2018 Student-to-Counselor Ratio Report

Posted by National Association for College Admission Counseling on March 5, 2018

School Counselors’ Caseloads Continue to Grow
By Jamese Carrell, Member Services Associate, National College Access Network

The average public school counselor in the U.S. has a caseload of approximately 482 students – double the recommended amount. School counselors’ role in our students’ lives is critical, as their contribution increases students’ ability to progress through school and aspire to pursue a postsecondary education. In recognition of National School Counseling Week earlier this month, we cannot go without bringing additional attention to the unrealistic caseload of counselors in public schools.

This month, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) released a new report that focuses on the average student-to-counselor ratio nationally and by state. The findings, including the chart below, show an overall increase by 1 percent over the last 10 years. Only three states – New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming – are maintaining the recommended 250:1 student-to-counselor ratio.

https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/publications/research/state-by-state-ratio-report.pdf