Southwestern Educational Society ("SESO") is a private, English language school in Mayagüez, a western municipality in Puerto Rico that was founded in 1973.

History

In 1972 it was announced that the English speaking campus at the Inter-American University in San Germán would close the following year. An international group of concerned parents started planning a new school. Southwestern Educational Society (Sociedad Educacional del Suroeste) was founded in 1973 as an independent, nonprofit organization to achieve these goals. The initials SESO have become the common name used by the community to identify the school.

Timeline of events

School and community

SESO is an independent, nonprofit, English language school serving the children from local, U.S. and international families of the area. Operating as a college preparatory school, SESO exists to provide a coeducational day school program at the elementary and secondary school levels. The student-teacher ratio is 24 to 1. Privately incorporated in 1973, SESO is dependent on tuition and donations for its income. The bass player of one of the most successful Puerto Rican rock bands Sol D'Menta, Erick "Jey" Seda is a mathematics teacher at SESO. The coach of SESO math team is Roman Kvasov, who is also the tutor of the National Mathematics Team of Puerto Rico. Since 2012 SESO counts with an afternoon program for mathematically gifted students and hosts "All Girls Math Bowl"—the only mathematics competition on the island for girls only. Amongst its notable alumni are Monti Carlo and Raquel Sofía, Jose Juan Barea attended elementary.

Accreditation and membership

SESO is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and licensed to operate by the General Council of Education of Puerto Rico. School memberships include: Puerto Rico Private Education Association (AEP), Caribbean Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Honor Society (NHS), English Forensic League and the Catholic Athletic League (LAC).