High School Guidance Staff

In the 2002 FRSS survey, public high schools reported the number of full- and part-time guidance counselors assigned to high school students, the number of counselors who were certified, the number of guidance paraprofessionals, and the percentage of time that the school’s guidance counselors spent delivering selected services to high school students during the school year. Schools also indicated whether their state or school district provided in-service training or professional development in selected topics for high school guidance counselors during the 12 months preceding the survey. In addition, the survey respondent (typically a lead guidance counselor) was asked to report the number of hours he/she spent on professional development in each topic.

In 2002, about 49,500 guidance staff (counselors and paraprofessionals) were assigned to public high school students; this represents an average of 249 students for every guidance staff member and 284 students for every guidance counselor, including full- and part-time counselors. The ratio of high school students to full-time guidance counselors was 315:1. Most guidance counselors (90 percent) were employed full time, and most (94 percent) were certified, with full-time counselors being more likely than part-time counselors to be certified (96 vs. 79 percent).