Mentoring for LAUSD Students | Blackburn Mentoring

Blackburn Mentoring gives LAUSD students one dedicated mentor who helps them plan the week, track the A to G courses that keep University of California and California State University options open, and follow through without a parent chasing every assignment. Sessions happen in person in Los Angeles or by video. A parent can join the free 20 minute intro call for high school students, agree the goals and get regular updates.

Mentors are not tutors and do not promise grades. They work on the skills behind schoolwork: planning, starting, estimating time, asking for help early and recovering after a slip.

LAUSD at a glance

Los Angeles Unified is by far the biggest district in the county. It enrolled 497,105 students in 2025 to 2026 according to Ed-Data, the K to 12 data partnership that includes the California Department of Education. Los Angeles County as a whole has 80 school districts, so a family moving within the region can change systems, calendars and rules by crossing a street.

Size shapes the student experience. Counselors in a big district carry big caseloads, families choose among many school types and programs, and it is easy for one student’s slide to go unnoticed for a grading period. Attendance is the clearest example: 21.9% of LAUSD students in kindergarten through eighth grade were chronically absent in 2024 to 2025, according to California School Dashboard data compiled by LA2050. Chronic absence means missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, and it adds up quietly.

Graduation requirements and the A to G gap

LAUSD builds its high school course sequence around the A to G subject areas that UC and CSU use for admission. That helps, but it does not guarantee eligibility. A course passed for graduation can still fall short for UC or CSU if the grade is below a C, and a missing year of a language other than English can close a door late in junior year. Your student’s counselor and the school’s posted requirements are the final word for your graduating class; the state’s minimum requirements are listed by the California Department of Education.

One thing every LAUSD family should know: finishing the district’s graduation requirements and being eligible for the University of California or California State University are not the same test. UC asks for 15 A to G courses with a grade of C or better, at least 11 of them done before senior year, and a 3.0 GPA for California residents, according to UC Admissions. Our free A to G checker and UC and CSU GPA calculator let a student see where they stand in a few minutes, and a mentor turns the gaps into a semester plan.

Calendar notes for LAUSD families

Dates change every year, so always use the official calendar posted by LAUSD. A mentor builds the plan around the district’s grading periods rather than the week a report card arrives: the first four weeks of a semester, the run up to progress reports, finals and the return from winter and spring break are the moments to plan ahead for. For application windows, test dates and AP exams, see our school year calendar for Los Angeles families.

How mentoring supports LAUSD students

Middle school to high school. More teachers, more online portals and longer projects arrive at once. A mentor sets up one weekly planning routine before ninth grade, when A to G courses start to count toward UC and CSU requirements.
Attendance habits. Late mornings and avoided classes are often a planning or confidence problem, not a motivation problem. Mentors help a student see the pattern early. See our guide to chronic absenteeism.
A to G tracking. Each semester the mentor and student check the plan against the A to G areas so a scheduling problem is caught in October, not in May.
Using the school team. When the family wants it, the mentor helps the student prepare questions for the counselor, so a short meeting produces a real plan.
Juggling work and family responsibilities. Many students work or care for siblings. A mentor builds a realistic week around that rather than an ideal one.

In person or by video across Los Angeles

Our team is based in Los Angeles, so LAUSD families can meet in person at a convenient, appropriate place agreed on the intro call, or use video sessions on busy school nights. Early morning, evening and weekend times are available.

How to start

Take a short assessment. Tell us about your student and the goals. It takes about five minutes.
Have a free 20 minute intro call. For high school students, a parent is welcome to join. We talk through fit, schedule and how your student would meet.
Meet the mentor. New clients are matched with one mentor within two business days.
Start the plan. Regular sessions by video, or in person in Los Angeles, with check ins between them.

Common questions

Do you work with students at any LAUSD school?

Yes. We work with students at schools and programs across the district, and with LAUSD graduates in their first years of college. The plan follows the student’s own schedule and requirements.

Is mentoring the same as tutoring or making up a course?

No. Mentors help with planning, routines, follow through and confidence. If a student needs to make up a course, the school arranges that; a mentor helps the student finish it on time.

Can a mentor help my student talk to their counselor?

Yes, when the family wants that. Mentors help students prepare questions and next steps so meetings with the school team are short and useful. Mentors do not replace the counselor.

How involved are parents?

For high school students a parent can join the intro call, agree the goals and get regular updates. The student owns the weekly plan.

Get started

Looking for a mentor for an LAUSD student? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free 20 minute intro call.

Book a free intro call Text us

Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.

Mentoring for LAUSD Students and Families