Education is Essential
Education is now more important and sought after than ever before. This
makes education the single most important economic development issue and
the most desirable asset for any community. Education in Warner Robins has
always been as the foundation for both individual and collective success.
When local student performances are compared with regional, statewide and
national measures, it becomes obvious from the high local scores that education
here is both a first priority and a consistent focus. Houston County has
consistently had schools recognized as national Schools of Excellence.
HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
Providing educational opportunities to over 25,100 students,
the Houston County School System maintains an average pupil-teacher ratio
of 22 to 1.
Strong staffs of close to 2,100 certified and additional classified personnel are noted for their motivational and instructional abilities.
Largely due to staff and parent involvement, the average daily attendance
rate is
95.1 percent and the dropout rate is only 3.2 percent. The mjority
of high school graduates continue their education, many at leading institutions
of
higher learning across the state and nation.
The system also offers
excellent programs designed specifically for gifted students and for students
with
disabilities, providing them countless opportunities geared towards
their unique abilities. Of the professional staff, over 66 percent
hold advanced
degrees, and their teaching skills are reflected in system test scores
that consistently exceed state and national averages. All 21 elementary
schools,
7 middle schools, 4 high schools and 2
specialty
schools are designed to meet the needs of at-risk learners, and are
fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Expansions
are regularly planned and executed to accommodate a growing population.
Equipment
upgrades are also routine. Twenty-two of the system’s thirty
-four schools have been designated Georgia Schools of Excellence
a total or 30 times.
Warner Robins High School and Houston County
High School have been named as National Schools of Excellence.
Programs offered by the school system: a pre-kindergarten program
for eligible four-year-olds
a full-day kindergarten program a strong business partnership program
,and community involvement,
interscholastic competition in all major and most minor sports, with both
boys’ and
girls’ teams having been successful in winning regional and state championships
a wide variety of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities a center
for at-risk students and
academic competition in a variety of areas Specialists in art, music and
physical education at each school balance the system’s strong elementary
instructional program. The middle school program features exploratory
courses and interdisciplinary team teaching in academic areas.
The high school instructional
program allows students to customize their academic foundation
by choosing a college preparatory or vocation-al- technical focus. Advanced
Placement
courses, Post-secondary Options, and College Joint Enrollment are
also available at the high school level, as are numerous elective
studies.
The Houston County School System is technologically astute. All schools
currently possess advanced technology, including satellite dishes,
to support instruction at all grade levels and carry out a number
of special programs.
Programs like a system-wide writing project in grades 2 and 3
which uses CD-ROM technology a middle school technology program that
uses robotics and
lasers and, two high school sites which regularly use interactive
distance learning, are strong examples of the high-tech focus in area
schools. Other
high-tech additions and expansions are under consideration. For
more information about the Houston County School System, please call
478-988-6200.
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Fort Valley State University is a public, senior, 1890 land-grant
institution serving Georgia and the nation. Founded in 1895 as an
institution to serve primarily the educational needs of students of
African descent, the university provides instruction, research and
public and extension services consistent with its land-grant and public
functions for all segments of the population to achieve their personal,
educational and professional goals. Following the liberal arts and the
land-grant traditions, the university provides diversified and
challenging programs to meet educational needs resulting from societal
changes. Fort Valley State University provides a learning and living
environment that enables its graduates and all who come under its
influence to become innovative and critical thinkers, problem-solvers
and responsible citizens.
The newly expanded Warner Robins
Center of Fort Valley State University
is open week days, week nights, and
Saturdays to serve Middle Georgia.
Located at 151 Osigian Blvd., Warner
Robins, we offer graduate classes,
undergraduate classes and an
ever-changing array of continuing
education classes to help you move
forward in your career, or prepare for a
new career, or enrich your life. We try
to offer classes at the best times for
those who may be working while pursuing
their degrees and interests.
The university is now offering six
new bachelor’s degree programs,
including B.S. in Computer Information
Systems, B.S. in Computer Science, B.B.A.
in Business Administration, B.S. in
Middle Grades Education, B.S.W. in
Social Work, and B.S. in Electronic
Engineering Technology.
FVSU is now a Professional
Learning Unit (PLU) provider.
Approved courses will note PLU/CEU
credits assigned.
What is a continuing education
unit? A CEU is a nationally
accepted unit of credit for continuing
education, and you can receive 1/10 of a
CEU for each hour completed. Adults will
receive 1 CEU for each ten hours of
class you complete. FVSU maintains a
record of the CEUs earned, and you may
request a transcript in addition to your
certificate of completion. Popular
Continuing Education/ Professional
Learning Unit courses include: Sign
language, Spanish, grant writing, belly
dancing and fashion design. Certificate
courses offered include Child
Development Associate, Wedding Planning
and SCUBA. New to the campus for Summer
2009 are courses that prepare students
for medical certification exams: Medical
billing and coding, pharmacy tech, EKG
tech and phlebotomy tech.
For more information, call
478-953-7423 or visit us on the Web at
http://www.fvsu.edu/academics/extended-education/continuing-education-course-schedule.
MACON STATE COLLEGE
With a new permanent campus in Warner Robins, Macon State
College is perfectly in tune with the higher education and economic
development needs of Houston County and Robins Air Force Base. The
Warner Robins Campus is located on Watson Boulevard, across from city
Hall and just 1/2 mile from the main gate at Robins Air
Force Base.
At the Warner Robins Campus, Macon State College is offers the entire
core curriculum of the University System of Georgia as well as bachelor's degrees in Information Technology, Business,
Nursing (RN-BSN Completion Program) and, beginning in Fall 2005, Early
Childhood Education.
The Warner Robins Campus-comprised of
the historic Thomas Hall and the new
two-story Academic Services
Building-features student services,
extracurricular activities and a fully
stocked bookstore. Macon State also has
partnered with the Nola Brantley
Memorial Library next door to provide
enhanced services to students.
Because Macon State is part of the
University System of Georgia, tuition is
affordable. Financial aid available for
students who qualify.
Macon State’s Institute for Information Management, the College’s
technology outreach arm, is housed in the Warner Robins Campus. The Institute
reflects a part of the College’s core mission – providing professional
education and serving as an economic development resource for Central
Georgia.
For the convenience of military and civilian personnel, Macon State
continues to offer classes on Robins Air Force Base. Since 1970, the
College has been helping Robins AFB personnel meet their higher
education goals through the University System of Georgia's Robins
Resident Center.
Macon State College has been art of
the Houston county community for 35
years. Today, more than 1800 Macon State
students take classes in Houston county
. For information about the
College's day, evening and online
classes, call: Warner Robins Campus at
929-6700, Robins Resident Center at
327-7307 or toll free 1-800-272-7619.
MIDDLE GEORGIA TECHNICAL
COLLEGE
While exploring your education and
training options, be sure to check out
Middle Georgia Technical College in
Warner Robins. MGTC offers 19 different
Associate of Applied Science Degree
programs, 32 Diploma programs, and 76
Technical Certificate of Credit programs
in the areas of Aerospace, Allied
Health, Human Services, Industry &
Trade, and Information Technology. 
Middle Georgia Technical College
is the college of the future! Many
people are not aware that 70% of the top
jobs in the United States require
more than a high school diploma, but
less that a 4-year college
degree. The training and education
needed for these occupations can be
found within the curriculum at MGTC or
any of the other 32 technical colleges
in Georgia. MGTC is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools to
award Associates of Applied Science
degrees. Core degree courses in English
and math earned at MGTC can now transfer
to any four-year college or university
in the state!
Not only does MGTC offer education and
training in Georgia’s fastest growing
occupations, it provides customized
training for local businesses and
industry. In 2007, more than 33,000
people representing 21 companies were
trained. MGTC is also attacking
illiteracy in Georgia—delivering
services to nearly 2,000 Georgians and
awarding 507 GED’s this past year. The
College is active in numerous outreach
programs through its collaborative
efforts with middle and high schools,
higher education institutions, and
enterprise partnerships.
Day and evening classes are available in
most programs, and MGTC offers many
online courses through the
Georgia
Virtual Technical College. In addition,
MGTC has co-op agreements with Robins
Air Force Base. Students enrolled
in certain program areas, including
aviation programs and electronics, can
earn while they learn.
Financial Aid
is available in the form of HOPE grants
and HOPE scholarships, the Pell Grant, WIA (Workforce Investment Act),
scholarships, veterans’ benefits and
more. The HOPE Grant and Scholarship,
funded by the Georgia Lottery, was
awarded to 96% of students enrolled in
credit programs. HOPE is available for
any eligible Georgia resident or
military family stationed in
Georgia
that is enrolled in a technical college
degree, diploma or certificate program.
Applying is easier than ever! From our
web site,
www.middlegatech.edu,
students can link to
www.GaCollege411.org and
apply for admissions and for financial
aid.
The state-of-the-art campus, located at
the intersection of Houston Lake Road
and Highway 96 in Warner Robins,
features modern facilities, high-tech
equipment, and hands-on training for
individuals desiring to enter or
re-enter today’s challenging workforce.
Enroll today and take the first step
toward obtaining the education,
training, and skills for the career that
you always dreamed of having. Browse the
website at
www.middlegatech.edu, call
toll free at 1-800-474-1031, or come by
today. At Middle Georgia Technical
College, Your Future is Our Business!
Mercer University
Mercer University and Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins partnered
in 1983 in a pact that established the School of Engineering on the
Macon campus, an engineering research center in Warner Robins and
plugged a number of engineering vacancies at the huge military installation.
The move has produced more than 1,000 engineering
graduates since the School was established in 1985.
The U.S. Air Force and Robins Air Force Base have felt the pinch of finding
and hiring quality engineers and Mercer has played a critical role in that
endeavor, providing more graduates to Robins than any other university.
Since its inception in 1987, the Mercer Engineering Research Center (MERC)
has exceeded the $150 million mark in contract revenue, with the largest
coming from Robins.
Founded in 1833, Mercer has campuses in Macon and Atlanta, as well as three
regional academic centers. With 10 schools and colleges, the University offers
programs in liberal arts, business, engineering, education, medicine, nursing,
pharmacy, law and theology. For 14 consecutive years, U.S. News and World
Report has named Mercer
University as one of the leading universities in the South. The Princeton
Review has listed Mercer among The Best 315 Colleges in North America.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Private schools are plentiful in the immediate Warner Robins area.
The largest include Christian Life School, Montessori Rainbow, Sacred Heart
Catholic School, Warner Robins Christian Academy, and the Westfield Schools
of Perry. Several smaller church-affiliated academies also serve the area.
Warner Robins Christian Academy
922-1201
Christian Life School
922-5638
Sacred Heart Catholic School
923-9668
Montessori Rainbow
929-0357
The Westfield School
987-0547
