Proposed Malibu Unified School District
The City of Malibu is actively pursuing the formation of an independent Malibu Unified School District. Malibu’s public schools are currently part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, with District headquarters located in Santa Monica. Malibu residents have advocated for a Malibu-based school district for decades. As the next step in this process, the City is now preparing to bring its petition for school separation before the California State Board of Education. We appreciate our community's passion and support for locally controlled schools, and we will provide updates here as the petition advances at the state level. The City is focused on ensuring Malibu students, families, and educators are best served by a district that is responsive, local, and accountable to its residents.
Contact us at schooldistrictseparation@
SMMUSD Hosting First Malibu Pathway Community Showcase Saturday, Jan. 24 at Malibu High School
The Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District will host its first Malibu Pathway Community Showcase, highlighting programs, learning experiences, and opportunities across Malibu schools—including Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle School, and Malibu High School. Families and community members are invited to explore academics, arts, athletics, and pathways that prepare students for college, careers, and civic engagement. School leaders and staff will be on hand to answer questions and share information about instructional programs and extracurricular offerings.
Saturday, January 24
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Malibu High School
30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu
The event is free and open to the community!
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CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT UNIFICATION AGREEMENTS PACKAGE
The City Council approved the full school unification package in a unanimous vote on December 8, 2025. With this historic vote, the City of Malibu and Santa-Monica-Malibu Unified School District formally align on the structural, financial, and operational framework for separation. The separation package includes: the Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement, Operational Transfer Agreement, and Joint Powers Agreement
This unanimous vote reflects Malibu’s unwavering commitment to building our own independent, locally controlled school district that is responsive, community-driven, and positioned to deliver the highest-quality education for our children for generations to come. The City Council and the SMMUSD Board are hand in hand on moving forward to the next phase. The City is proud and grateful for the countless residents who have worked and advocated for years to get it to this point”
Next, the City of Malibu and SMMUSD will work together to pursue special state legislation necessary to establish the two new independent school districts. The City will continue providing updates as the process moves forward.
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VIDEO - Learn About School Separation — Malibu Town Hall Meeting, OctOBER 29
All residents, future residents, and members of our school community were invited to a Town Hall Meeting on October 29, 2025 to learn more about school separation and what it means for our community.
City representatives provided an overview and answered questions from the public, a valuable opportunity for residents to get accurate information and participate in the discussion about Malibu’s future.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO
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Malibu Unified School District Values Statements
- We believe in a student-centered educational approach – recognizing the identity of individual needs, prioritizing flexibility and responsiveness to those needs, addressing required state curriculum with imagination and creativity, nurturing the whole person, cultivating critical thinking skills, encouraging the intersection of passion and aptitude. We also believe in individualism, creativity, and responsiveness. We respect that students don’t need to be like everyone and will be respected in their individuality but will not feel left out.
- We motivate and inspire our students to become global citizens, critical thinkers and instill core values of honesty, compassion, perseverance, and resilience while preparing them to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Nurturing individuals who value healthy lifestyles and are respectful of cultures, the environment, and one another. We offer academic enrichment – so our students can grow into well-rounded, unique individuals who are passionate about learning, will achieve their true potential, and will become compassionate leaders in the world of tomorrow.
Background
After years of mediation, the City of Malibu and SM-MUSD released three jointly drafted agreements for school separation. The District agreed to vote to approve the agreements in October 2024, but then failed to do so. Since then, the District has still not voted on the agreements. Malibu presented its petition to the County Committee without the district’s support, and after deliberation, the County Committee voted to recommend Malibu’s petition be denied. The next step is review with the State Board of Education.