The Palos Verdes High School Counseling Department takes pride in utilizing a whole-child approach to working with students. Based on the National Standards of the American School Counseling Association, the Counseling Department supports students throughout high school ensuring a positive experience with concern for their academic, college and career, and social/emotional well-being.  

Students are split alphabetically by last name and are kept with the same counselor throughout all four years of high school. Counselors place an emphasis on students maintaining a healthy balance during their time in school. We hope for students to graduate as meaningful lifelong learners and with skills they will carry into their post-secondary opportunities.  

Palos Verdes High School actively promotes a college-going culture on campus, providing a unique and carefully planned post-secondary pathway for students beginning in their freshmen year. This includes community college, four-year colleges and universities, military opportunities, and other plans students may desire. 

The counseling department developed a program that allows students to:

• Introduction and Orientation in small groups in March
• Individual scheduling and four-year planning meetings with counselors in April
• Incoming 9th Grade Parent Presentation in March
• Private School Registration for private school families in April

• All students attend a variety of presentations within the first month of school on topics including bias, micro-aggressions and slurs, how to find resources at school and school safety and rules
• Freshmen Meet & Greet with Counselors in first month of school to learn about counseling program services and utilizing your counselor, resources at school, and write a letter to your senior self
• Freshmen Guidance Lesson in October on College day – Introduction to SchooLinks. Students completed OnBoarding process and were exposed to accessing their SchooLinks account
• Individual scheduling meetings with counselor in February/March

• All students attend a variety of presentations within the first month of school on topics including being an active bystander, school safety and rules
• College Day opportunity to take either online PSAT with Compass Education Group or participate in SchooLinks introduction presentation with the counselors completing the OnBoarding process
• Classroom Guidance Lesson on identify personality interests and aligning these with college and career paths using SchooLinks resources in February
• Sophomore Counseling Meetings – Individual meetings with the counselor and parent/guardian to complete four-year planning/postsecondary counseling and individual scheduling for junior year in March
• Sophomore Parent Presentation in February

• All students attend a variety of presentations within the first month of school on topics including sexual assault awareness and prevention and school safety and rules
• Classroom Guidance Lesson on beginning the college search process, identifying potential schools, considering college admissions testing, and utilizing SchooLinks as part of the college research process January
• Individual scheduling, review four-year plan, and postsecondary planning meetings with counselor in February
• Classroom Guidance Lesson focused on college and postsecondary next steps/summer goals in May
• Graduation checks mailed home to all juniors and parent(s)/guardian(s) in June

• All students attend a variety of presentations within the first month of school on topics including sexual assault awareness and prevention and school safety and rules
• Classroom Guidance Lesson on the college application process and postsecondary plans in September
• Individual postsecondary counseling meeting with each senior in September/October
• Senior Interviews for those requesting counselor letter of recommendation
• Personalized letters of recommendation for each senior that requests one
• Monitor Seniors in Danger of not graduating and communicate with teachers and parents
• Senior Seminar on topics to prepare students for post-secondary life in June

• Individual academic and post-secondary planning
• College and Career advisement
• Individual counseling – academic and social/emotional
• Individual scheduling with all students in Spring
• D/F counseling each quarter for students with multiple Ds and Fs
• Intervention meetings for at-risk students as needed
• Crisis counseling
• Facing Life Challenges (suicide prevention lesson) presentation by SAGE Therapists delivered to all students in October/November
• Suicide assessments
• Threat assessments
• Resources and community referrals
• Individual parent meetings as requested/needed
• Personalized letters of recommendation for students for college entrance, scholarships, summer programs, and leadership opportunities.
• Attendance counseling
• NCAA resources and advising