Applying to college, managing grades and providing resources are just a few of the many jobs guidance counselors have. But what happens when there’s too many kids to complete these jobs effectively?
At South Windsor High School, the estimated ratio of students to counselors is currently 207:1. However, that ratio is projected to increase in the coming years as the population of both SWHS and the Town of South Windsor is still proliferating.
According to the American School Counselor Association, the ideal student-to-counselor ratio is 250:1. Using this statistic as a standard, SWHS has a relatively low ratio. This is especially apparent when compared with states like California, which have a student-counselor ratio of 509:1. Yet, the ACA also found that lower student-counselor ratios support student success.
Keeping in mind the growing student population at SWHS, school counselor Michele Brown-Quinn believes that it would be absolutely beneficial to hire an additional counselor for the school.
According to SWHS counselor Dina Keleher, what students and parents want most when interacting with the counseling department is more one-on-one time to talk.
It’s difficult for counselors to allocate time for one-on-one communication when their caseload is too large to manage.
Brown-Quinn tries her best to schedule meetings after school so that throughout the school day; she is able to be there for students who unexpectedly need to meet with her.
Keleher had a unique experience in 2021, being the school counselor for the entire freshman class. She had a student ratio of 320:1. It is said that this freshman class, set to graduate in 2025, is the last relatively small class of students.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the increase in need for school counselors was exponential. Keleher and Brown-Quinn both explained how the heightened awareness of mental health contributed to that increase.
In senior Ishaal Bukhari’s experience, her needs have been met by the SWHS counseling department.
“When I do need to talk to my counselor, I never have a problem in doing so and always get the chance/time to have my questions answered,” Bukhari told The Prowl.
At Timothy Edwards Middle School, there are only four school counselors for the entirety of the building. Patricia Lakomy, one of those four counselors, reported that counselors at the middle school have about 298 students each on their caseload.
“An extra counselor would help with our role in meeting the needs of students,” Lakomy told The Prowl.
“Reducing a caseload always gives you more time to work with students and programs in a more comprehensive manner,” Lakomy said.
The SWHS school counselors want to be able to help students as much as possible. They also want to foresee the need for additional counselors, both at the high school and TEMS to help manage their caseload, and give students and families the resources and support that they need to be successful.
