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South Dakota School Counselors
Home to the highest mountains east of the Rockies, South Dakota is reaching new heights in its school counseling endeavors. Professionals in this state act as an integral part of the educational system and foster development in academic and social/emotional areas for all students.
With solid backgrounds in professional guidance, counselors are trained to enhance school culture, collaborate with others, and offer the best programs to ensure the success of its students.
Counselors in the Mt. Rushmore State are unified in their active presence within its educational system. Student success is their ultimate goal, and they will continue to reach for new heights to achieve that goal.
- 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.
A New Suicide Prevention Program Is Taking Shape in South Dakota Schools
School counselors can’t be everywhere at once. But by enlisting the help of students through a program called Hope Squad, they’re increasing the number of eyes and ears that are trained to spot struggling students and help them secure the support they need.
Hope Squad, which operates in 41 states and Canada, works like this: school counselors and educators enlist student team members who, in turn, become trusted allies for fellow students. These students receive training to recognize the signs of depression and suicidal ideation and help their peers turn to them or trusted adults when needed.
With many school counselors citing increasing difficulty addressing the mental health needs of students, particularly since the COVID pandemic, the Hope Squad program is a welcomed sight. In addition to helping counselors and educators become more effective at getting help for students experiencing mental health crises, it empowers the student members of the program and provides them with a strong sense of pride in helping their peers.
Hope Squad has become a bright light in South Dakota, which has experienced rising rates of suicide among youth in recent years. Today, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 10-29 in the state. South Dakota ranks sixth in the nation for its suicide rate among young adults (22.9 deaths per 100,000 individuals).
Hope Squad is part of a larger effort by the state to help battle the suicide epidemic. House Bill 1079, which was introduced and signed into law in 2023, spearheaded $2 million to allow the Department of Health to provide grants aimed at supporting mental health among the younger adult population.
Part of these funds were used to purchase the curriculum and training program to support Hope Squad in nine schools in the state. The money will also be used to develop programs focused on suicide loss and response planning throughout K-12 schools.
What do South Dakota school counselors do?
The South Dakota Comprehensive Counseling Model encourages school districts to develop a vision of what students should be able to do as a result of participating in a comprehensive school counseling program.
Here are a few key things a South Dakota school counselor is expected to do:
Use results of data and program assessment to implement activities, strategies, and programs for continued learning
Through regular standardized testing and assessment, school counselors identify learning challenges and offer activities, strategies, and programs for successful learning. This may include individual guidance or in-class instruction to help students continue on the paths towards graduation and beyond.
Demonstrate the impact of social/emotional development, academic development, and career planning
Not all students plan to go to college. School counselors are also ready to help students interested in entering the workforce directly out of high school. Of course, school counselors provide every opportunity for kids to excel in school and continue with higher education. Through classroom instruction, they demonstrate the impact of academic development and career planning. South Dakota school counselors are also equipped to address the social/emotional barriers that may impede a student’s success.
Provide responsive services and crises prevention
As school safety has become paramount in recent years, school counselors have taken extra measures to prepare school faculty and students for an unexpected crisis. They are equipped to train students and staff how to respond accordingly to an emergency event. They also work hard to offer crisis prevention resources to keep their schools as safe as possible.
Why should someone consider becoming a school counselor in South Dakota?
Job Market Trends
South Dakota School Counselor Salary (median) 1
$52,450/year
Number of School Counselors Employed 1
880
Projected employment growth in South Dakota 2
10.0% from 2022-2032
- South Dakota school counselors typically earn $5,000 to $10,000 more each year than teachers.
- School counselors in South Dakota are looking at a future with strong job security.
- Much support is offered to South Dakota school counselors, especially those new to the profession.
Contact schools offering school counseling or mental health counseling programs and learn how you can begin a career as a South Dakota school counselor.
Whether you are from Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, or anywhere else across the state, you will find school counseling to be 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.