Colorado's school counselor numbers are improving
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Colorado's emphasis on youth mental health is improving the number of counselors in schools.
By the numbers: The state has one counselor for every 261 students, the fourth lowest ratio in the nation, according to an Axios review of federal data. The suggested ratio, according to the American School Counselor Association, is 250 students per one counselor.
- The U.S. average is 385.
Why it matters: The disparity of school counselor access disproportionately hurts students of color seeking mental health help or advice in applying to college in a post-affirmative action world.
State of play: Colorado's ratio fell from one counselor for nearly 300 students in 2019 as state lawmakers put a spotlight on the issue, providing $1,600 stipends to certified psychologists at high-needs campuses and providing more resources for schools.
- A grant program put about $60 million toward hiring an additional 270 counselors and training at 365 low-income middle and high schools since 2008, according to the education-focused Hechinger Report. In 2017, it expanded to elementary schools.