Blackburn Mentoring pairs Santa Monica Malibu Unified students with one mentor who helps them plan the week, keep their A to G courses on track and follow through, in person in Los Angeles or by video. For high school students a parent can join the free 20 minute intro call and receive regular updates.
It is a useful time to have one steady adult in the plan: the district is in the middle of separating into two districts, and families in both cities are watching what changes.
SMMUSD at a glance
Santa Monica Malibu Unified serves two very different coastal cities under one district. The district enrolled 8,526 students in 2025 to 2026 according to Ed-Data.
On December 1, 2025 the SMMUSD Board of Education voted 7 to 0 to approve the agreements that set the framework for splitting into a Santa Monica Unified School District and a Malibu Unified School District, according to the district. The district’s page does not give a start date for the separate districts, so families should follow official updates rather than rumors. For a student, the practical point is simple: the classes, credits and grades on their transcript still count, and the plan should keep moving while the adults work out the governance.
Graduation requirements and the A to G gap
Your student’s high school publishes the graduation requirements for each class, and the state minimums are listed by the California Department of Education. Ask the counselor for the current list during the transition, especially if your student is choosing courses for next year.
One thing every SMMUSD 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 SMMUSD families
Dates change every year, so always use the official calendar posted by Santa Monica Malibu 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 SMMUSD students
- Malibu commutes and coastal logistics. Pacific Coast Highway closures and long drives eat the hour homework used to fill. Mentors plan the week around the drive and use video on difficult days.
- Santa Monica students with full schedules. Sports, arts, jobs and honors or AP classes need one calendar, not five. A mentor builds it and protects sleep.
- Change without drift. When school news is uncertain, students can lose focus. A mentor keeps the student’s own goals and deadlines in front of them.
- High school readiness. The jump to heavier course loads and A to G requirements is easier with a weekly planning routine in place.
In person or by video
Our team is based in Los Angeles. Santa Monica families often meet in person at a convenient, appropriate place agreed on the intro call; many Malibu families use video on school nights to skip the drive. Early morning, evening and weekend sessions 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 Santa Monica
- Mentoring in Malibu
- Mentoring for high school students
- Executive function coaching
- 2026 to 2027 school year calendar for LA families
- School and college systems hub
Common questions
Does the Malibu and Santa Monica split change how mentoring works?
No. Mentoring follows the student, not the district. The plan uses whatever calendar and requirements your student’s school publishes, and adjusts if they change.
Do you work with Malibu students in person?
Sessions happen in person in Los Angeles or by video. Many Malibu families choose video for school nights and meet in person when it helps.
Is this tutoring?
No. Mentors help with planning, routines, follow through and confidence. A mentor can work alongside a tutor if your student needs help with course content.
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 afterward.
Get started
Looking for a mentor for a Santa Monica Malibu 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.