Counselling in Schools.. Is it Enough?

Most parents feel that schools can give the necessary college career and guidance for the planning to their children. But lessons learned from over 10 years of research studies show that students do not always have the help they need to make the best choices about life after school.

How much time for counseling does each student get?
38 minutes per year is the estimated amount of time the average student receives. This statistic is based on the national average ratio of students and counselor Counselor time allotment after 2005 research report entitled "Advice and Counseling College in America's High Schools" by Dr. Patricia McDonough.

Of course, this is an average. While the actual amount of time varies between schools and students, interviews with the parents show that it is a big concern. Despite the best intentions, the level of personal advice is not evenly distributed to all students.

"My child is a solid student. He is not at the top of his class, but he is not weak. School clearly pays the most attention to the students that are extraordinary ... either best or weakest. If you are not in one of these groups, you are not given attention."says the mother of a senior in Colorado from a large public high school.

Not enough consultants ... Too many claims
A brief look at the student-to-supervisor ratio throughout the country shows that there is simply not enough guidance advisers in each school, to the crowd of students and all the requirements for the counselors.

According to the report by Dr. McDonough,the ASCA recommends a guide for every 100 students, or a ratio 100:1. The actual student supervisor ratio in the entire nation is 315:1. That is three times the recommended level according to the NCES.


School Adviser is expected to sort out the issues of participation, discipline, drug and alcohol abuse, sexuality and pregnancy, suicide prevention, and personal crisis, together with academics and a number of other administrative tasks assigned to them.

Where does this leave school then? They are seen as "nice to haves" in many schools, because the time and the resources are not there to support them.

Not only a question of public schools.
The average student ratio consultants in the private high schools is estimated to be 241:1 according to the NCES. While this ratio is better than the public school ratio of 315:1, it is still more than two times the ASCA recommendation of 100:1.

Although private-pupil ratio consultants are better, the parents reported that their children receive guidance is almost exclusively on college advice and placement, not on what the students do when they graduate education.

Thus, it is better for you to talk to your wards on a regular basis and know which direction they are heading into. It may look like interference to them but they will be thankful to you later.