Georgia Piedmont Technical College

Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) stands as a cornerstone of vocational and technical education in Georgia, a public community college dedicated to equipping students with practical skills for thriving careers. Established in 1961, GPTC has a rich history of adapting to meet the evolving demands of the workforce, now serving a vibrant community of 3,282 students.

GPTC's journey began as the DeKalb Area Vocational School, initially organized in partnership with the State Department of Education and operated by the DeKalb County Board of Education. From its modest beginnings with an inaugural class of 18 students in Electronics Technology, the institution steadily grew. It navigated various organizational structures, including a period as a division of Georgia Perimeter College (then DeKalb College) from 1972 to 1986, before proudly becoming a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia on July 1, 1996.

The college's physical presence solidified with the opening of its main Clarkston facility in October 1963, now a substantial campus spanning 275,000 square feet. Throughout its history, and especially after its official rebranding to DeKalb Technical College in 2000, GPTC has remained committed to its mission of providing hands-on, career-focused training. While the college faced financial scrutiny in 2018, leading to leadership changes, its core dedication to student success and workforce development continues to drive its educational offerings, preparing the next generation of skilled professionals.