For the first time, the high school range of 195 to 224 students per counselor meets the American School Counselor Association recommendation, according to an article in K-12 Dive.
Research has pointed to benefits of smaller student-counselor ratios, including better standardized test performance, attendance, GPAs and graduation rates. Lower ratios also are linked to decreased discipline infractions and increased likelihood of students talking with school counselors about college and other postsecondary plans.
The ASCA report indicates that about 529,000 more students had access to a school counselor last school year than in the previous year. The high school student-counselor range of 195 to 224 students for every one counselor for the first time meets the ASCA recommended ratio of 250-to-1, the association said.
Elementary and middle schools still do not meet the recommended student-counselor ratios, however, with a range of 571 to 694 students for every counselor, based on data from the 35 states that report counselor count figures for elementary and middle schools separately from high schools.
More than 132,270 counselors served about 49.3 million students last school year.
“Ensuring that every student has access to a school counselor remains essential to their well-being and long-term success,” says Jill Cook, ASCA executive director.
“This year’s improvement in the national student-to-school-counselor ratio reflects meaningful progress, demonstrating how even small gains expand access for hundreds of thousands more young people,” Cook says. “School counselors play a pivotal role in helping each and every student succeed in school and in life. This data calls us to continue strengthening the supports that help all students thrive.”
K-12 Dive
