Indiana Annual School Counselor Survey

Each year, the Indiana School Counselor Survey gathers critical insights from hundreds of school counselors across the state. This data informs advocacy efforts that support student mental health, postsecondary readiness, and effective school counseling programs.

The survey typically opens in September each year. If you’re a school counselor working in Indiana, please check back then to participate.

Inspire Success collaborates with the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana School Counselor Association, and the Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling to administer an annual survey designed to gather the latest details on Indiana school counselor demographic data, roles and responsibilities, most significant day-to-day challenges, professional development needs, and other areas.  

Participate in the Survey

The survey is typically available each September. If you’re a school counselor working in Indiana, please check back then for the link to the survey. 

Survey respondents are entered into a drawing to win various prizes. We’ll have details about the 2025-25 prizes here.

Survey results are first shared at the Indiana School Counselor Association Annual Conference.

Survey Reports

2024-25

The 2024-25 Indiana School Counselor Survey provides a detailed view into the pressing issues, successes, and ongoing challenges facing school counselors across the state. Here are some key insights from this year’s findings:

  • Rising Social-Emotional Needs: Many school counselors report an increase in students’ social-emotional needs, attributing much of this to the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic and a reduction in time spent directly supporting students.
  • Time Constraints with Students: Time spent with students remains a top concern.
  • Higher Caseloads: For the first time in three years, the average student-to-counselor ratio has risen.
  • Non-Counseling Duties: Counselors report spending around 15% of their time on tasks unrelated to counseling, such as test monitoring and attendance tracking.
  • Growth in Comprehensive Counseling Programs: The percentage of schools with comprehensive counseling programs increased by 10% over last year.

For a closer look at these findings and more, read the full report.

The mental health needs of Indiana’s elementary, middle, and high school students continue to be extremely high according to the latest results from the annual Indiana School Counselor Survey.

According to the 270+ Indiana K-12 school counselors who responded to the 2023-24 school year survey, the amount of time spent directly or indirectly with students has increased marginally this year compared to previous years, even though almost a third of counselors’ time is spent handling program management and “non-counseling” tasks such as test proctoring.

Read the full report.

A total of 460 Indiana school counselors, the highest number in three years, responded to this year’s annual school counselor survey commissioned by the Indiana Department of Education. 

The 2022-23 results reveal some dramatic shifts in counselors’ use of time, perceptions of support, and student to counselor ratios. It also reveals school counselors’ challenges with addressing high levels of student anxiety and stress.

Read the full report for more details.

The mental health struggles have increased drastically and no policy changes have been made to help support schools in their efforts to help students/families.
With the new diploma changes and things that are being mandated, there is little time to work with students on their mental health.
My school has incredibly high needs, limited resources, and not enough adult bodies to help get everything done for a proper program.
... we are overseen by the assistant superintendent who does not have the background nor focus to guide our program
My school corporation does not hire the appropriate staffing for test coordination, 504 coordinators, a CTE coordinator, or a registrar, so those tasks are monopolizing my time.
I am one counselor with 630 students this year. I am supported by my administration, however, it's just too much to feel like I am making a difference.
As a Gold Level Carrying the Torch school, we were blessed with many resources that allowed us to attain that goal.
Administrators are protective of teacher time and focus on teaching students, but no one is protective of the school counselor role. We are expected to be masters of all areas, and it just isn't possible.
My job has become more and more bureaucratic and less and less about being a trusted adult for growing kids.
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... we have prepared a Comprehensive Counseling Plan, but I don't feel we are implementing it due to all of the other responsibilities and the mental health needs of students.

Sponsors

Sponsors and donors make the Annual School Counselor Survey possible.

Your contribution will:

If you would like to pitch in to support this work, click the button above and complete the form. 

2024-25 Sponsor

2024-25 Collaborators

Questions? Contact Aimee Portteus