SAN MARCOS -- It's been three months since money from new state legislation enabled San Marcos Unified officials to hire additional counselors, and the result has been a lighter workload and better service at San Marcos and Mission Hills high schools, officials said Tuesday.

"It's made a world of a difference," said Randy Wilson, head counselor at San Marcos High.

Like many California districts, San Marcos Unified was able to hire additional counselors in November as the result of an education measure called Assembly Bill 1802, which was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in July. It gave $200 million to create the Supplemental School Counseling Program for grades seven through 12.

Officials have since been able to hire five new counselors for the district's middle and high schools, increasing the number to a total of 15 for the 16,100-student district.

Both San Marcos High and Mission Hills High received one extra counselor, bumping the total to three full-time counselors at San Marcos High and four full-time counselors at Mission Hills High.

Wilson said since San Marcos High, which has 1,610 students, received one additional counselor, the student-to-counselor ratio has dropped from 700 to 1 to 425 to 1.

"One person changes everything," said Wilson. "It has trickled down to everything we do."

Wilson said that since counselor Lisa Stout joined the staff, counselors have been able to give a little more attention to their students, especially those who are struggling the most academically.

Stout said she has been helping school officials emphasize better student achievement and helping more students pave a path to graduation and college.

Stout has also served as a much needed liaison for Twin Oaks High South, the district's school for teen moms, and helped students transition back into a comprehensive high school.

"It's nice to be able to get to know a lot more students on a personal level," said Stout, who worked at Rancho Buena Vista and charter school Bayshore Prep as a counselor.

Across town at Mission Hills High, head counselor Cherryl Baker said that with the addition of new counselor Adriana Rios, officials have been able to give juniors more individualized attention on preparations for their senior year.

The school has also been able to focus more on outreach and college prep programs and California High School exit exam preparation, said Baker.

"She (Rios) has been a wonderful addition to our comprehensive counseling program," said Baker. "We have been able to do more follow-ups with students and their families."

Additionally, Baker said, the 679 to 1 student-to-counselor ratio has dropped to 528 to 1 at the school, which serves 2,377 students.

Wilson said he is very happy there has been more of a focus on counseling services recently.

"In the past, there has been very little attention paid to counseling needs," said Wilson, who has worked at the school since 1979. "It used to get overwhelming."

Although the additional counselors have helped the schools, officials said they think a lot more has to be done to get both schools up to par with standards set by the American School Counselor Association.

The ideal student-to-counselor ratio is 250 to 1, according to the association.

San Marcos High is expected to grow by 250 students in the coming year, Mission Hills by 100, according to district officials.

Wilson said he is hoping officials will consider adding one more counselor next year.

The extra time spent with counselors may turn many students around who otherwise wouldn't graduate or might think they have few options for the future, Wilson said.

"There are challenges when it comes to keeping up with kids' needs," said Wilson. "More help would be nice."

- Contact staff writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@nctimes.com.