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As of the 2014-15 school year, the United States’ student-to-counselor ratio was a staggering 482 to 1. Ratios vary widely among states: In California, the ratio is 882 to 1, and in Arizona, it’s 941 to 1. By contrast, the American School Counselor Association recommends that schools maintain a ratio much closer to 250 to 1. Its research found that only three states — New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming — maintain a level below that threshold.

Overwhelming caseloads upward of 500 students per counselor mean that school counselors need resources to help them balance their many responsibilities. These crucial school workers address students’ needs across various realms: preventing and working with victims of bullying; helping establish school safety plans; providing academic support; helping with college prep and consideration of career paths; working through substance abuse; and addressing difficult family issues.

As public school funding grows tighter and the needs of the most vulnerable students intensify, the services provided by school counselors are more important than ever. In this guide, we offer school counselors resources to strengthen their work with students. Check out this guide provided by Bradley University.

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