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Counseling · School success

School success

Doing well in school is a skill you can learn: come every day, keep things organized, ask questions, and make a plan. “Not yet” means you are still learning.

For you, by grade

My grade:
Grades K-2

Ready to learn

  • Listen with your eyes, ears and body.
  • Ask: “Can you show me again?”
  • Same bedtime every school night.
  • Put your backpack by the door at night.
Grades 3-5

Good habits

  • Use a homework spot and a homework time.
  • Big job? Cut it into small steps.
  • Check your folder every day.
  • Test nerves? Breathe, then start with the questions you know.
Grades 6-8

Middle school skills

  • Use a planner for every class. Write it down before you leave class.
  • Many teachers now: learn each one’s rules.
  • Missing work? Ask the teacher: “What is the most important thing to make up?”
  • Talk to your counselor about your yearly progress review (grades 6-12).
Grades 9-12

High school planning

  • Know your graduation plan and Regents exams. See Regents and graduation.
  • Meet your counselor every year about classes and career plans.
  • Use office hours and extra help.
  • Thinking about college or work? See College and careers.

Test worry plan

  1. Night before: sleep, pack pencils and calculator, stop studying early.
  2. Before you start: one minute of balloon breathing.
  3. Read the question twice. Circle what it asks.
  4. Skip and come back. Do the ones you know first.
  5. Self-talk: “I prepared. I can do hard things one step at a time.”
  6. After: look at mistakes as “not yet” and ask what to practice.

Every day counts: attendance

NYSED: “Chronic absence is defined as missing 10 percent of school days (typically 18) in one school year.”

Example with made-up numbers

This runs only on your device. Your school's count is the official one.

If getting to school is hard

  • Tell the school counselor or social worker what is getting in the way: sleep, worry, health, transportation, family needs.
  • Make a small plan: one goal for this week.
  • If your family has lost its home or is staying with others, every district has a McKinney-Vento liaison who can help. Ask the counselor.

Families: helpful guides

For families

The yearly progress review (grades 6-12)

New York requires certified school counselors to provide, for students in grades 6 to 12, an annual individual progress review plan that reflects each student's educational progress and career plans (8 NYCRR §100.2(j)). For a student with a disability, the plan must be consistent with the IEP.

Ask: “When is my child's review? Can I see the plan or join the meeting?”

Grades K-5

The K-5 counseling program is designed by a certified school counselor with the teaching staff. Part of its purpose is to help students who may have challenges to academic success, “including but not limited to attendance or behavioral concerns,” and to refer for more targeted supports when needed.

Questions for the counselor

  • “What are my child's strengths?”
  • “Which one skill should we practice at home?”
  • “Is my child on track for next year (or graduation)?”
  • “What extra help is offered, and when?”

For teachers

Partner with the counselor

  • Share patterns early: missing work, absences, test worry.
  • Grades 6-12: give input for the annual progress review.
  • Coordinate with IEP and 504 plans.

Attendance, kindly

  • Welcome back every student every time.
  • Give a short “catch-up card” instead of the whole missed pile.
  • NYSED counts chronic absence at 10% of school days; refer patterns to the counselor or social worker.

Sources

General information to help students, families and teachers. It is not medical, mental health or legal advice, and it does not replace your school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, doctor or a licensed professional.

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