Enrollment
1,237
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Decatur, GA
Southwest Dekalb High School
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Dekalb High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130174000679
👥 S:T ratio 37
📚 AP courses 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Dekalb High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #4 of 4
- high schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Dekalb High School has class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Dekalb High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Decatur, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174000679 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
79.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southwest Dekalb High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southwest Dekalb High School
Southwest Dekalb High School is a high-poverty, large high school in Decatur, Georgia, enrolling 1,237 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 100.0% of students qualify for free meals, 65% above the Georgia average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 1,237 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 2,314 Georgia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 147 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #123, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly African American (94% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 11/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 619 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 544 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,237 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Decatur's high schools, it stands alongside Decatur High School (1,901 students): Southwest Dekalb High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 15.5:1).
Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students) and Dunwoody High School (2,012 students) alongside Southwest Dekalb High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Southwest Dekalb High School compares
Southwest Dekalb High School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 9% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 65% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,237 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,237
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Georgia - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$15,594
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 619 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
353
in-school suspensions + 191 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 44.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 94.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
Two or More 1.9%
Asian 0.5%
White 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 94.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 11.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 11.3, Southwest Dekalb High School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dekalb County, which includes Southwest Dekalb High School.
$15,594
Per student
+12%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.6%
State 32.7%
Federal 15.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Southwest Dekalb High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Dekalb High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar high schools in Decatur
3 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,237 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southwest Dekalb High School's federal record.
- Compare Southwest Dekalb High School against another school. Compare schools
- Dekalb County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Dekalb High School
How many students attend Southwest Dekalb High School?
Southwest Dekalb High School has 1,237 students enrolled. It is a high school in Decatur, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Dekalb High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Dekalb High School is 15.7:1, which is 9% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southwest Dekalb High School?
100.0% of students at Southwest Dekalb High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Dekalb High School?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Dekalb High School is African American at 94.1% of enrollment, in Decatur, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Dekalb High School?
Southwest Dekalb High School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southwest Dekalb High School rank among high schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Dekalb High School ranks #4 of 4 high schools in Decatur, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Decatur on the city page.
Is Southwest Dekalb High School a good school?
Southwest Dekalb High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Georgia schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Dekalb County?
Besides Southwest Dekalb High School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.