School counselors are warning of these 3 big challenges

School counselors are having a challenging time providing personalized student support due to several factors, a new report warns.

Nearly nine out of 10 high school and middle school counselors said providing personalized services is important, according to the 2025 School Counselor Report by YouScience, a college and career readiness platform.

The company’s survey of more than 300 school counselors found that lack of time is a major barrier. These educators are calling for more resources, including student aptitude assessments, to “streamline and enhance” their work, YouScience noted.

The survey identified three major challenges:

1. Heavy caseloads: With caseloads of 300 to 400 students, a majority of counselors are forced to “prioritize urgent issues over proactive career and academic planning.” Research has found that many students feel unprepared to make college and career choices. Also, the American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 students per one counselor.
2. Mental health demands: About three-quarters of counselors feel unprepared to handle the growing complexity of students’ mental health needs. As a result, students are less engaged in school and planning for their futures.
3. Administrative burdens: A majority of counselors said that “compliance-related administrative tasks” consume a significant amount of time that could be better spent with students.

“School counselors play a critical role in shaping students’ futures, but they’re being stretched too thin to have the impact they are positioned for,” stated Edson Barton, co-founder and CEO of YouScience.

“When counselors have access to modern solutions, they can focus on what matters most: helping students discover their innate strengths and build a future aligned with their skills and aspirations,” he added.

Supporting school counselors

To reverse the trends cited above, the survey recommends that school leaders:

• Adopt digital career exploration platforms and aptitude assessments that expand counselors’ ability to provide personalized support.
• Automate scheduling systems and provide counselors with administrative support so they can spend more time working with students.
• Train school counselors in mental health care while also increasing access to mental health professionals.

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