Southwest DeKalb High School

(678)874-1902

1,237 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Southwest DeKalb High School (SWD), located in Decatur, Georgia, is a prominent institution within the DeKalb County School District with a rich history of academic and extracurricular success. The school is widely recognized for its strong sense of community pride and its "Panther" spirit. It offers a diverse and comprehensive curriculum, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and specialized programs designed to prepare students for post-secondary education and career readiness.

Beyond its academic offerings, Southwest DeKalb is particularly celebrated for its storied athletic programs and high-achieving performing arts departments. The school has a long-standing reputation for excellence in track and field, as well as its acclaimed marching band, the "Marching Panthers," which has performed on national stages. By fostering an environment that balances rigorous instruction with robust student activities, the school aims to develop well-rounded graduates who are equipped to succeed in a competitive global landscape.

1,237

Total Students

81.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

99.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Southwest DeKalb High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	38
Black	1,164
Asian	6
Two or More	24
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

Black
1,164 (94.1%)
Hispanic
38 (3.1%)
Two or More
24 (1.9%)
Asian
6 (0.5%)
White
2 (0.2%)
American Indian
2 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	DeKalb County
Phone:	(678)874-1902
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	1,237
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	81.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	1,229
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 375

Grade 10 309

Grade 11 296

Grade 12 257