Gwinnett counseling programs earn national designation

    Six Gwinnett County public schools have been recognized for their commitment to their school counseling programs. Meadowcreek Elementary School, Moore Middle School, Norcross Elementary School, Roberts Elementary School, Sycamore Elementary School, and White Oak Elementary School have been awarded the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation. Meadowcreek Elementary and Moore Middle are first-time recipients, while Norcross, Roberts, Sycamore, and White Oak elementary schools had their designations re-certified. The RAMP designation signifies that schools provide students with the support they need to succeed academically and personally. Schools achieving Re-RAMP status have demonstrated sustained excellence in their counseling programs and have continued to implement effective, evidence-based practices over time. This re-designation signifies that these schools have maintained high standards and continued to implement effective, evidence-based practices over time. 

     Durrant Williams, Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) Director of the Office of Counseling, College and Career Services, says receiving the RAMP designation is a testament to the district’s counseling programs’ excellence and alignment with national standards. “The RAMP and Re-RAMP designations highlight the critical role of school counseling programs in creating a supportive and nurturing educational environment,” Williams explains. “Achieving RAMP status signifies that our schools are dedicated to fostering academic, career, and social/emotional development for all students. It reflects our counselors' hard work and the positive impact they have on our students' lives.”

      The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) awards the RAMP designation to schools committed to delivering comprehensive, data-driven school counseling programs. Since the program’s inception, more than 700 schools have received the RAMP designation. Since 2008, GCPS school counseling programs have had 61 RAMP and/or Re-RAMP recipients.