School counselors are highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their careers.  An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form healthy goals, mindsets, and behaviors.  With the aid of a school counselor, students learn to develop effective collaboration and cooperative skills, to practice perseverance, to develop time management and study skills, and to learn self-motivation and self-direction habits. 

School counselors help all students:

• Apply academic achievement strategies
• Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills
• Plan for postsecondary options

School counselors are trained to provide the following services:

• Individual student academic planning and goal setting
• School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards
• Short-term counseling to students
• Referrals for long-term support
• Collaboration with families, teachers, and administrators/community for student success
• Advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings
• Data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges

School counselors play an essential role in creating an equitable, inclusive school culture promoting success for all.

• Roles of Elementary School Counselors 
• Roles of Middle School Counselors
• Roles of High School Counselors 

* Information has been obtained from the American School Counselor Association.