Laurelbrook School & Sanitarium provides a Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist environment for training young people for a life of Christian service. Located in Dayton, Tennessee, in the Cumberland mountains on 2000 acres of farmland, Laurelbrook has woodlands with canyons, bluffs and waterfalls, providing an ideal environment for youth to receive their training and become acquainted with God's love through the beauty of nature.
Since 1950, Laurelbrook has followed the concept that became known as E. A. Sutherland’s three-legged stool—a self-supporting plan combining educational, medical, and agricultural programs to work together as a unit. In addition to regular high school classes, Laurelbrook’s educational leg includes two alternate tracks: college preparatory and vocational. Though any graduate from Laurelbrook will be ready for college, the college preparatory diploma takes students to the next level in preparation and study. Students who opt for the vocational route will have the opportunity to concentrate in an area of specialization to gain additional experience and job skills. This program offers training in construction, medical care, mechanical arts, and grounds management, among other things
Laurelbrook’s medical program is primarily conducted in its licensed 50- bed nursing home. Students have the opportunity to become Certified Nursing Assistants, learn to prepare a healthy diet in food services, or develop a skill for environmental services. Students learn about agriculture through the school’s farming and greenhouse operations. They take part in all aspects of planting, tending, and harvesting a variety of crops. This provides fresh produce for the school and nursing home while preparing the young people to grow their own garden. As they work in the greenhouse, students also learn about running a nursery—a skill that can be used in small business.
The focus of the school is on teaching students how to adopt Christian ideals in their life and develop a personal relationship with Christ. To this end, Laurelbrook provides opportunities for students to go on mission trips, attend spiritual retreats, join community outreach programs, and participate in the local church. The high standards of association and activities further encourage students to aim higher than this earth can offer. The hope and prayer of each staff member is that students will discover the joy of service and catch the vision for mission work.
