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Through the Utah College and Career Readiness School Counseling Program Model, school counselors implement a standards-based, data-driven school counseling program to address the needs of each student. Effective collections, analysis, and use of data ensure school counselors are accountable for personal performance and program implementation. Program performance and accountability measures are foundational in the work of school counselors and systemic change.

Becoming a school Counselor

To become a school counselor in Utah, you’ll need a master’s degree in school counseling, state licensure, and supervised counseling experience. Good luck on your path to becoming a Utah school counselor!

Mental Health & Wellness

We believe an integrated approach for enhancing the health and well-being of every student comes through the involvement of school, parents, and the community.

We strive to create opportunities to empower students, parents, and schools through safety, connection, and confidence.

Mental Health & Wellness Parent Resources 

Student Mental Health Screener for Parents

School Counselor Resources

Community Mental Health Resources

Behavior Support

At-Risk Student Supports

The Washington County School District At-Risk Support Services Department helps families in vulnerable situations find stability and security through connecting families and at-risk students to community supports.

AT-RISK SUPPORT SERVICES

Comprehensive Program

SECONDARY REVIEW LINKS

SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM LISTSERV

College & Career Planning

PCCR stands for Plan for College and Career Readiness. During the school year, counselors like to meet with each student and their parent for an official PCCR. These meetings last about 30 minutes. In general, we look at how the student is doing academically, emotionally and socially. We evaluate and set new goals to keep the student moving forward toward their life goals.

7th Grade
  • What is a school Counselor?
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
  • Define & discuss
    • What is college? 1,2,4 or more
    • What are scholarships and financial aid?
  • Interest Inventory (CCA Class)
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • Check on grades
  • Set academic goals
8th Grade
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
    • 1,2,4 or more
    • Explore Careers
  • What are Graduation requirements?
  • Importance of GPA
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • View available Courses & Pathways
  • Create students 4 year plan
  • Discuss scholarships
    • How & when to apply
  • What is NCAA?
  • Concurrent Enrollment & AP Courses
9th Grade
  • Graduation requirements.
  • If you have failed a class or are behind on credits –  review the options to make up credit 
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
    • 1,2,4 or more
    • What is the ACT? How can you prepare?
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • View available Courses & Pathways
  • Review students 4 year plan
  • Importance of GPA
  • Discuss scholarships
    • How & when to apply
    • Get involved in community & school
  • What is NCAA?
  • How to research and discover colleges
  • Concurrent Enrollment & AP Courses
10th Grade
  • Make sure you are meeting the graduation requirements.
  • If you have failed a class or are behind on credits –  review the options to make up credit 
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
    • 1,2,4 or more
    • What is the ACT? How can you prepare? 
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • View available Courses & Pathways
  • Review students 4 year plan
  • Importance of GPA
  • Discuss scholarships and how to find and apply
    • Local
    • Academic
    • State
    • National
    • Get involved in community & school, track your volunteer hours
  • If you plan on playing sports in college – make sure you are NCAA Eligible 
  • Discuss option and requirements of: 
  • Based on Interest discuss option and requirements of: 
    • AP Classes 
    • Concurrent Enrollment at Dixie State University or  Dixie Tech
    • Cosmetology
    • Internships
    • DSU General Education Certificate
    • Boys State
    • Girls State
    • Governors Honors Academy
    • Sterling Scholars
11th Grade
  • Make sure you are meeting the graduation requirements.
  • If you have failed a class or are behind on credits –  review the options to make up credit
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • View available Courses & Pathways
  • Review students 4 year plan
    • College Interests
    • State vs. out of state
    • Applying for College
    • Touring a college
    • UCAW
  • ACT Prep options
  • Junior ACT test date & how to prepare
  • Discuss scholarships and how to find and apply
    • Local
    • Academic
    • State
    • National
    • Get involved in community & school, track your volunteer hours
    • Start a student Resume
  • Discuss FAFSA
  • If you plan on playing sports in college – make sure you are NCAA Eligible 
  •  Based on Interest discuss option and requirements of: 
    • AP Classes 
    • Concurrent Enrollment at Dixie State University or  Dixie Tech
    • Cosmetology
    • Internships
    • DSU General Education Certificate
    • Boys State
    • Girls State
    • Governors Honors Academy
    • Sterling Scholars
  • Upcoming Important dates for Juniors

Additional Resource: Portrait of a graduate

12th Grade
  • Make sure you are meeting the graduation requirements.
  • If you have failed a class or are behind on credits –  review the options to make up credit
  • Discuss future academic goals & career interests
  • Discuss Career Clusters & Pathways
  • View available Courses & Pathways
  • Review students 4 year plan
    • College Interests
    • State vs. out of state
    • Applying for College
    • Touring a college
  • Requesting a HS Transcript
  • Requesting a letter of Recommendation
  • ACT /SAT take or retake options
  • Identify College interests
  • How to apply to colleges
    • UCAW
  • Discuss the cost of college
  • Discuss scholarships and how to find and apply
    • Local
    • Academic
    • State
      • Opportunity Scholarship
    • National
    • Where to find my High Schools profile
    • Track your volunteer hours in community & school
    • Student Resume
  • How to defer a scholarship 
  • Discuss FAFSA
  • If you plan on playing sports in college – make sure you are NCAA Eligible 
  •  Based on Interest discuss option and requirements of: 
    • AP Classes 
    • Concurrent Enrollment at Dixie State University or  Dixie Tech
    • Cosmetology
    • Internships
    • DSU General Education Certificate
    • Boys State
    • Girls State
    • Governors Honors Academy
    • Sterling Scholars
  • Plan for graduation day
  • Upcoming Important dates for Seniors

Additional Resource: Portrait of a graduate

Counseling Forms

ACADEMIC

CRISIS PLAN

    CTE Pathways

    Pathways Posters

    Graduation Requirements

    Washington County School District Differentiated Diplomas 

    Washington County School District Graduation Requirements – (Policy – 4100)

    • Language Arts 4.0 units of credit 
    • Mathematics 3.0 units of credit
    • Science 3.0 units of credit at a minimum, two selected from the four science foundation areas
    • Social Studies 3.0 units of credit
    • Directed Coursework:
      • Fine Arts 1.5 units of credit
      • Career and Technical Education 1.0 unit of credit
      • Digital Studies 0.5 units of credit
      • General Financial Library 0.5 unit of credit
    • Physical and Health Education 2.0 units of credit 
    • Electives as determined by the high school:
      • Schools in WCSD vary in number of credits required for graduation between 27-34 credits

    Courses meeting the criteria for Graduation Requirements

    Rule R277-717 (Course Grade Forgiveness)
    Grade Replacement FAQ’s

    HONORS DIPLOMA

    English Language Arts
    Three Courses from the Foundation 
    Plus one Language Arts Credit from Advanced Placement or Concurrent Enrollment
    Mathematics
    Secondary I, II, III
    Plus one Mathematics Credit from Advanced Placement or Concurrent Enrollment
    Science
    A total of 3.0 credits 
    One of which must be Advanced Placement or Concurrent Enrollment

    Student must earn a “C” or better in each required class
    Minimum 3.5 GPA or better
    Receive a 21 or better ACT composite score or Superscore

    *Your Composite score is the average of the four subject scores from one ACT test attempt. Your superscore is the average of your best scores from each subject from multiple test attempts. Your superscore is never lower than a single Composite score.

    ADVANCED CREDIT OPTIONS

    Check with your School Counselor to see what advanced courses are available at your school

    ALTERNATE CREDIT OPTIONS

    • Online Courses
      • Visit with your School Counselor to see what online courses are available at your school
    • Summer School
    • Credit Recovery for failed courses
    • Competency Assessment (test out)
      • Test out FAQ’s
      • The following tests are available for state demonstrated competency
        • Biology
          Earth Science
          ELA 9, 10, 11, 12
          Fitness for Life
          General Financial Literacy
          Health II
          PE Participation Skills and Techniques
          Secondary Math 1, 2, 3
          US Government and Citizenship
          World Geography
          World History
          World Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish)

    RECOVERY, REMEDIATION & TUTORING

    Credit recovery is a term used to describe a wide variety of educational strategies and programs that give high school students who have failed a class the opportunity to redo coursework or retake a course through alternate means—and thereby avoid failure and earn academic credit.

    Credit recovery is most common at the high school level. Students may take a credit-recovery course  through Utah Online. 

    UTAH ONLINE WEBSITE

    • Washington County School District provides intervention and remediation opportunities throughout the school year but does not offer other services outside of the school day.
    • Utah Online provides summer school (June/July) opportunities for students in grades 9-12 who are graduation-credit deficient. 


    We encourage parents to use caution when working with outside tutors who are not employees of any education entity and may not have gone through an extensive background-check or fingerprinting process. Here are some suggestions for safety:

    • Attend the tutoring session with your child.
    • Meet the tutor in a public library or other public place.
    • Insist on modest dress standards.

    ADULT EDUCATION

    Credit by Exam

    Demonstrated Competency

    Biology
    Computer Technology
    Earth Systems Science
    Fitness for Life
    General Financial Literacy
    Geography for Life
    Participation Skills Techniques
    Secondary Math I
    US Government and Citizenship
    World Civilizations
    World Langues
     
    Board Rule R277-705-3 requires all districts to have policies and procedures to award credit based upon demonstrated competency.

    Credit earned through Demonstrated Competency Assessments will be accepted by all public and charter schools as required by State Law but may not be accepted by some private schools.

    NCAA

    The National Collegiate Athletic Association does not recognize courses completed through credit-by-exam; Demonstrated Competency Assessments cannot be used to meet NCAA eligibility.

    Utah Regent Scholarships

    Students must receive letter grades in required courses in order to be eligible for Utah Regent Scholarships; credit earned through Demonstrated Competency may not be accepted by the Utah Board of Regents in consideration of these awards.