School Counseling is a comprehensive service that begins when students enter kindergarten and continues throughout their tenure as CMS students. Designed to facilitate academic success, development, decision-making, and adjustment, the school counseling curriculum is designed to be implemented in a collaborative manner with school staff.
School counseling services revolve around the identified needs of the student population at each school and must be inclusive of all students. School counselors foster a positive school environment by embracing and promoting diversity.
School counselors are student advocates and advocate for the needs of all students by providing developmentally appropriate guidance to students and support in removing barriers that adversely impact their achievement. Credentialed school counselors share in the responsibility of facilitating the support system needed to ensure that each student in CMS is equipped, academically and socially, to become productive members of society.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) believes that all students are to receive the benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program. School counselors are a vital link to the academic, career, and personal/social development of students at all grade levels. Working in collaboration with other staff and education programs, credentialed school counselors ensure equity and access to program services so that every student is supported in achieving his/her full potential.
School counselors at all levels provide support for students by offering classroom lessons, group counseling sessions, individual counseling sessions and grief/crisis support. In addition, counselors serve as a resource to students, parents and school staff of available community opportunities.
Counselors work collaboratively to ensure that all students will graduate from high school college and career ready.