Southwest DeKalb High School

Summary:

Southwest DeKalb High School is a public high school located in Decatur, Georgia, serving 1,307 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the DeKalb County School District, which is ranked 138 out of 203 districts in Georgia and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Southwest DeKalb High School has seen fluctuating four-year graduation rates, ranging from 81.6% in 2020-2021 to 86.5% in 2017-2018. While the graduation rate is above the state average, it is lower compared to some nearby schools like DeKalb School of the Arts (98.7%) and Lithonia High School (79.0%). The school's test scores on the Milestones Assessments are generally lower than the state and county averages across various subjects. Additionally, 100% of Southwest DeKalb High School students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage in the student population.

When compared to nearby schools, Southwest DeKalb High School generally performs worse on key metrics like graduation rates and test scores. For instance, DeKalb School of the Arts, a magnet school within the same district, has significantly higher test scores and a much higher graduation rate than Southwest DeKalb High School. Despite the higher spending per student at Southwest DeKalb High School compared to the state average, the school's academic outcomes remain relatively low, suggesting that factors beyond just funding, such as instructional quality, school leadership, and community engagement, may be playing a role in the school's performance.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2863 Kelley Chapel Rd
       Decatur, GA  30034


(678) 874-1902

District: DeKalb County

SchoolDigger Rank:
271st of 458 Georgia High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,703 Help


Feeder schools for Southwest DeKalb High School:

Elementary:    Bob Mathis Elementary School
    Rainbow Elementary School
Middle:    Chapel Hill Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.4 Help
Number of students:  1,307

Racial breakdown:

African American:
94.2%
Hispanic:
3.5%
Two or more races:
1.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  100% Help


 See top rated Georgia high schools

 Compare Southwest DeKalb High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Southwest DeKalb High School ranks worse than 59.2% of high schools in Georgia. It also ranks 9th among 23 ranked high schools in the DeKalb County School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 34.88. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Southwest DeKalb High School freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Student Body
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Compare Details Southwest DeKalb High School has the largest high school student body size in the DeKalb County School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwest DeKalb High School is $11,703, which is the 9th highest among 23 high schools in the DeKalb County School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Southwest DeKalb High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Southwest DeKalb High School 271st of 458 Georgia public high schools. (See Southwest DeKalb High School in the ranking list.)

DeKalb County:

SchoolDigger ranks DeKalb County 138th of 203 Georgia school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Southwest DeKalb High School?

Rank History for Southwest DeKalb High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools GA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 35.35 245th 335 26.9%
2007 42.33 228th 358 36.3%
2008 44.73 224th 370 39.5%
2009 43.53 243rd 372 34.7%
2010 52.26 185th 384 51.8%
2011 49.54 227th 402 43.5%
2012 40.18 262nd 396 33.8%
2013 41.03 278th 425 34.6%
2014 38.24 281st 425 33.9%
2015 40.37 218th 435 49.9%
2016 43.16 199th 426 53.3%
2017 33.94 247th 420 41.2%
2018 43.14 201st 428 53.0%
2019 34.69 262nd 438 40.2%
2021 39.37 216th 410 47.3%
2022 34.75 253rd 429 41.0%
2023 35.00 260th 442 41.2%
2024 34.88 271st 458 40.8%
See the entire list of Georgia High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Georgia Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Southwest DeKalb High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    



Data source: Georgia Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 3.7)
67%

0%

0%

0%

33%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, April 25, 2019

Open Quote Great teachers, bright and ambitious students, and a community who cares. Close Quote


by a parent
Sunday, November 7, 2010

Open Quote I just enrolled my daughter in SW Dekalb and from what I thought it would be a good school, my daughter has a 3.9167 GPA and has made honor roll since she has been kindergarten. My daughter loves school and this has been an unwelcoming experience for her where does not want to go to school. I believe that daughter would be an asset to the school with her test scores and character when it comes to education; whereas before we moved this year she would be taking college courses.

The hallways do not stay clear, children need to be in class. There needs to be better monitoring, what I have seen that works is that when the bell rings classroom doors need to shut and lock so that the teacher can be aware who is in class and who is not and with no pass they are redirected to an administrator or caught in the hall sweep it is senseless when the parents come in and see this type of behavior.

I am not used to this type of school environment and neither is my daughter, there should be a type of respect and dignity when it comes to education and schooling which is not all the teachers or administrators responsibility, there should be stricter consequences when it comes to discipline in the school environment and parents should be notified of their child's behavior and actions. It reminded me of a milder school within Lean on Me (the movie). To the point I am getting ready to find a better school for my daughter and address the school board here, I know what corrupt schools are like I come from Washington, DC and North Carolina dealing with the school system and abrupt changes can be made, I have already spoken with the principle there and I do not know what actions will be taken but I hope some are taken for the sake of the children. Close Quote


by a teacher
Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Open Quote As a former graduate and now an employee of Southwest DeKalb High School, I must say that I am so excited about the new programs and initiatives at the school. I think since the school has gotten a new principal (A. Bethea) the school is now moving back in the positive direction it was once in. There is no easy solution to any problem but the new administrative team is great! They seem to handle parent and student concerns with effective means to getting problems resolved. I think that with the principal that is currently in place Southwest DeKalb will rise in rankings not only for test scores but for the overall well-being of the students herein. Great job SWD! Close Quote



Enrollment information for Southwest DeKalb High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1989 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1422 1422
1991 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1471 1471
1992 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1547 1547
1993 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1283 1283
1994 5 1402 2 3 1 n/a n/a 0 1413
1995 7 1674 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 1685
1996 7 1674 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 1685
1997 22 1891 4 3 2 n/a n/a 0 1922
1998 22 1882 7 3 2 n/a n/a 0 1916
1999 17 1792 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 1817
2000 19 1812 6 4 1 n/a n/a 0 1842
2001 24 1784 6 3 2 n/a n/a 0 1819
2002 17 1630 9 3 3 n/a n/a 0 1662
2003 17 1630 9 3 3 n/a n/a 0 1662
2004 16 1591 6 1 2 n/a n/a 0 1616
2005 9 1645 5 2 1 n/a n/a 29 1691
2006 5 1739 6 4 1 n/a n/a 27 1782
2007 5 1780 1 8 0 n/a n/a 29 1823
2008 5 1778 5 9 2 n/a n/a 33 1832
2009 3 1797 3 15 4 n/a n/a 33 1855
2010 3 1740 1 12 16 4 6 0 1782
2011 2 1624 4 15 8 2 12 0 1667
2012 6 1479 4 17 3 0 17 0 1526
2013 8 1381 5 16 1 1 17 0 1429
2014 7 1274 6 10 1 1 21 0 1320
2015 3 1233 3 15 2 1 18 0 1275
2016 7 1188 4 11 2 3 15 0 1230
2017 4 1186 2 14 2 3 11 0 1222
2018 6 1149 3 17 3 2 9 0 1189
2019 6 1130 4 20 4 2 10 0 1176
2020 6 1206 8 18 0 0 11 0 1249
2021 6 1167 8 22 0 0 13 0 1216
2022 6 1231 5 32 1 0 16 0 1291
2023 4 1231 5 46 1 0 20 0 1307

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Southwest DeKalb High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1422 89.0 15.9 9
1991 1471 89.0 16.5 14.3
1992 1547 89.0 17.3 16
1993 1283 67.0 19.1 15.6
1994 1413 85.5 16.5 12.7
1995 1685 92.4 18.2 20.5
1996 1685 92.4 18.2 20.5
1997 1922 116.2 16.5 18.1
1998 1916 115.6 16.6 36.7
1999 1817 104.4 17.4 27.8
2000 1842 100.8 18.3 28.2
2001 1819 95.2 19.1 27
2002 1662 97.0 17.1 32.3
2003 1662 97.0 17.1 32.3
2004 1616 95.3 17.0 39.5
2005 1691 89.5 18.9 46.1
2006 1782 101.0 17.6 49.5
2007 1823 100.0 18.2 49.9
2008 1832 103.0 17.8 51.4
2009 1855 108.0 17.2 54.5
2010 1782 105.0 16.9 59.4
2011 1667 97.5 17.0 60.7
2012 1526 96.0 15.8 62.3
2013 1429 89.0 16.0 62.3
2014 1320 85.5 15.4 66.5
2015 1275 80.0 15.9 64.3
2016 1230 79.0 15.5 69.1
2017 1222 77.5 15.7 63.1
2018 1189 76.0 15.6 64
2019 1176 74.0 15.8 71.3
2020 1249 70.4 17.7 70.1
2021 1216 76.0 16.0 63.3
2022 1291 74.4 17.3 n/a
2023 1307 79.4 16.4 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Southwest DeKalb High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1989 1422 89.0 15.9 9
1991 1471 89.0 16.5 14.3
1992 1547 89.0 17.3 16
1993 1283 67.0 19.1 15.6
1994 1413 85.5 16.5 12.7
1995 1685 92.4 18.2 20.5
1996 1685 92.4 18.2 20.5
1997 1922 116.2 16.5 18.1
1998 1916 115.6 16.6 36.7
1999 1817 104.4 17.4 27.8
2000 1842 100.8 18.3 28.2
2001 1819 95.2 19.1 27
2002 1662 97.0 17.1 32.3
2003 1662 97.0 17.1 32.3
2004 1616 95.3 17.0 39.5
2005 1691 89.5 18.9 46.1
2006 1782 101.0 17.6 49.5
2007 1823 100.0 18.2 49.9
2008 1832 103.0 17.8 51.4
2009 1855 108.0 17.2 54.5
2010 1782 105.0 16.9 59.4
2011 1667 97.5 17.0 60.7
2012 1526 96.0 15.8 62.3
2013 1429 89.0 16.0 62.3
2014 1320 85.5 15.4 66.5
2015 1275 80.0 15.9 64.3
2016 1230 79.0 15.5 69.1
2017 1222 77.5 15.7 63.1
2018 1189 76.0 15.6 64
2019 1176 74.0 15.8 71.3
2020 1249 70.4 17.7 70.1
2021 1216 76.0 16.0 63.3
2022 1291 74.4 17.3 n/a
2023 1307 79.4 16.4 100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Southwest DeKalb High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2017 $642 (6.3%) $9,558 (93.7%) $10,199
2018 $668 (6.2%) $10,125 (93.8%) $10,794
2019 $767 (6.6%) $10,936 (93.4%) $11,703

Data source: Georgia Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwest DeKalb High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 262nd of 438 High schoolsRanks 260th of 442 High schools
 1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course American Literature and Composition (Southwest DeKalb High School)40.628
 12.6%
   End of Course American Literature and Composition (DeKalb County)40.630.9
 9.7%
   End of Course American Literature and Composition (Georgia)47.338.9
 8.4%
End of Course Coordinate Algebra (Southwest DeKalb High School)9.815.8
 6%
   End of Course Coordinate Algebra (DeKalb County)26.621.9
 4.7%
   End of Course Coordinate Algebra (Georgia)33.726.4
 7.3%
End of Course Biology (Southwest DeKalb High School)34.824.5
 10.3%
   End of Course Biology (DeKalb County)38.632.6
 6%
   End of Course Biology (Georgia)4945.5
 3.5%
End of Course United States History (Southwest DeKalb High School)56.741.4
 15.3%
   End of Course United States History (DeKalb County)46.527
 19.5%
   End of Course United States History (Georgia)48.337.1
 11.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11761307
 11.1%
African American11301231
 8.9%
American Indian41
 75%
Asian45
 25%
Hispanic2046
 130%
Pacific Islander20
 100%
White64
 33.3%
Two or More Races1020
 100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients71.3%100%
 28.7%


Schools Near Southwest DeKalb High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest DeKalb High School

Students at Southwest DeKalb High School are 94% African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,307 students attended Southwest DeKalb High School.

Southwest DeKalb High School ranks 271st of 458 Georgia high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Southwest DeKalb High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bob Mathis Elementary School
Elementary : Rainbow Elementary School
Middle : Chapel Hill Middle School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Georgia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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