High School Guidance 
Program
 

Guidance Curriculum Individual Planning Responsive Services System Support

High School Guidance Counselors deliver the comprehensive guidance program to students in grades nine through twelve in a manner that prepares students for post secondary opportunities.

High School Counselors must have the following qualifications, (All high school counselors in Northside I.S.D)

  • are professional educators,

  • have earned a Master's Degree,

  • are specifically trained in counseling techniques,

  • are certified as school counselors by the Texas Education Agency.

High School Counselors address their continuing professional growth through:

  • Inservice training

  • Workshops

  • Local, state and national conferences

  • Continuing Education

  • Inter-school counselor meetings

  • Current professional literature and media information

  • Presentations to professional groups

  • Technology networking

Students may see the school counselor through...

  • A student self referral

  • A teacher referral

  • A parent referral

  • A counselor request

  • An administrator request

Students may want to see the counselor for many reasons, including assistance with:

  • Problem-solving by exploring alternatives to make appropriate decisions.

  • Developing positive attitudes towards self and others.

  • Establishing personal goals.

  • Developing educational plans and in selecting the related courses based on individual interests and talents.

  • Interpretation of results of standardized tests.

High School Counselors across the district provide similar services tailored to the educational level and to the student and campus needs. To find out more about the guidance program at each high school campus, click on the link below to go to the NISD High School Websites.

Visit Northside ISD High School Websites

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Guidance Curriculum

High School Counselors teach the guidance curriculum and assist teachers with guidance-related curricula.  The following are examples of the topics that are addressed in class guidance sessions.

  • Academic support

  • Career pathways

  • Character development

  • Decision-making

  • Developmental assets

  • Goal-Setting

  • Graduation requirements

  • Study skills

  • Understanding academic records

  • Conflict management

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Individual Planning

High School Counselors provide individual or group assistance with educational planning and career exploration. Sample activities include the following:

  • 9-12 Pre-registration activities such as course selection and review of graduation requirements.

  • Special events such as college and career days, financial aid programs and elective fairs.

  • Assistance to students with information for special programs such as dual credit, transition/IEP needs.

  • Student/parent conferences to address educational and career planning.

  • Freshman Conferences to orient students to high school.

  • Sophomore conferences to review student Graduation Status Report (GSR), to interpret the standardized test scores and to provide career guidance.

  • Junior Conferences to review the GSR, to provide college, career and relevant testing information.

  • Senior Conferences to review the GSR, provide post-secondary education admissions information, as well as scholarship and financial aid information.

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Responsive Services

High School Counselors provide students with counseling services, either individually or in groups, to address relevant adolescent issues as a result of student, teacher, parent and/or administrator concerns, or for crisis response. Examples of concerns students may bring to the counselor's office include the following:

  • Conflict mediation

  • Dropout prevention

  • Financial assistance

  • Peer relations

  • Progress toward graduation

  • Schedule issues or changes

  • Social issues

  • Teen parenting

  • Violence and drug abuse issues

Counselors also provide consultation services to parents and teachers.

Additionally, counselors may refer students (and when needed, their families) to other programs for other resources or services such as:

  • Safe and Drug Free Program,

  • Gifted and Talented Program,

  • Special Education Services,

  • HORIZONS Program, (perhaps link to their website)

  • Other district and community resources and services.

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System Support

High School Counselors coordinate with school and community to bring together resources for students. Counselors provide information about:

  • AP Testing Schedule

  • Exit Level TAAS testing schedule

  • Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) testing schedule and preparatory classes

  • PSAT Test Schedule

Counselors organize or assist with many activities on behalf of students with other campus, district  and community groups. Examples include:

  • Ninth Grade Orientation (see campus website for information)

  • Parent Programs, such as Financial Aid Night and Junior Parent Programs

  • High School Guidance Program Open House

  • Partnerships with community businesses

  • Mentoring Programs

  • Career-Tech Expo

  • College Night

  • Communication networks with college and military representatives

  • School Advisory Team

  • Safe and Drug Free School and Communities  Program Advisory Council

  • National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Student Training Program

  • Junior Achievement

  • NISD programs and resources, Compensatory, Special Education, optional high school and testing programs, etc.

Counselors provide consultation and training services to school staff and parents. Topics they address can include the following:

  • Developmental Assets

  • Multicultural/Diversity training

  • Guidance program information

  • New teacher training

  • Signs and symptoms of substance abuse and violence

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