After lengthy protests, differing proposals, and the November 2003 municipal election, the trustees voted to reverse the decision of the previous board and keep Southwood open.

Prior to the 2005/2006 school year, Southwood also hosted the area's French Immersion program, which has since moved to GCI.

Southwood has won several championships at the WCSSAA and CWOSSA levels in the last few years, notably in Volleyball,[4] Basketball,[5] Swimming[6] and Cross Country.

[10] In 2019, a group of students from Southwood's Drama Club performed Sometimes I Look Up to the Sky, their official National Theatre School Drama Festival submission for the year, at district, regional and provincial levels.

[11] They received awards, including: The school was quoted by local author Joel Rubinoff in The Record: "To emphasize the significance of this year's ranking, out of 360 performances across Ontario, the NTS provincial showcase features the 12 best.