Southwest DeKalb High School

Southwest DeKalb High School
Motto Home of the Mighty Panthers
Established 1928
Type Public Magnet
Principal Dr. Thomas Glanton
Students 1450
Grades 9–12
Location Decatur, Georgia, USA
Coordinates 33°42′09″N 84°13′29″W / 33.702372°N 84.224644°WCoordinates: 33°42′09″N 84°13′29″W / 33.702372°N 84.224644°W
Campus Suburban
Colors Navy and Old Gold
         
Mascot Panther
Website Southwest DeKalb High School
School Logo

Southwest DeKalb High School, commonly referred to as SWD, is a high school located in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia. The school has a Decatur mailing address. The school is a part of the DeKalb County School System. It houses one of the three High Achievers Magnet Programs in DeKalb County, Georgia, the other two being Chamblee High School and Arabia Mountain High School.

Awards and recognitions

The SWD High School Band was one of two high school bands to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics. They were also featured in the hit movie Drumline in 2002; the movie used students from Southwest DeKalb High School band as well as other DeKalb county high school students as extras. After the movie record producer Dallas Austin tapped the marching band for a sequel. 20th Century Fox was not interested in the production of a sequel, so instead Austin decided to produce a reality television show, titled "Drumroll: SWD" that aired on Peachtree TV, a Turner Broadcasting Station.

The SWD High School Band were also credited in Mariah Carey's album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel on the track "Up Out My Face (The Reprise)". The marching band were invited to perform in Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. Most recently, they have performed on America's Got Talent Season 4.

The football team has won numerous region titles, 1972,73,77,78,81,83,84,87,88,89,90,94,96,99,00,09. Winning the Georgia AAA state championship in 1973 and the AAAA state championship in 1995. The SWD Boys Track and Field teams have won 9 state titles including a national championship in 1996 with the most recent coming in 2007. The SWD Girls Track and Field teams have won 5 state titles in 1984,2007,2008,2009 and 2011. The SWD Girls Basketball team won the Georgia 4-A state championship in 2008,2009,2010 and the 5-A title in 2013.

In 2006 SWD was honored by the College Board as a model of excellence for AP class implementation.

In 2009 school administrators reported that students were enrolled in AP courses in chemistry, biology, physics, calculus, English, European History, French, Spanish, government, U.S. history, world history, economics, statistics and psychology.[1]

In 2011 the school was one of 14 schools recognized nationally by the College Board for leading the nation in helping African American and/or Latino students to succeed on Advanced Placement exams. It was the only Georgia school to be honored.[2]

Notable alumni

References