A comprehensive school counseling program fosters academic achievement, personal development, and college, career, and life readiness for all students by using data to identify needs, interacting with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and outside organizations, and evaluating the impact of the counseling program on a regular basis.

Academic Success
School counselors support the academic achievement of all students by assisting with course selection, test-taking strategies, organizational and study skills, problem solving, critical thinking skills, and overall positive learner behaviors.

College, Career, Life Readiness 
School counselors utilize career development lessons and strategies to help students understand the relationship between personal qualities, education and training, and the world of work by promoting career awareness, goal setting, providing scholarship opportunities, and the use of future-planning tools.

Personal Development 
School counselors work to foster life skills that build confidence and support students to overcome challenges, such as making friends, alternatives to peer pressure, managing stress, and making responsible decisions.

What’s the Difference? 
School counselors play a unique role in the school setting. Many people are familiar with the term “guidance counselor” but research and law support the practices of school counselors, who implement comprehensive counseling programs. While some of our school counselors are also licensed mental health therapists, they only practice as school counselors in our schools.

What does a school counselor do in Elementary school?
The elementary school years set the foundation for developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for children to become healthy, competent and confident learners. Elementary school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents and the community to create a safe and respectful learning environment. By providing education, prevention, early identification and intervention, elementary school counselors help their students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities and develop personal skills in response to issues they face. School counselors provide short-term solution focused counseling as it is related to school. School counselors may provide a referral for outside therapy based on need.

Elementary school counselors hold a Master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform, legislation, and challenges facing today’s students.

What does a school counselor do in Middle school?
Middle school students are characterized by rapid physical growth, curiosity about their world and an emerging self-identity. Middle school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents, and the community to create a safe, respectful learning environment whereby young adolescents can maximize personal and academic achievement.

Middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and personal development. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

Middle school counselors hold a Master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with education reform, legislation, and challenges facing today’s students.

What does a school counselor do in High school?
High school years are full of growth, promise, excitement, frustration, disappointment, and hope. It is the time when students begin to discover what the future may hold for them. High school counselors have an impact on these years by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program and collaborating with school staff, parents, and the community to create a safe and respectful learning environment. High school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and personal development. High school counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals, and realize their full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

High school counselors hold a master’s degree and required state certification in school counseling. Maintaining certification includes ongoing professional development to stay current with educational reform, legislation and challenges facing today’s students.

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