UPLAND – Upland Junior High School has been honored as a Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Program (RAMP) by ASCA – an achievement that reflects the school’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every student has access to the resources, guidance, and support needed to thrive.

This national recognition is the culmination of a rigorous three-year process in which Upland Junior High demonstrated the strength of its comprehensive, data-driven counseling program and its positive impact on student outcomes. This school year, only 190 schools across 29 states received the prestigious RAMP designation.

“Being named a Recognized ASCA Model Program validates the hard work and dedication of our counseling team,” counselor Mirna DeLeon said. “It shows that we’re committed to serving the whole student and meeting diverse needs. Our program stands out because we deliver intentional, targeted support to all students.”

Upland Junior High’s counseling utilizes a tiered system of support to ensure all students receive the care and attention they need. At the foundational level, all students receive weekly classroom lessons focused on social-emotional development and mental health. Delivered by school counselors every Wednesday, these sessions cover topics such as conflict resolution, the use of empowering “I” statements, mental health awareness, and more.

For students needing additional guidance, counselors provide small-group support focused on academic progress, attendance, and emotional well-being. Those with the greatest needs receive one-on-one counseling tailored to their specific challenges.

“It’s a true team effort,” DeLeon said. “We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support of our teachers who offer weekly class time for our lessons, and our administration and District leadership who consistently advocate for the mental well-being of all students.”

The school is also home to an on-campus wellness center, run by one of the credentialed school counselors, that offers a safe space where students can address immediate emotional or mental health needs.

The center supports students dealing with anxiety, interpersonal conflict, academic stress, and other challenges, helping them return to class focused and ready to learn.

“At Upland Unified School District, the mental and physical wellbeing of our students is our top priority,” Superintendent Dr. Lynn Carmen Day said. “We are incredibly proud of Upland Junior High School and its exceptional counseling team for earning this well-deserved recognition and for modeling what student-centered support truly looks like.”

Upland Junior High will be formally recognized as a RAMP at ASCA’s Annual Conference in July.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

UUSD_RAMP1: Upland Junior High School’s counseling department has been honored as a Recognized American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model Program (RAMP) by ASCA. The counseling team utilizes a tiered system of support to ensure all students receive the care and attention they need, including weekly classroom lessons on social-emotional development and mental health.

UUSD_RAMP2: Upland Junior High School is home to an on-campus wellness center, run by one of the credentialed school counselors, that offers a safe space where students can address immediate emotional or mental health needs.