• Work-based learning

Awards and recognition

Location and daily life

The campus is in southwest Las Vegas on West Shelbourne Avenue.

Magnet commute times vary by home address and assigned transportation routes.

Confirm routes, transportation boundaries, late buses and before- or after-school options before committing.

District transportation may be available to eligible magnet students within published boundaries, but transportation is not guaranteed for every address.

Compare before you commit

• West Career and Technical AcademyA nearby full CTA magnet with biomedical, engineering and cybersecurity themes.
• Southeast CTA or East CTAOther district CTA campuses to consider if their program mix or commute is a better fit.
• South Career and Technical AcademyA newer full CTA magnet on the south side.
• Your zoned comprehensive high schoolCompare neighborhood logistics, a broader traditional experience and access to on-site athletics.

Questions to ask on a tour

1. 1.Which program tracks are open for my student’s grade?
2. 2.Can students change tracks after enrolling?
3. 3.Which programs are currently criteria-based and which are interest-based?
4. 4.What does a typical day include for this program?
5. 5.Which labs, internships and certifications are available?
6. 6.How does participation in NIAA sports at the zoned high school work?
7. 7.What transportation is available from our address?
8. 8.Are late buses or before- and after-school options available?

What to do next

1. 1.Review the current program pages on the school website.
2. 2.Check the CCSD magnet site for current eligibility rules, program designations and application dates.
3. 3.Review the school’s official accountability profile on Nevada Report Card.
4. 4.Check zoning for athletics and backup enrollment plans.
5. 5.Confirm transportation routes and boundaries for your address.
6. 6.Apply only through the official CCSD School Choice process.