The74million.org Article Reveals Data Showing 3 of the 5 Biggest School Districts Hire More Security Officers Than Counselors
School security officers outnumber counselors in four out of the 10 largest public school districts in the country — including three of the top five — according to data obtained by The 74.
New York City, Chicago, Miami-Dade County, and Houston schools all employ more security staff than counselors. New York City, Chicago and Miami-Dade are all among the nation’s five biggest school districts.
Not one of the top 10 districts, where counselors may be particularly beneficial for low-income students, meets the American School Counselor Association’s recommendation of one counselor for every 250 students — most weren’t even close. The nearest to the standard was Hawaii with 274 students for every counselor.
In Houston, there are 1,175 students for every counselor. Meanwhile, the Texas district has one security staffer for every 785 students.
Counselors vs. security
Number of staff members per 1,000 students in the 10 largest school districts. Security staff includes the combined number of police office and school-based resource officers.
Read the full story and see the charts at www.the74million.org.
Counselors and Social Workers to Security Ratio
Number of combined school counselors and social workers for every one security staff in select districts. A number of one would indicate an equal amount of counselors/social workers and security.
The 74’s analysis comes as the debate over school safety, classroom violence and the school-to-prison pipeline continues to dominate national headlines and inform federal policy.
“I’m not surprised, but it still concerns me really deeply,” Dennis Parker, director of the ACLU’s racial justice programs, said of the officer-to-counselor ratios. “It reflects an approach to school discipline and school safety that is ultimately counterproductive.”
The ACLU has called attention to federal data showing that public schools disproportionately discipline students of color — especially black males — and disabled students. Students subjected to harsh discipline are more likely to end up in the criminal justice system.
Read the full story and see the charts at www.the74million.org.
