Counseling & Guidance

Our Mission

The Counseling Department at South San Francisco High School supports student achievement through a comprehensive counseling program focused on academic success, personal growth, and postsecondary readiness. We provide students with the tools, guidance, and information they need to reach their personal, academic, and career goals.

Our counselors are dedicated to supporting the academic, career, personal, and social development of all students. Through collaboration with educators, families, and community partners, we help students plan their journey to adulthood and prepare for college and career opportunities.

How Counselors Support Students

Student and Family Support

SSFHS counselors work closely with students and families to provide guidance and individualized support. Counselors can help students:

Plan for college and postsecondary options
Create and review four-year academic plans
Set academic and personal goals
Access tutoring and academic support
Develop effective study skills
Improve communication with teachers and peers
Explore extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities

Confidentiality

Students have the right to confidentiality when meeting with a counselor. Conversations between students and counselors remain private unless:

A student or someone they know is being physically or sexually abused, or
A student is at risk of harming themselves or others

In these situations, counselors are required to take appropriate steps to ensure student safety.

Counselor Assignments

Each student is assigned a counselor based on their last name. Counselors partner with students and families to develop educational plans that align with students’ academic interests and postsecondary goals.

The Counseling Office and College & Career Center also provide information on: