Southwest DeKalb High School
| Southwest DeKalb High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Decatur, Georgia United States | |
| 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 |
| Information | |
| Type | Public magnet |
| Motto | Home of the Mighty Panthers |
| 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 |
 | |
Southwest DeKalb High School (SWD) is a high school located in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a part of the DeKalb County School System. It houses one of the three High Achievers Magnet Programs in DeKalb County, 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 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 from other DeKalb County high schools 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, Drumroll: SWD, which aired on Peachtree TV, a Turner Broadcasting Station.
The band were invited to Italy for the Tournament of Roses parade.
The SWD High School Band were also credited on 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 the movie Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. They also 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 10 state titles, most recently in 2016, including national championships in 1996 and 2007. The SWD girls' track and field teams have won five state titles,in 1984, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011.
The SWD girls' basketball team won the Georgia 4A state championship in 2008, 2009, and 2010, and the 5A title in 2013 and in 2016.
Notable alumni
- Andre 3000 - rapper, entertainer
- Quincy Carter - former NFL quarterback
- Cosey Coleman - former NFL offensive guard
- William DuVall - lead singer of Alice in Chains and Comes With The Fall
- Shamari Fears - lead singer of Blaque
- Fred Jones - former NFL wide receiver (Chiefs)
- Eddie Miller - former NFL wide receiver (Colts)
- Morgan Snow - track and field athlete; hurdler
- Angelo Taylor - Olympic gold medalist, track and field
- Terrence Trammell - Olympic silver medalist, track and field
- Khalil "Cassius D. Kalb" Walton - Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician
- Porsha Williams - granddaughter of civil rights activist Hosea Williams; cast member on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Atlanta
- Rodney Williams - football player (New York Giants 2001)