Southwest DeKalb High School

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Southwest DeKalb High School
Location
Decatur, Georgia
USA
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Information
Type Public Magnet
Established 1928
Principal Dr. Thomas Glanton
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 1450
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Navy and Old Gold
         
Mascot Panther
Website

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 others being Chamblee High School and Arabia Mountain High School.

Awards and recognitions

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]

Band

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 season four of America's Got Talent.

Athletics

The football team has won numerous region titles: 1972, 73, 77, 78, 81, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 94, 96, 99, 00, 09. They won 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 most recent in 2015, including national championships in 1996 and 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 4A state championship in 2008, 2009, 2010 and the 5A title in 2013.

Notable alumni

  • Khalil "Cassius D. Kalb" Walton - Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician
  • Morgan Snow - Track and Field(Hurdler) attended the University of Texas

References