The FCPS school counseling program provides comprehensive services to all students in grades K-12, supporting student success by providing academic, college and career, and personal and social counseling. School counselors help build a foundation for learning while supporting students' achievement and postsecondary goals.

Benefits of School Counseling Services

For Students

• Ensures every student receives the benefit of the school counseling program by designing content curriculum for every student.
• Monitors data to facilitate student improvement.
• Provides strategies for closing the achievement gap.
• Promotes a rigorous academic curriculum for every student.
• Ensures equitable access to educational opportunities.
• Fosters advocacy for students.
• Supports development of skills to increase student success.

(Adapted from ASCA National Model, 2005)

The school counselor works directly with students in individual and group counseling sessions as well as in classroom lessons so students may:

• Adjust to a new school.
• Be successful in school.
• Establish effective study skills.
• Develop positive feelings about work, family and society.
• Build positive feelings towards self and others.
• Develop skills in interacting and communicating with others.
• Cope with change in themselves and their surroundings.
• Identify and accept their own and others’ strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the causes and effects of their actions.
• Become responsible for their behavior.
• Receive crisis intervention when necessary.

The school counselor helps students become motivated learners and encourages them to discuss concerns with their parents or guardians. When students work through their social and emotional issues with the help of their parents or guardians and the counselor, they are able to devote attention and energy to the intellectual tasks at school.