905 to 1: Arizona has worst ratio of students to counselors in the nation

From The Arizona Republic AZCentral.com – May 8, 2019.  Lily Altavena

Arizona’s student-to-counselor ratio is still the worst in the nation, with an average of 905 students for every school counselor.

The newest numbers, from the 2016-2017 school year, are from the American School Counselor Association. Arizona’s ratio is more than three times the organization’s recommended ratio of 250:1, and is near twice the national average of 455:1.

Counselors support students academically, but they can also be the first line of defense when a student is facing a mental health crisis. As the teen suicide rate swells and education leaders warn of mounting emotional issues in even the youngest children, educators say counselors are more important than ever.