Wescott Junior High School and Westbrook High School have been recognized by the state for their exemplary school counseling programs.

The Maine School Counselor Association honored the schools at a November ceremony for being the first in the state to receive national recognition for their programs.

In June, the junior high and the high school were two of 60 schools from 14 states to receive the Recognized ASCA Model Program, or RAMP, designation from the American School Counselor Association.

The RAMP designation recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. More than 180 schools have been designated as RAMP since the inception of the program in 2003.

“We’re all very excited,” said Tim Walker, director of student services for Westbrook schools.

Walker said there are four guidance counselors at the high school and three at the junior high. Since being hired six years ago, Walker has been working to implement a more comprehensive guidance program in all the schools by being more visible to teachers and students, working in the classroom and in small groups and approaching guidance in a preventative way rather than just as reactive to individual students’ problems.

According to Walker, these recognitions reaffirmed that the program has achieved its goals.

“We’re doing a better job of meeting the needs of kids which is what we’re really all about,” he said.

Tim Walker, director of student services for Westbrook schools; Marianne Smith, Westbrook High school guidance counselor, and Kathy Bailey, Westbrook High School guidance counselor stand with the president of the American School Counselor Association, Erik Sparks, second from right, at a conference in Atlanta, Ga., where they received an award in June. The schools’ guidance program was honored by the state this month.