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. To learn more about the ASCA Student Standards, click here.
Grade Level Counseling Programs
12th
Senior Year Counseling Program
Our 12th-grade counseling program is dedicated to supporting students as they finalize and launch their plans for life after high school. This pivotal year is focused on ensuring students successfully transition by guiding them through the college application process, assisting with financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and staying on track for graduation. From submitting applications and navigating FAFSA to exploring post-secondary options, our counselors provide individualized support using CaliforniaColleges.edu to ensure each student is prepared to achieve their goals. As graduation approaches, we work closely with students to ensure they have the resources, knowledge, and confidence to take the next step in their educational and career journey.
Learning Targets for 12th Grade
- Understand that postsecondary 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: Counselors will assist students in finalizing campus 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 FAFSA application through their CaliforniaColleges.edu accounts. Seniors need to complete the FAFSA/CADAA to access financial aid for college, including grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal loans. Completing a financial aid application is a critical step in determining eligibility for both federal and state aid, as well as financial assistance from many colleges and universities.
Applying for Scholarships: Seniors will have the opportunity to apply to scholarships using the scholarship list
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 dedicated to preparing students for life beyond high school by helping them explore and plan for their future academic, career, and personal goals. We provide individualized support to guide students in identifying their strengths, interests, and aspirations. Students will use CaliforniaColleges.edu for college and career exploration, financial aid planning, and skill-building workshops, we equip students with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their post-high school pathways. Whether students are considering college, vocational training, the military, or entering the workforce, our counselors are here to assist students in developing a clear, actionable plan for a successful transition to the next phase of their lives.
Learning Targets for 11th Grade
- Create long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals.
- Understand postsecondary education and lifelong learning for long-term success.
- Explore postsecondary options and examine how college fits into their future.
- Begin to develop a college 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: 11th graders will create a college list in their CaliforniaColleges.edu account. Using the college and career search tool students will explore schools based on preferences. Students can use the College and/or Career Search Tool to explore options and requirements needed to enter the chosen career path and/or college.
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 the one-on-one meeting, 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 empower students with the tools they need to succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and to build awareness of potential career paths, by connecting their academic journey to meaningful career pathways. Through personalized guidance, we help students align their course selections with their career interests, ensuring they are on the path to success in both higher education and the workforce. By linking courses to specific career clusters, industry-recognized certifications, and college degrees, we provide students with a clear roadmap to achieve their professional goals. Our counselors work with students through their CaliforniaColleges.edu account to explore potential careers, select relevant courses, and create a strategic plan that bridges high school education to college and beyond.
Learning Targets for 10th Graders
- Reflect on their personal attributes and career profiler findings to explore and research career options that align with their strengths and interests.
- Learn how to use their CaliforniaColleges.edu account to build a career list based on their career interest profiler results and research.
- Understand how to make informed decisions about their course selections by aligning their academic choices with their identified career goals from the career interest profiler.
- 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:
Explore a Career Interest Profiler: The profiler is a career assessment tool that asks students to think about their interest in several career-based tasks. By taking career assessments, students discover their strengths, preferences, and areas they can focus on as they work towards their goals. Students can access the Interest Profiler 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 the one-on-one meeting, 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 develop personalized SMART 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, college admissions, and NCAA requirements.
Create Two SMART Goals: Students will create SMART goals to help them throughout the year, this will include one personal goal and one academic goal.
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 the one-on-one meeting, 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.
Objectives 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.
Fall Semester
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. Students will be given a class code and must add themselves up during an advisory period.
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will come around to classrooms and 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.
Spring Semester
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 promotion and 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
Objectives for 7th graders:
- Students will utilize self-motivation and self-direction by setting and working towards academic and social goals.
- Students will take a positive approach to education by understanding and practicing positive self-talk and grow dedication with effort.
- Students will have a clear understanding of how their self-perceptions regarding intelligence and effort can empower them to embrace challenges and difficulties.
Fall Semester
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
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will come around to classrooms and introduce themselves, who they see based on their last name (alpha), and the kinds of services they provide.
Google Classroom: Students will be given access to a 7th grade Google Classroom where they can keep up to date with all things 7th grade. Students will be given a class code and must add themselves up during an advisory period.
Spring Semester
Grade Checks and Goals Setting: Counselors will meet with failing/declining students and discuss goals and future aspirations.
Growth Mindset: Students will participate in classroom lessons to foster a growth mindset and explore the relationship between their self-perception and effort towards academics.
Course Selection: Students will choose courses for the following school year.
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.
6th
6th Grade Counseling Program
The 6th grade counseling program aims to guide students in acclimation to the middle school setting by creating awareness of resources, self-exploration and expression, and creating habits that will ultimately make them successful in middle school.
Objectives for 6th grade students:
- Students will become aware of the resources available to them - whether academic, social, or emotional - and learn how to access and use these supports to take responsibility for their learning and well-being as they navigate middle school.
- Students will have an understanding of how they learn best by identifying learning styles and exploring strategies to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
- Students will gain practical tools to improve study habits, manage their time and stay organized, while also learning what it takes to thrive in middle school, including building positive relationships and developing a growth mindset.
Fall Semester
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
Counselor Introductions: Counselors will come around to classrooms and introduce themselves, who they see based on their last name (alpha), and the kinds of services they provide.
How to Be Successful in Middle School: Students will participate in classroom lessons that provide them with the tools and skills to establish themselves as true scholars. These lessons include time management, organization, study skills, and self-advocacy.
Spring Semester
Grade Checks and Goals Setting: Counselors will meet with failing/declining students and discuss goals and future aspirations.
Course Selection: Students will choose courses for the following school year.
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.