• The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends that to achieve the best results for students, school counselors regularly assess their program to determine its effectiveness and recommends the use of an annual needs assessment. A needs assessment is a survey completed by students, parents, teachers and/or administrators that offers a data-informed direction for a comprehensive school counseling program. It can assist counselors in identifying student needs, informing curriculum development to address those needs, and pinpoint the high-need areas. The data from a needs assessment assists us in determining why students may be struggling to succeed, some of the barriers they face, and student's strengths. SHS Parents can access the most recent SHS School Counseling Department Needs Assessment below.