The kids aren’t alright: The significance of college counselors and how Virginia falls short

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By Cooper Johnson, Diya Gupta, Macie Simmons, Marianne Jayaraj and Meagan Fay

In 1954, ruling on the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court asserted that “education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.” 

While this case dealt with racial segregation in schools, it upheld the notion that all  children should have the opportunity to pursue an education “… on all equal terms.” Over the past 70 years, the nature of education has changed, with college degrees now required  to pursue many careers. Across the nation, and in many of Virginia’s public schools, there is a lack of adequate college counseling and preparatory resources. If public education is a function of state and local governments, ensuring access to adequate college counseling and preparatory resources should be, as well. The state of Virginia should mandate that each high school maintains a ratio of 250:1 college counselors to students. The current ratio for students to counselors in Virginia is 318:1, but this fails to account for college specific counselors.

At Charlottesville High School, where 43% of students go on to attend a 4-year college, the student-to-college-counselor ratio is 1212:1. In stark contrast, more than 64% of graduating seniors at the nearby, wealthier public high school, Western Albemarle – where the student-to-college-counselor ratio is 177:1, according to school administrators – will attend a 4-year college. This shows the direct correlation between an increase in college counseling services and college  matriculation and readiness rates. Of course, this disparity is tied to many external factors, from students’ socio-economic situation to their home lives. However, one factor the state can control is the amount of college counseling and preparation students receive in school.  

Since affirmative action policies were overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2023, competition has increased and magnified the inaccessibility of the college admissions process for some students. This has placed greater barriers and pressures on low-income students as they navigate the intricate process and underscores the urgent need for better-resourced college counselors.  

While funding something like this may seem far-fetched, it is plausible. Virginia legislators considered a bill mandating that every public school must have a 250:1 ratio of students to general counselors. The measure was continued until 2025 but made us wonder: Why not increase the requirement towards college-specific counselors? While general counselors provide necessary mental health and emotional support, sometimes you don’t need a hug; you need to know when to register for the SAT.  

If states are not willing to take the necessary steps to bridge the gap in college counseling, education — and subsequently, income — disparities will only continue to grow. If equitable college counseling becomes a reality, what would Virginia look like 70 years from now? How would our communities be transformed if more students have the chance to attend college? By informing all students of their options beyond high school, low-income  communities are bound to be transformed and better equipped to escape the cycle of  poverty. 

With job standards intensifying, the baseline of education for most higher-paying jobs has shifted to college-educated employees. In 1968, a highs chool diploma was the highest requirement for 68% of jobs. It is estimated by 2031 that 72% of jobs will require a college degree or some post-secondary training. The job market looks very different for students exiting high school today than it did for their parents. This has dramatically affected low-income populations, who do not have consistent access to education. The cyclical nature of low education rates has proven to consistently lead to an increase in  mental health issues, lower incomes, and decreased job security. Coupled with the  increased demand for a college education, this leads to little to no opportunity for upward mobility. 

In the long term, lack of access to education leads to income differences and the  continued subjugation of low-income groups to poverty, therefore shaping the economy of the surrounding space. Now, more than ever, a college degree is a powerful tool for success, which starts with the foundational support college counselors provide.

Cooper Johnson, Diya Gupta, Macie Simmons, Marianne Jayaraj and Meagan Fay are all undergraduate students at the University of Virginia and participants in the UVA Catalyst Program. 

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