Skip To Main Content

mobile-header-buttons

header-top

schools-nav

search-panel

Find it fast

search-ctas

School Counselors

School Counseling Department

The Department of School Counseling strives to support school counseling teams to assist them in implementing the district's mission and vision through comprehensive school counseling programming.  We offer sustained professional learning, job-embedded coaching, and practical tools that make comprehensive, equitable programming feasible at every grade level. Our office supports internship and practicum pathways to develop the next generation of school counselors and strengthens the profession by promoting evidence-based practices and state licensure expectations.

Our department is committed to equity and access: we use data to identify opportunity gaps, tailor interventions for historically underserved students, and align counseling practice with district strategic goals so that every student — regardless of background — has a clear pathway to success. We collaborate with families, teachers, administrators, and community partners to remove barriers and expand opportunity for all learners.

The Role of the School Counselor 

School counselors in Atlanta Public Schools are an integral component of each school’s academic mission.  APS School Counselors design and deliver comprehensive school counseling programs that promote student achievement, are standards-based, equity-focused, and data-driven. 

School Counselors provide Direct and Indirect Services for students.

Direct Services are in-person interactions between school counselors and students that include: 

  • Instruction: School Counseling Classroom Lessons 
  • Appraisal and Advisement: Data Collection and Analysis 
  • Counseling: Small Group and Individual Counseling* 
  • Indirect Services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others including: 
  • Consultation: Sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents and other stakeholders 
  • Collaboration: Teachers, Parents, Administrators 
  • Referral: To support students and families with resources for additional information and assistance 

Please be aware that school counselors do not provide mental health therapy or long-term counseling in schools. However, school counselors are prepared to recognize and respond to student mental health needs and assist students and families seeking resources.  

The American School Counselor Association describes school counselors as “highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their career” (ASCA, 2019). 

Learn more: ASCA Role of the School Counselor 

A person in a graduation gown and cap, smiling and holding the cap in a black and white photograph.
A smiling young man in a work uniform stands in a cluttered workshop or garage setting, surrounded by various tools and equipment.
Two men in military uniforms are seated at a table, intently focused on writing or drawing something on the surface in front of them. The background appears to be a plain, light-colored wall or surface.
A person wearing glasses and a white shirt, holding a book and headphones, stands against a plain gray background.
A man with curly hair and glasses is painting on an easel in an art studio, while a woman with a ponytail is also visible in the background.
A young man with a warm smile, wearing a plaid shirt and holding a book, stands against a plain gray background.
The image shows three young boys, one wearing a firefighter's helmet, standing together and smiling.
A young boy with a warm smile, dressed in a light-colored shirt, stands in front of a plain background.
The image shows three children, two girls and one boy, sitting together and reading a book. The background appears to be a classroom or library setting, with bookshelves visible in the background.