Thomson’s location also makes it very easy for any of our students, regardless of age or inclination to get post secondary training in a variety of ways.

Local Education
The McDuffie County School System strives to provide an excellent educational program that ensures the best possible future for each of its 4,500 students. The school system is composed of six schools: four elementary, one middle and one high school. There is also one learning center: Pine Street Crossroads Learning Center. Thomson High School and Maxwell Elementary have been awarded Georgia and National Schools of Excellence.

All schools in the McDuffie County System meet the rigid standards of the Georgia Department of Education and are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Georgia Accrediting Commission.

McDuffie County Schools are administered by an appointed Superintendent and governed by an elected seven member Board of Education.

The primary emphasis of the system involves an individual approach to instruction, focusing on the needs of each student. McDuffie County schools maintain a 16:1 student-teacher ratio.

More than one third of the professional staff have master's degrees and many hold educational specialist’s degrees or doctorates.

A compensatory education program provides a complete range of programs and services for students with unique educational needs. Quest Program offers curriculum designed to challenge the higher levels of skills and thoughts of gifted students. Educational and related services are available for emotionally, intellectually or physically handicapped students. School counselors and psychologists are available in every school for students in need of assistance dealing with school and life situations.

Our high school program prepares students to meet the challenges of the future. The diverse vocational/technical program offers a broad program that prepares students for further study and entry to the world of work. Our on-the-job training program in vocational office training (VOT) and diversified cooperative training (DCT) provides opportunities for interaction between school and community in the training of students.

Our industrial technology lab provides students with an in-depth study in how electronic technology impacts business and industry. Technical college credits can be earned while still in high school and transferred under these programs. Started in 2001 to meet the challenges of our curriculum, a Block-8 Schedule model allows students the opportunity to take eight courses a semester instead of six. The learning climate is enhanced with fewer class changes, uninterrupted time on task, and more time for students to practice and apply skills and knowledge under the teacher’s supervision. This gives students the opportunity to graduate high school with a skill as well as a college preparatory education.

Parent/Teacher Associations, booster clubs and community volunteers actively support and participate in school programs.

A business/education partnership is a voluntary relationship between a business or organization with a district or school program for the support and enrichment of the education process.

We have more than 100 formal and informal partnerships with business/industry, governmental agencies, civic/community groups, fraternal organizations, churches and medical/legal professions. This group of concerned citizens, Chamber of Commerce representatives and educators are committed to preventing students from dropping out of the McDuffie County School System, thus improving the graduation rate. Businesses believe that through forming partnerships with the schools on specific programs, increasing their own knowledge of the dropout rate problem, and offering their resources and time to the education system, a better educated and well prepared citizen and future employee will result.

Augusta Technical Institute
McDuffie County Satellite Center
Augusta Technical Institute’s McDuffie Satellite Center in Thomson, Ga., formally known as the Peter S. Knox Center for Technology, represents a new era of growth and opportunity for Thomson. The impact on the community is two-fold, with the campus serving as both a training ground for the workers of the future and an information resource for the businesses of today.

A post-secondary educational institution of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, Augusta Technical Institute serves technical education needs and supports economic development of the Central Savannah River Area. The Ga. Dept. of Technical and Adult Education have developed curriculum standards with the direct involvement of business and industry. The Thomson-McDuffie Satellite Campus on Tech Drive in Thomson offers a variety courses to students in the McDuffie County area. The curriculum offered at the center focuses on technical-based learning through a host of resources, including the Internet, satellite downlinks, two-way interactive instruction via video-conferencing, etc. The campus is also the site of the adult literacy program.

For details on enrollment, call 706.595.0166. For details on the Augusta Tech campuses, visit http://www.augustatech.edu/.

Colleges and Universities Within One Hour

Augusta State University • Augusta, GA 30904-2200
http://www.aug.edu/

Aiken Technical College • Graniteville, SC 29829.
http://www.aik.tec.sc.us/

Georgia College & State University • Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490
http://www.gcsu.edu

Georgia Southern University • Statesboro, GA 30460
http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/

Medical College of Georgia • Augusta, GA, 30912
http://www.mcg.edu/

Paine College • Augusta, GA 30901
http://www.paine.edu/

University of Georgia • Athens, GA 30602
http://www.uga.edu/

Brenau • Gainesville, GA 30501
http://www.brenau.edu/

Georgia Military College • Ft. Gordon, GA 30905
http://www.gmc.cc.ga.us/gmc_campuses/augusta/