Think.
Design.
Belong.
Welcome to the home of the Stingrays! We are a design thinking-focused middle school where students build future-ready skills in a culture of belonging and kindness.
EDUCATION THAT MEETS THIS MOMENT.
Our children are growing up in a world that is changing at a remarkable pace. AI is rapidly reshaping the future of work, and their future success will depend less on rote memorization and more on creativity, innovation, resilience, empathy, and human-centered problem solving.
At Sandpiper Middle School, we believe education needs to meet this moment. As the only design thinking middle school in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD), we are part of a vibrant TK–8 public school community where students don't just recite knowledge — they question, create, and solve real-world problems. Here, how you think matters as much as what you know. Through this innovative practice of design thinking, we are preparing our students for the skills of the future.
“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.”
— John Dewey, Educator
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
Design Thinking Focus
Help build future-ready, AI-resilient skills in a culture of kindness and belonging.
Elite Teacher Training
Teachers trained with Stanford, Nueva & d.tech, and are always refining their craft.
Top Ranked School Culture
#1 in school district for culture, engagement, belonging, & collaboration*.
Small School, Big Impact
An intimate, private school-like setting with a customized learning experience for students.
WHAT IS DESIGN THINKING?
Design thinking is a human-centered problem-solving process used by the world's most innovative organizations from Apple and Google to IDEO and Stanford's d.school. At Sandpiper, we teach students to understand real world challenges, imagine bold solutions, and bring their ideas to life — building the skills no AI can replace.
Academic Excellence,
By the Numbers
By the Numbers
Sandpiper students consistently perform above state standards in both English Language Arts and Mathematics — proof that design thinking and academic rigor go hand in hand.
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Source: California School Dashboard · Data reflects most recent reporting period.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
QUEST PROJECTS
Design thinking is woven into everyday learning through Quest Time, our signature program and recipient of the Kent Award for outstanding and innovative programs from the San Mateo County Office of Education. Inspired by Google's 20% Time, students choose passion-driven projects that tackle real-world challenges across 6th through 8th grade, building creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills. The result: confident, innovative learners who view feedback as fuel for growth, and ready for high school and beyond.
EXPLORE
Intersessions is another Kent Award winning program from the San Mateo County Office of Education, and one of the most beloved parts of the Sandpiper experience. Offered twice throughout the school year, students get to fully immerse themselves in a topic of their choosing, ranging from strategy games and animal dissection to interior design, music theory, and more. This deep dive format encourages curiosity, creative exploration, and the kind of engaged learning that sticks. The result: students who discover new passions, develop new skills, and return to their core classes energized and inspired.
ROBOTICS & MAKER SPACE
Sandpiper's robotics program is one of the strongest in the region, with a dedicated robotics space providing a robust set of equipment for students to use and practice for robotics championships. Beyond robotics, our dedicated maker space gives students access to 3D printers and hands on creative tools to design, build, and problem solve. Whether printing a prototype or engineering a robot, Sandpiper gives students the space, equipment, and encouragement to bring their ideas to life.
Where Our Alumni Are Now
Our graduates go on to attend leading universities.
Parent Ambassadors
At Sandpiper, our close-knit community thrives because families support one another every step of the way. Our dedicated Parent Ambassadors are the heart of this mission, fostering a welcoming environment where every family is valued and informed. Whether you need help navigating school life or have questions—big or small—we are here to help.