Counselor here. I agree with the advice that your student should be the one asking the questions. But, we're also directed to respond within 48 business hours, so you should've heard back. Definitely email again and copy the director. It is possible your email got lost, or sent to spam, or some other kind of accident. Also, we're now in academic advising which is like drinking through a fire hose. Getting the director involved should help.

Anonymous wrote:I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.

It is....I think a big problem is there are not enough of them.

Anonymous wrote:I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.

We've had really good counselors that get back to you and then the ones who don't.

We are not in FCPS (we are in MCPS) but my kid's counsellor is excellent. I have written him about three times (we moved mid-year so we had some additional interactions). He responds on the same day usually and last time when I had some complicated college-related concerns he called my kid into his office and called me to conference in. He is EXCELLENT. That said, my kid has made an effort to stop in sometimes, so he does know him.

I would be upset to get no response.

Anonymous wrote:Our counselor has responded promptly, and has forwarded my emails to the correct person when needed. No complaints. I know they tend to have a huge workload. Now, my kids attend a high school that sends lower numbers to college. Maybe that is why our counselor has more time to respond, and is not hounded by “tiger parents” 24/7.

No, it’s just because you have a good counselor. Otherwise that counselor is busier than counselors at other schools just trying to make sure kids at your school attend classes, pass SOLs, and graduate.

Our counselor takes days to respond and sometimes doesn’t respond at all. I’ve learned not to rely on them for anything.

Anonymous wrote:I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.

Email a third time, but CC the Director of Student Services with the prior two email attempts in the thread.

Would the counselor respond to a TalkingPoints message?

Our son's counselor does not reply. In order to get a response regarding for any course-related question, we usually go to the director of student services. Our son's counselor totally botched his schedule for this year and it took some scrambling the first day of school to get it resolved but we had to go above the counselor. Counselor still has not replied to us or our son. I know they are managing a lot of students but still.

Our counselor has responded promptly, and has forwarded my emails to the correct person when needed. No complaints. I know they tend to have a huge workload. Now, my kids attend a high school that sends lower numbers to college. Maybe that is why our counselor has more time to respond, and is not hounded by “tiger parents” 24/7.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.

Good counselors will respond and good schools will let their counselors know they need to respond.

But that is not a parent question.

Your kid is in high school now.

The first stop is your child reaching out to the counselor about something like a curriculum question.

You are the follow up, not the first point of contact.

Anonymous wrote:I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.

Good counselors will respond and good schools will let their counselors know they need to respond.

Has your kid emailed or gone in to talk to them?

By high school, your kid should be able to manage curriculum questions on their own with the counselor, and just report back to you what they learned.

FCPS counselors are failed teachers. Keep your expectations low.

Ask your questions here, you will get better answers honestly.

I asked a high school counselor some curriculum questions in December, followed up in January, still no reply. Are counselors really too hush to respond? I feel like having questions about classes is reasonable.