Blackburn Mentoring gives Laguna Beach Unified students one mentor who meets with them by video, helps them plan their week and keeps the plan moving between sessions with short check ins. In a small district where everyone knows everyone, a mentor is someone outside the school and outside the family who a student can be honest with about what is and is not getting done. A parent can join the free 20 minute intro call for high school students, agree the goals and get regular updates.
Sessions for families in this area happen by video. In person sessions are available in Los Angeles for families who are there.
Laguna Beach Unified at a glance
Laguna Beach Unified enrolled 2,316 students in 2025 to 2026, according to Ed-Data. The district’s own overview describes about 2,500 students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade in two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, with 2 percent English learners and 10 percent students with disabilities. Programs listed by the district include career technical pathways, dual enrollment, work based learning, independent study and an international exchange program.
Boundaries are worth checking. The district serves Laguna Beach plus portions of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods and Newport Beach, and some students in the Aliso Viejo portion may attend Capistrano Unified instead, according to its Wikipedia entry. The district’s enrollment page says families need two proofs of residency and must verify residency again each year, and that 2026 to 2027 enrollment opened February 11, 2026.
What a one high school town means for a student
With one middle school and one high school, the same group of students moves together from sixth grade to graduation. That brings real strengths: teachers who know students, a close community. It can also mean that a reputation, a rough semester or a falling out follows a student for years, and that there is no second campus to start fresh at. A mentor gives a student a private place to plan, reset after a hard stretch and work on habits without an audience.
The district notes the city draws about 3 million visitors a year with its summer art festivals, according to the district overview. For many teens that means summer and weekend jobs in a seasonal economy, which is a great chance to build responsibility and a common reason sleep and school slip. A mentor helps a student fit work hours around the school week rather than the other way around.
Graduation requirements and the A to G list
Laguna Beach Unified sets its own graduation requirements on top of the state minimums listed by the California Department of Education. We could not verify a current official credit total from the district for this guide, so confirm the requirements for your student’s class with the school counselor. If your student uses dual enrollment or independent study, ask the counselor in writing how those courses count toward the diploma and toward A to G.
One thing every Laguna Beach 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
Use the official Laguna Beach Unified calendar for breaks and key dates. A mentor plans backward from grading period ends and exam weeks, and builds in extra structure for the start of summer work season and the stretch before winter break.
How mentoring supports Laguna Beach students
- A fresh start without changing schools. A mentor helps a student rebuild routines after a hard semester in the same community.
- Work, surf and sports. The plan starts from fixed commitments and protects homework and sleep around them.
- Dual enrollment and independent study. These options add freedom and fewer check ins. A mentor supplies the structure the schedule no longer does.
- Planning past high school. For students thinking about college, a trade, a gap year or work, a mentor helps turn interests into steps with dates.
- The first year away. The same mentor can continue by video when a student leaves home for college or a job.
How video sessions work for Laguna Beach families
Sessions run by video on a schedule that fits the school week, with early morning, evening and weekend times available. Between sessions the mentor checks in briefly by text so the plan keeps moving. In person sessions happen only in Los Angeles, so families who spend time there can meet in person when it helps.
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.
Related
- Mentoring in Laguna Beach
- Mentoring for Newport-Mesa USD students
- Mentoring for Capistrano USD students
- Mentoring across Southern California
- Mentoring for high school students
- A to G requirements checker
- School and college systems hub
Common questions
Do you meet Laguna Beach students in person?
Sessions for Laguna Beach families are by video. In person sessions are available only in Los Angeles.
We live in the Aliso Viejo part of the district. Does that change anything?
Not for mentoring. Mentoring follows the student, so the plan uses whichever district calendar and requirements apply. Check with the district which schools your address is assigned to.
My teen works summer jobs. Can sessions fit around that?
Yes. Mentors offer early morning, evening and weekend times, and the plan is built around the student’s fixed commitments, including work shifts.
Is this tutoring?
No. Mentors help with planning, routines, follow through and confidence. A mentor can work alongside a tutor.
Get started
Looking for a mentor for a Laguna Beach Unified 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.
Free, by video, 20 minutes, with a member of our team. Weekdays 9 to 5 Pacific.