Caddo Parish, the parish which governs the city of Shreveport, contacted George Peabody College in 1949 to survey the city's school system and recommend ways to improve it.

[1] In 1967, the city again consulted George Peabody to conduct another survey, which found that their initial predictions of growth in southwest Shreveport were correct, and once again called for the construction of a new high school in the area.

[1] In between these two surveys, there was considerable economic growth in the area due to an increase in manufacturing, and the federal government began enforcing the integration of schools, making the project for a new high school more feasible.

[1] The school attracted national attention following a number of high-profile fights which broke out in September 2021.

[3] Following these incidents, a group of about 40 fathers of Southwood High School Students began patrolling the school, preventing fights from occurring, while also providing emotional support for students.