Santa Monica is a separate city on the Westside of Los Angeles. Separate from the city of Los Angeles, it is surrounded by City of Los Angeles Neighborhoods. Pacific Palisades lies to the northwest, Brentwood to the east, West Los Angeles and Mar Vista to the southeast and Venice to the south with the Santa Monica Bay to the west, offering residents expansive ocean views.

The community is primarily residential with approximately 90,000 residents. Part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, the city maintains eight public elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The city is also home to several private elementary, middle and high schools.