Blackburn Mentoring gives Pasadena Unified students one mentor who helps them plan the week, keep graduation and A to G requirements on track and follow through, in person in Los Angeles or by video. After the Eaton fire many families are rebuilding routines along with homes; a mentor offers one steady, practical adult in the student’s week. A parent can join the free 20 minute intro call for high school students and get regular updates.
Pasadena Unified at a glance
PUSD serves students in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre, according to the Pasadena Educational Foundation. It enrolled 14,158 students in 2025 to 2026 according to Ed-Data.
The Eaton fire, which began January 7, 2025, hit the district hard. About 1,100 students lost their homes, five public or charter schools burned or were badly damaged, and PUSD enrollment fell by about 500 students as families relocated, according to reporting first published by the Los Angeles Times. Many students are attending school from a new address, a longer commute or a shared home.
Graduation requirements in Pasadena Unified
PUSD’s posted requirements say all PUSD students need 220 credits of required coursework, 40 hours of community service or work based learning, and a graduate portfolio and defense (see the PUSD graduation requirements page). The service hours and the portfolio are easy to leave until senior spring; a mentor puts them on the calendar in ninth and tenth grade. Confirm the details for your student’s class with the counselor.
One thing every Pasadena Unified 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 PUSD families
Dates change every year, so always use the official calendar posted by Pasadena Unified. 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 Pasadena Unified students
- Rebuilding routines after displacement. A new commute or a temporary home breaks the habits that held a week together. A mentor rebuilds a simple daily plan around the new reality.
- Service hours and the portfolio. A mentor tracks the 40 hours and helps the student collect portfolio work as it happens, not in a rush at the end.
- A to G and the counselor. Mentors help students check their course plan each semester and prepare questions for the school team.
- Knowing when to add other help. A mentor is not a counselor or therapist. If a student is carrying grief or stress that needs clinical care, we encourage the family to involve a licensed professional, and the mentor can work alongside them.
In person or by video
Our team is based in Los Angeles. Pasadena area families can meet in person at a convenient, appropriate place agreed on the intro call, or use video, which also works when a family is staying somewhere temporary. 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.
Related
- Mentoring in Pasadena
- Mentoring in Sierra Madre and Monrovia
- Mentoring in the San Gabriel Valley
- Mentoring for high school students
- A to G requirements checker
- School and college systems hub
Common questions
Can mentoring help a student whose family was displaced by the fire?
Yes, in a practical way. Mentors help students rebuild a daily routine, catch up on schoolwork with a dated plan and keep graduation requirements on track. For grief or trauma, a licensed clinician is the right support, and a mentor can work alongside one.
Does PUSD require community service to graduate?
PUSD’s posted requirements list 40 hours of community service or work based learning, along with 220 credits and a graduate portfolio and defense. Confirm the current rules for your student’s class with the counselor.
Do you meet Altadena and Sierra Madre students in person?
Sessions happen in person in Los Angeles or by video. Families choose what fits each week.
Who joins the intro call?
For high school students a parent can join the free 20 minute call, agree the goals and get regular updates.
Get started
Looking for a mentor for a Pasadena 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.