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Idaho School Counselors
Idaho’s school counselors are at the heart of student support, providing children and adolescents with the guidance and resources they need to experience academic, social, and personal success. These professionals display consistent, unwavering dedication to their craft, shaping the futures of young people by helping students overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
With full support of the Idaho School Counselor Association, counselors are encouraged to enthusiastically advocate for children and youth as informed practitioners and life-long learners.
Gone are the days of school counselors sitting in a back office, handing out college applications or only stepping in when trouble arises. Today’s school counselors are vital members of the education team. Their goal is to help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development, and college/career planning. Like all professionals in the education system, Idaho school counselors strive to help today’s students become productive, well-adjusted adults.
- Top Picks
Featured Universities with School Counseling Programs
#1
Walden University
MS in School Counseling - General Program. Click here to contact Walden University and request information about their programs.
#2
Grand Canyon University
M. Ed in School Counseling (leads to initial Licensure) Click here to contact Grand Canyon University and request information about their programs.
#3
New York University (NYU)
NYU Steinhardt's accredited master of arts program in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling. Through this online program, you will gain the skills you need to become a professional Pre-K-12 school counselor, working with children and families in your community to foster academic achievement and success. Click here to contact New York University and request information about their programs.
#4
University of Denver
Earn a Master's degree in School Counseling online from the University of Denver. Learn from doctoral-level faculty in live classes and gain experience through mock counseling and in-field training. No GRE required. Click here to contact University of Denver and request information about their programs.
How Idaho Schools Are Helping to Lighten the Load of School Counselors
School counselors across the nation are overwhelmed.
Though the recommended student-to-counselor ratio set forth by the American School Counselor Association is just 250:1, most states far exceed that. In fact, the nationwide ratio is now 480:1. Just two states in the nation met the recommended ratio as of the 2021-22 school year. In Idaho, the average student-to-counselor ratio is 400:1.
According to the American School Counselor Association, having more school counselors on staff results in better standardized test scores, better attendance, higher GPAs, increased graduation rates, and decreased disciplinary issues, just to name a few. But that’s not all. A growing need for mental health care counseling has made school counselors a critical part of the educational environment.
But for most school districts, the funding just isn’t there to bring on more school counselors. However, in Idaho, many school districts have become more thoughtful about the work load of school counselors and are making changes to provide them with the relief they desperately need.
In Idaho, some districts are actively working to reduce the workload of school counselors by bringing in dedicated college and career ready advisers. Currently, there are 42 full-time positions for college and career ready advisors across the state. A number of schools also bring in school counselor interns to work alongside school counselors, while other schools use paraprofessionals to conduct activities like test administration.
By reassigning duties for school counselors and bringing in additional supports, Idaho school counselors are able to focus on academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social-emotional support.
In some schools, they’ve implemented innovative approaches to help lighten the work load of school counselors. For example, in the Minidoka School District, they work with community partners to help meet the needs of their students.
The school district, through a federal grant, formed community schools that work with community organizations to provide comprehensive support for students and their families. These community programs help connect families with resources such as food and assistance. They are also working toward breaking the cycle of chronic absenteeism.
What do Idaho’s school counselors do?
School counselors are an important part of the educational leadership team and provide valuable assistance to students, regardless of their individual challenges. Here are a few main assignments for Idaho school counselors:
They identify personal goals from middle school through high school and beyond.
With an appreciation that every student is unique, Idaho school counselors approach personal goals with an open mind and skilled professionalism. They identify a student’s strengths and support them when making academic and career decisions.
They identify the coursework necessary to help students achieve the high school graduation requirements and prepare for college or a career.
Idaho school counselors play an important role in helping students choose the right educational path. Not only do they push for every student to graduate on time, they do their best to offer college and career options for students of all academic levels.
They analyze assessment results to determine progress and identify needs for intervention and advisement.
Assessing students on an ongoing basis is an essential part of a school counselor’s role to ensure that no students fall behind or slip through the cracks. They utilize effective assessment tools and analyze the results to determine the needs of each student. They are prepared to intervene and advise, as needed.
They work closely with school administration and parents to ensure the greatest potential for success.
Though school counselors cannot guarantee the success of every student, they work closely with students to ensure they understand their options. Idaho school counselors play an important role in a student’s post-secondary success.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in Idaho?
Job Market Trends
Idaho School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$60,340/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
2,010
Projected employment growth in Idaho 2
19.9% from 2022-2032
School counselors guide the next generation to become successful members of society. Here are a few key reasons someone should consider a school counseling career in Idaho:
- The average median salary for school counseling in Idaho is just over $60,000.
- Idaho’s remarkably diverse atmosphere and scenic landscape draw residents in record numbers each year.
- In the state of Idaho, school counselors do not need to be certified teachers. Thus, students from many different undergraduate majors may apply.
By striving to help today’s students become productive, well-adjusted adults, Idaho counselors serve as a critical component of the Idaho educational system.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a Idaho school counselor.
Whether you are from Boise, Nampa, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling a highly rewarding and respected career.
1.) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics job market and salary figures for Educational, Guidance and Career Counselors and Advisors represents state data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
2.) School Counselor projections data retrieved from Projections Central, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Data accessed May 2025.