Academic Achievement
Academic achievement is one of the top priorities of schools, and is included as one of the three domains of the ASCA National Model. School counselors play a critical role in promoting students' academic achievement by supporting their social/emotional learning, advocating with them, creating a welcoming environment, and connecting their current learning to future plans.
CSCORE does not endorse any of the following research studies or resources. Instead, our goal is to present you with the latest research and interventions. It is up to you to decide if the study is reliable and valid.
Web Resources
American Psychological Association
APA has published pages and articles on a range of topics, including:
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The Center is a clearinghouse of information on research-based best practices for instruction to improve achievement in schools.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Adolescent and School Health
The CDC has found that high school students who engage in risky heath behaviors have lower academic grades. This site provides facts sheet on how the different risky behaviors affect grades.
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The College Board
Resources for professionals about college counseling.
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National non-profit promoting educational justice and high achievement.
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Learning First Alliance
The Learning First Alliance is an organization dedicated to improving student learning. This website is a forum where success stories are shared.
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Minority Student Achievement Network
The MSAN studies achievement gaps that exist for minority students. Based on their findings, the MSAN has recommended practices that will help schools close the achievement gap.
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The NEA Foundation
This site gives information on how to apply for a NEA Foundation grant to improve the academic achievement of students in public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area. Education support professionals are eligible to apply.
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Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement
From What Works Clearinghouse. The five recommendations in this guide are intended to help district and school administrators, out-of-school program providers, and educators design out-of-school time programs that will increase learning for students. The guide also describes the research supporting each recommendation, how to carry out each recommendation, and how to address roadblocks that might arise in implementing them.
Journal Research Articles
HOW IMPORTANT IS PERSONAL/SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT TO ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR'S PERSPECTIVE
Barna, J. S., & Brott, P. E. (2011). How important is personal/social development to academic achievement? The elementary school counselor's perspective. Professional School Counseling, 14(3), 242-249.
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MAKING THE GRADE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ACADEMIC ENABLERS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM
Barna, J. S., & Brott, P. E. (2013). Making the grade: The importance of academic enablers in the elementary school counseling program. Professional School Counseling, 17(1), 97-110. https://www.jstor.org/stable/profschocoun.17.1.97
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A CLASSROOM INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS IN LATE PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN: TOO 'OLD' FOR IMPROVEMENTS?
Benzing, V., Schmidt, M., Jäger, K., Egger, F., Conzelmann, A., & Roebers, C. M. (2019). A classroom intervention to improve executive functions in late primary school children: Too ‘old’ for improvements? British Journal of Educational Psychology, 89(2), 225-238.
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BRING OUT THE BRILLIANCE: A COUNSELING INTERVENTION FOR UNDERACHIEVING STUDENTS
Berger, C. (2013). Bring out the brilliance: A counseling intervention for underachieving students. Professional School Counseling, 17(1), 86-96. https://www.jstor.org/stable/profschocoun.17.1.86
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SCHOOL COUNSELOR PROGRAM CHOICE AND SELF-EFFICACY: RELATIONSHIP TO ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND EQUITY
Bodenhorn, N., Wolfe, E. W., & Airen, O. E. (2010). School counselor program choice and self-efficacy: Relationship to achievement gap and equity. Professional School Counseling, 13(3), 165-174.
Full Article
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ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS' ENGAGEMENT IN THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SUCCESS SKILLS PROGRAM: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY
Bowers Parker, H., Villares, E., & Kwok, S. (2025). Elementary special education students' engagement in the Exceptional Student Success Skills program: A mixed-methods study. Counseling Scholarship & Practice Educational Communities, 1(1), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.7275/cspec.2289
THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP
Grey, L. (2019). The impact of school-based mentoring on the academic achievement gap. Professional School Counseling, 23(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X19890258
IMPROVED ATTITUDE AND ACHIEVEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT INTERVENTION
Kamrath, B., & Brooker, T. (2017). Improved attitude and achievement: A case study of an elementary school academic advisement intervention. Professional School Counseling, 21(1), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.5330/1096-2409-21.1.60
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AT-RISK NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS: A PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL GROUP APPROACH TO INCREASE STUDY SKILLS AND GRADE POINT AVERAGES
Kayler, H., & Sherman, J. (2009). At-risk ninth-grade students: A psychoeducational group approach to increase study skills and grade point averages. Professional School Counseling, 12(6), 434-439.
GROWTH IN MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' CURIOSITY, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING, AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: RESULTS FROM A THEORY-INFORMED SEL AND MBI SCHOOL COUNSELING INTERVENTION
Lemberger-Truelove, M. E., Ceballos, P. L., Molina, C. E., & Carbonneau, K. J. (2021). Growth in middle school students’ curiosity, executive functioning, and academic achievement: Results from a theory-informed SEL and MBI school counseling intervention. Professional School Counseling, 24(1b), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X211007654
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ATTENDING TO BASIC NEEDS: IMPLEMENTING REALITY THERAPY IN SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CAREER DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
Mason, C. P., & Dye, L. (2017). Attending to basic needs: Implementing reality therapy in school counseling programs to enhance academic achievement and career decision-making skills. International Journal of Choice Theory & Reality Therapy, 37(1), 46-55.
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THE EFFECTS OF A SUCCESS SKILLS GROUP ON ADOLESCENTS' SELF-REGULATION, SELF-ESTEEM, AND PERCEIVED LEARNING COMPETENCE
Ohrt, J., Webster, L., & De La Garza, M. (2014). The effects of a success skills group on adolescents’ self-regulation, self-esteem, and perceived learning competence. Professional School Counseling, 18(1), 169-178. https://www.jstor.org/stable/profschocoun.18.1.169
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ACADEMIC MOTIVATION: CONCEPTS, STRATEGIES, AND COUNSELING APPROACHES
Rowell, L., & Hong, E. (2013). Academic motivation: Concepts, strategies, and counseling approaches. Professional School Counseling, 16(3), 158-171. https://www.jstor.org/stable/profschocoun.16.3.158
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USING THE ACHIEVING SUCCESS EVERYDAY (ASE) GROUP MODEL TO PROMOTE SELF-ESTEEM AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) STUDENTS
Shi, Q., & Steen, S. (2012). Using the Achieving Success Everyday (ASE) group model to promote self-esteem and academic achievement for English as a second language (ESL) students. Professional School Counseling, 16(1), 63-70.
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THE ROLE OF PARENTING IN PREDICTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: CONSIDERATIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELING PRACTICE AND RESEARCH
Warren, J. M., Locklear, L. A., & Watson, N. A. (2018). The role of parenting in predicting student achievement: Considerations for school counseling practice and research. Professional Counselor, 8(4), 328-340. https://doi.org/10.15241/jmw.8.4.328
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EVALUATION OF THE TRUE GOALS SCHOOL COUNSELING CURRICULUM: A PILOT STUDY
Zyromski, B., Martin, I., & Mariani, M. (2019). Evaluation of the True Goals school counseling curriculum: A pilot study. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 44(3), 170-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2019.1634781
Full Article​​​​​​​​​​
Curriculum Materials
Missouri Center for Career Education
This site has free guidance lesson plans including lessons aimed at academic development.​​​
Evidence-Based Interventions
Tier 1, Grades K-8
A weekly lesson-based intervention that focuses on topics like building community, listening, problem solving, dealing with adversity, etc.
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Tier 2 & 3, Grades K-12
An intervention involving connecting students with an adult in the school who supports that student's attendance, academic, and behavioral challenges.
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Tier 1, Grades 6-12
A national collaborative program that looks to prevent school dropout and improve high school graduation rates.
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Tier 1, Grades K-12
A program focused on implementing social emotional learning in the classroom and the larger system of the school. Offers over 140 lessons per year, with materials for students, teachers, school counselors, and parents.
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Skills for Academic and Social Success (SASS)
Tier 2, Grades K-12
A small group intervention that looks to address psychoeducation, realistic thinking, social skills, and more. It’s designed for students with social anxiety.
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Tier 1 & 2, Grades K-12
A program designed to help students develop key cognitive, social, and self-management skills. Works to create a caring classroom environment, healthy habits, and effective learning strategies.
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What Works Clearinghouse: Dropout Prevention
Tier 2, Grades 6-12
A Federal Department of Education guide that includes information on warning indicators and reviews educational research on dropout prevention.
Books & Book Chapters
Parents & Educators
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Clark, L. (2020). SOS help for parents: A practical guide for handling common everyday behavior problems (5th ed.). Bowling Green, KY: Parents Press.
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Rimm, S. (2008). How to parent so children will learn: Clear strategies for raising happy, achieving children (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
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Schumm, J. (2005). How to help your child with homework. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
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Youth
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Gailbraith, J. (2013). The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids: For Ages 10 and Under. Free Spirit Publishing.
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Gailbraith, J., & Delisle, J. (2022). The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything (5th ed.). Free Spirit Publishing.
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Scholarship
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Galassi, J. P. (2017). Strengths-based school counseling: Promoting student development and achievement. Routledge.
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Hawken, L. S., Breen, K. (2017). Check-In, Check-Out, Second Edition: A Tier 2 Intervention for Students at Risk. New York, NY: Guilford Press.