The learning process begins at an early age in Washington County, where each child's creativity and individuality is encouraged. The county is home to two primary schools, two elementary schools, a new middle school and a comprehensive high school. A number of renovations have been made to each of these campuses. Four of these schools are Georgia Schools of Excellence. An alternative campus is also available for those youth with behavioral or attendance problems, and allows students smaller classroom size to better accommodate their special needs.

The Washington County Board of Education truly has its finger on the pulse of the future. Each of its classrooms has at least one computer, allowing students to explore the world outside their own county through the internet. The high school also offers college preparatory and vocational curriculums in addition to its general classes to help students reach their individual goals.

Washington County is proud of its winning high school athletic programs. The varsity football team broke state records in 1994 and 1996 and won the title of State AA Champions in 1994, 1996 and 1997. The boys basketball team won the state championship in 1994, and one of the players went on to play professionally for the Boston Celtics! College athletic scholarships are no stranger to Washington County's graduates.

Also serving Washington County is one private school. Brentwood school offers classes for grades K-12 and enrolls around 500 students each year. With a 18 to one student/teacher ratio and a commitment to preparing students for a future in higher education or the work world, Brentwood has asserted itself as a viable alternative to the public school system.

Forty percent of Brentwood's faculty hold master's degrees, and all faculty members are certified. In addition to qualified faculty, Brentwood also offers its students a wide range of elective classes ranging from accounting to psychology.

Brentwood also stresses the development of their students as "whole" people. The school encourages participation in extra-curricular events like debate, literary and sports to broaden each student's horizons. Brentwood has found success in literary, debate and sports competition that show the school is making he most of its talented students.

Georgia's HOPE scholarship provides full-time tuition for students who are academically qualified. With this scholarship program and a number of colleges located nearby, realizing a higher degree has never been more accessible. The new Sandersville Regional Technical Institute offers students a number of post-secondary options and is a local administrator of Georgia's Quick Start program.

An hour commute to Macon allows students access to Mercer University, Wesleyan College, Macon College and Augusta State University. Nearby Milledgeville is home to Georgia College & State University and Georgia Military College. The Georgia Military College also offers night courses locally at Washington County High School.

Along with insurpassed educational opportunities, Washington County is home to many excellent healthcare providers. The Washington County Regional Medical Center provides comprehensive healthcare services to residents of Washington and surrounding counties in a comfortable, professional setting.

The reguonal medical center provides care in a number of specialities including anesthesiology, internology, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pathology, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, general surgery, and gastroenterology. The Hughston Clinic of Columbus, Georgia has a part-time office at the medical center with orthopedists specializing in sports medicine. The medical center also plans to add an opthamologist, oral surgeon, dermatologist and a histologist to its professional staff in the near future.

The Washington County Regional Medical Center, which has won awards such as "Georgia Rural Hospital of the Year" in the past, seeks to provide individualized and quality services to all its patients. The center has just added a fittness facility to the hospital to house its Wellness Works Health and Fitness Center, which has a full circuit of strength-building and cardiovascular equipment, fitness and aerobics classes, massage therapy, and health and wellness education. Continued construction will allow for the addition of an after-hours non-emergency primary care clinic. A surgical services department will be added soon.

Quality services are a hallmark of Washington County, where the health and education of our residents are paramount. We take pride in our quality educational and healthcare systems, and strive to assure that your needs will always be met in Washington County.