Southwest Open School is upping its enrollment efforts for the upcoming school year, a topic that was discussed during the June board meeting.
One of the ways the school is aiming to boost its enrollment is through attendance at Cortez’s Third Thursdays. So far, only one Third Thursday has taken place on June 19. The next Third Thursday will be held on July 19, and the final two will take place on Aug. 21 and Sept. 18 at Montezuma Park.
Each year, Third Thursdays features local vendors, live music and family activities, offering SWOS a platform to connect with the public.
SWOS Director Katri Rittenhouse told The Journal that SWOS staff and board members are hosting a table at Third Thursday events with a few yard games, SWOS swag and 2025-26 enrollment packets. At the last event, Rittenhouse shared that staff were able to connect with many current and graduated SWOS students.
At the end of the 2025-24 school year, SWOS had 110 enrolled students, down from the 124 students who were enrolled at the beginning of the year.
