School Counselors' activities are all designed to keep students in school and to help them be successful. Their primary objective is to promote and enhance student learning. Counselors play a valuable role in all "dropout prevention programs." They provide consultation in defining and identifying at-risk students. Counselors work as members of a team with other school personnel to provide essential services. The goal is to identify and intervene before students move through a continuum of self-destructive behavior.

Any student may at any time be at risk with respect to dropping out of school, becoming truant, performing below academic potential, contemplating suicide or using drugs. Underlying reasons for these behaviors often deal with personal and social concerns such as poor self-esteem, family problems, pregnancy, unresolved grief, neglect or abuse. School counseling programs promote school success for all students through a focus on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy, social/emotional issues, and career development. All these areas lead to the development of the "whole person" where students may be successful members of society upon exiting the school environment.