- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
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 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130174000679
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 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 28/100 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
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-100 students YoY
Southwest Dekalb High School shrank from 1,307 students in 2022-23 to 1,207 in 2023-24 (-7.7%).
Teacher FTE added 79.4 → 80.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-100 students YoY 130174000679 · Decatur, GA High · MID · TRAD
1,237 enr · 15.7:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Lakeside High School (2,234 students)
Southwest Dekalb High School shrank from 1,307 students in 2022-23 to 1,207 in 2023-24 (-7.7%). Teacher FTE added 79.4 → 80.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Southwest Dekalb High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lakeside High
Lakeside High School
2,234 students
- Dunwoody High
Dunwoody High School
2,012 students
- Chamblee High
Chamblee High School
1,867 students
- Cross Keys Hig
Cross Keys High School
1,748 students
- Sequoyah Middl
Sequoyah Middle School
1,713 students
- This school
Southwest Dekalb High School
1,237 students
What this shows Southwest Dekalb High School reports 1,237 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Dekalb High School compares
Southwest Dekalb High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$15,368
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
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.
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
District finance for Dekalb County reports $15,368 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 2,012
- 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.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,237 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 1,307 (2022-23) → 1,207 (2023-24), down 100.
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 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.