School counselors are ringing the alarm on these 3 key challenges

School counselors are finding it difficult to provide individualized student support due to a variety of reasons, a new report warns.

Nearly nine in 10 middle school and high school counselors indicated that providing individualized services is important, the 2025 School Counselor Report by YouScience, a college and career readiness platform, discovered.

The company's poll of more than 300 school counselors found time to be a major hindrance. The instructors are requesting additional resources, like student aptitude tests, in order to "streamline and enhance" their work, according to YouScience.

The survey found three main challenges:

Heavy caseloads: With 300 to 400 student caseloads, most counselors have to "put off proactive career and academic planning in favor of addressing pressing issues." Studies have determined that numerous students feel unprepared to select colleges and careers. In addition, the American School Counselor Association suggests a ratio of one counselor to 250 students.

Needs for mental health: Almost three-quarters of counselors said they are not well-equipped to handle the growing complexity of students' mental health needs. This has resulted in students being less connected to their school and futures.

Administrative tasks: The majority of counselors indicated that "compliance-related administrative tasks" consume most of the time that might be spent with students.

"School counselors play a deep impact on students' futures, but they're being overextended to create the type of difference they're being asked to create," said Edson Barton, YouScience co-founder and CEO.

"When counselors have access to up-to-date solutions, they can do what they do best: assist students in unlocking their natural strengths and creating a future based on their strengths and passions," he added.

Empowering school counselors

In order to reverse the trends listed above, the survey recommends that school leaders:

Instill digital career exploration and aptitude tests that increase counselors' ability to provide targeted guidance.

Install automated scheduling systems and provide administrative relief to counselors so that they can spend more time engaging with students.

Train school counselors in mental health services and increase access to mental health professionals.