District Counseling Program
Folsom Cordova Unified School District Counseling Vision
The FCUSD counseling program empowers all students to become productive and responsible individuals, equipped with the essential skills, knowledge, and resilience needed to excel in an ever-changing world.
Folsom Cordova Unified School District Counseling Mission Statement
FCUSD’s comprehensive counseling program provides an inclusive environment that nurtures the holistic development of each student. In alignment with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards, we are committed to delivering comprehensive, data-driven counseling programs that address the academic, social-emotional, and career needs of every learner.
FCUSD counselors are guided by the principles of equity and accessibility. Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment in schools, ensuring that every student feels valued, respected, and supported in realizing their full potential through collaborative partnerships with educators, parents, and community stakeholders
In pursuit of this mission, we actively promote intentional post-secondary plans tailored to meet the dynamic needs of all learners.
Folsom Cordova Unified School District Counseling Department is aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. We strive to meet the ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success with our program delivery. Learn more about the ASCA Student Standards.
Grade Level Counseling Programs
12th
Senior Year Counseling Program
Our 12th grade counseling program is designed to support students as they finalize their plans and prepare for a successful transition beyond high school. Students will explore and compare post-secondary options, complete college, career, military, or workforce applications, and access financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Through their CaliforniaColleges.edu account, students will track application requirements and stay informed throughout the transition process. By taking an active role in planning for their future, students gain the knowledge, confidence, and resources needed to achieve their goals and successfully navigate their next steps after graduation.
Learning Targets for 12th Grade
- Understand that post-secondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term success.
- Use critical thinking skills to make informed decisions.
- Use media and technology skills to enhance learning.
- Create long and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals.
- Understand how to manage transitions and adapt to change.
- Know where to find academic, social, and emotional support when needed, and how to access these resources effectively.
- Understand the importance of balance of school, home and community activities.
Students will:
Complete and Launch their College Applications through CaliforniaColleges.edu - Students will finalize college lists that fit their academic and personal preferences.
Complete and launch FAFSA/CADAA applications - Students and families will be provided information on how to access/launch their financial aid application through their CaliforniaColleges.edu accounts. Seniors need to complete the FAFSA/CADAA to access financial aid for college or trade programs, including grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal loans.
Access post-secondary resources - Students will access post-secondary resources toward a career goal, such as applying for employment or apprenticeship, enrolling in a trade/technical programs, completing a military recruitment step, or participating in a career-readiness opportunity.
Students are welcome to meet with their counselor throughout the year as needed. Counseling offices are open before school, at lunch, and after school. Students can also sign up to meet with their counselor outside of these times if needed.
11th
Junior Year Counseling Program
Our 11th grade counseling program is designed to help students prepare for life beyond high school by exploring and refining their academic, career, and post-secondary plans. Students will identify their strengths, interests, values, and goals while using CaliforniaColleges.edu to research colleges, career pathways, training programs, military options, and workforce opportunities. Through college and career exploration activities, financial aid awareness, and post-secondary planning, students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their future. By developing a clear and actionable plan, students are better prepared to successfully transition from high school to their next step.
Learning Targets for 11th Grade
- Create long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals.
- Understand post-secondary education and lifelong learning for long-term success.
- Explore post-secondary options and examine which option fits into their future.
- Begin to develop a college/career list aligning with their college and major goals, begin college essays, learn how to request a letter of recommendation and transcripts.
- Understand the Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and research scholarships and grants.
- Know where to find academic, social, and emotional support when needed, and how to access these resources effectively.
- Understand the importance of balance of school, home and community activities.
Students will:
Understand Financial Aid - Students learn how to apply and requirements for the FAFSA and CADA.
Create Post-Secondary Plan - Students will explore post-secondary options on their CaliforniaColleges.edu account. Students can use the College and/or Career Search Tools to explore options and requirements needed to enter the chosen career path and/or college. Students will use the Personality Careers Assessment which evaluates student’s unique behavioral traits, communication styles, and preferences to determine the types of work environments and job roles where they will naturally thrive.
Complete course registration - 11th grade students will meet with their school counselor to make their 12th grade course requests. Take into consideration courses that align with future career goals, graduation and a-g requirements. During course selection, transcripts, goals and future plans will be reviewed to ensure that all requirements are being met.
Students are welcome to meet with their counselor throughout the year as needed. Counseling offices are open before school, at lunch, and after school. Students can also sign up to meet with their counselor outside of these times if needed.
10th
Sophomore Year Counseling Program
Our 10th grade counseling program is designed to help students deepen their understanding of themselves as they explore future college and career opportunities. Students will take a Work Values Assessment to identify the workplace qualities that are most important to them and use the results, along with their interests and strengths, to explore potential career pathways. Through their CaliforniaColleges.edu account, students will research careers that align with their personal values, explore post-secondary options, and discover how their high school courses can support their long-term goals. By connecting self-discovery with career exploration, students gain the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their future.
Learning Targets for 10th Graders
- Reflect on their interests, strengths, and work values to better understand themselves and explore career options that align with their personal priorities and goals.
- Learn how to use their CaliforniaColleges.edu account to build a career list based on their work values assessment results and research.
- Understand how personal interests, values, skills, and education relate to career pathways and future college and training opportunities.
- Create long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals.
- Know where to find academic, social, and emotional support when needed, and how to access these resources effectively.
- Understand the importance of balance of school, home and community activities
Students will:
Complete the Work Values Assessment - Students will use this reflective career-planning tool designed to help identify what motivates them most in a professional environment. Students can access the Work Values Assessment from the Career section on CaliforniaColleges.edu.
Complete course registration - 10th grade students will meet with their school counselor to make their 11th grade course requests. Students and parents should take into consideration courses that align with future career goals, graduation and a-g requirements. During course selection, transcripts, goals and future plans will be reviewed to ensure that all requirements are being met.
Students are welcome to meet with their counselor throughout the year as needed. Counseling offices are open before school, at lunch, and after school. Students can also sign up to meet with their counselor outside of these times if needed.
9th
Freshman Year Counseling Program
Our 9th grade counseling program is designed to empower students with the tools they need to succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and to build awareness of potential career paths. With lessons through their CaliforniaColleges.edu account, in class presentations from the counselors, and one-on-one meetings, all 9th graders will learn effective strategies for success, gain awareness of available resources, and explore goals to stay focused and motivated. By building these essential skills, students are better prepared to navigate challenges and achieve their full potential.
Learning Targets for 9th Grade
- Understand that successfully completing high school courses the first time is essential for staying on track for graduation and future opportunities.
- Learn how to communicate with teachers, staff, and counselors to ensure academic success and receive necessary support.
- Create long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals.
- Understand the requirements for both FCUSD graduation and A-G courses to be prepared for post-secondary options.
- Know where to find academic, social, and emotional support when needed, and how to access these resources effectively.
- Utilize Google Classroom and CaliforniaColleges.edu to access 4-year academic plans, ensuring they complete and update it as needed, and identify a personal and academic smart goal.
- Monitor academic progress and stay informed about grades and attendance by regularly logging into the Student Grades Portal (PowerSchool).
- Understand the importance of balance of school, home and community activities
Students will:
Create a four year plan - Students will learn how to build their 4 year plan in order to meet graduation requirements and a-g completion.
Complete the Interest Profiler - Students will discover their strengths, preferences, and areas they can focus on as they work towards their goals. Students will access the Interest Profiler from the Career section on CaliforniaColleges.edu.
Make course selections - Every 9th grade student will meet with their school counselor to make their 10th grade course requests. Students and parents should take into consideration courses that align with future career goals, graduation and a-g requirements. During course selection, transcripts, goals and future plans will be reviewed to ensure that all requirements are being met.
Students are welcome to meet with their counselor throughout the year as needed. Counseling offices are open before school, at lunch, and after school. Students can also sign up to meet with their counselor outside of these times if needed.
8th
8th Grade Counseling Program
Our 8th grade counseling program aims to prepare students for the rigors of high school and the social/relational changes that come with it. Students will begin exploring their personal interests and planning for the future.
Learning Targets for 8th graders
- Students will enhance their media and technology skills through the use of their CaliforniaColleges.edu accounts and the website, becoming familiar with A-G requirements for California State University and University of California systems.
- Students will develop positive attitudes towards work and learning, understanding that post-secondary education and lifelong learning are essential for long-term success.
- Students will use critical thinking, the gathering of evidence, and recognition of personal bias in order to make informed decisions.
- Students will strive for short-term and long academic, career, and social emotional goals established during their school year.
- Know where to find academic, social, and emotional support when needed, and how to access these resources effectively.
Implementation will include:
Needs Assessment: Sent out to parents to gather data on the needs of students, families, and the community used to influence the types of classroom curriculum to be presented throughout the school year
Google Classroom: Students will be given access to an 8th grade Google Classroom where they can keep up to date with all things 8th grade.
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will introduce themselves, who they see based on their last name (alpha), and the kinds of services they provide.
Grade Checks and Goals Setting: Counselors will meet with failing/declining students and discuss goals and future aspirations.
Interest Profiler: Students will participate in a career exploration activity in which they will take a short questionnaire to help them identify possible career options based on their likes and interests. This will help them prepare for high school by directing them towards classes, pathways, or academies they may wish to pursue.
Planning High School Coursework: Students will reflect on their personal interests and career aspirations and they meticulously choose their classes for 9th grade, the foundational year of their high school experience. They will discuss honors, academies, and electives in relation to their academic abilities and future goals.
Grade Checks for Promotion and Activities: Students will participate in a grade check to ensure eligibility for participation in 8th grade activities. Students will be notified if they are not eligible to participate in the promotion ceremony and/or the 8th grade field trip, and what must be done to get themselves back on track.
Social Emotional Curriculum: Counselors will push into classrooms or run small groups to deliver lessons to students based on the data from the needs assessment gathered at the beginning of the school year.
7th
7th Grade Counseling Program
Learning Targets for 7th graders
- Students will utilize self-motivation and self-direction by setting and working towards academic and social goals.
- Students will develop a positive approach to education by understanding and practicing positive self-talk and recognizing the connection between effort, persistence, and achievement.
- Students will understand how their perceptions of intelligence and effort can empower them to embrace academic challenges, learn from mistakes, and persevere through difficulties.
Implementation will include:
Needs Assessment: A needs assessment will be sent to parents and families to gather information about the needs of students, families, and the school community. The data collected will help guide the topics and types of classroom lessons provided throughout the school year.
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will introduce themselves, explain their alpha assignments, and provide an overview of the counseling services and supports available to students.
Google Classroom: Students will be given access to a 7th Grade Google Classroom where they can find important information, resources, announcements, and updates throughout the school year.
Grade Checks and Goal Setting: Counselors will meet with students who are failing or experiencing a decline in academic performance to review their current progress, identify barriers, and develop academic goals and action steps connected to their future aspirations.
Growth Mindset: Students will participate in classroom lessons designed to foster a growth mindset and explore the relationship between self-perception, effort, persistence, and academic achievement.
Career and College Awareness: Students will participate in activities that introduce them to different career pathways, educational opportunities, and the connection between their current academic choices, interests, strengths, and future goals. Students will begin exploring how their middle school experiences can help prepare them for high school and beyond.
Course Selection: Counselors will provide information and guidance to help students make informed course selections for the following school year, while connecting course choices to students' academic interests, strengths, and future goals.
Social-Emotional Curriculum: Counselors will provide classroom lessons and/or small-group sessions based on the needs identified through the beginning-of-year needs assessment. Topics will be selected to address the academic, social-emotional, and developmental needs of 7th-grade students.
6th
6th Grade Counseling Program
The 6th Grade Counseling Program aims to support students as they transition into middle school by increasing awareness of available resources, encouraging self-exploration and self-expression, and developing the academic, organizational, and social-emotional habits needed to be successful in middle school.
Learning Targets for 6th Grade Students
- Students will become aware of the academic, social, and emotional resources available to them and learn how to access and utilize these supports while taking responsibility for their learning and well-being.
- Students will develop an understanding of how they learn best by exploring their individual learning preferences and identifying strategies that support their academic, social, and emotional success.
- Students will develop practical tools to improve study habits, manage their time, and stay organized while learning how to build positive relationships, practice self-advocacy, and develop a growth mindset.
Implementation Will Include
Needs Assessment: A needs assessment will be sent to parents and families to gather information about the needs of students, families, and the school community. The data collected will help guide the topics and types of classroom lessons provided throughout the school year.
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will visit classrooms to introduce themselves, explain their alpha assignments, and provide an overview of the counseling services and supports available to students.
How to Be Successful in Middle School: Students will participate in classroom lessons designed to provide them with the tools and skills needed to successfully transition to middle school and establish themselves as successful learners. Topics will include time management, organization, study skills, self-advocacy, and other strategies for navigating middle school.
Grade Checks and Goal Setting: Counselors will meet with students who are failing or experiencing a decline in academic performance to review their current progress, identify areas for improvement, and develop goals and action steps connected to their future aspirations.
Course Selection: Counselors will provide information and guidance to help students make informed course selections for the following school year.
Social-Emotional Curriculum: Counselors will provide classroom lessons and/or small-group sessions based on the needs identified through the beginning-of-year needs assessment. Topics will be selected to address the academic, social-emotional, and developmental needs of 6th-grade students.