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Welcome to Masterminds
Accelerated academics. Holistic development. Real-world learning.
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— where proven innovation leads extraordinary outcomes
Masterminds Academy is a globally validated micro-school located in San Mateo, on the border with Hillsborough. We serve pre-school through grade 8 and blend academic excellence with science-based, real-world learning and whole-child development.
With just 5–6 students per group, our learners flourish — often performing more than two years ahead of traditional benchmarks found at top-rated private schools in the Bay Area.
We guarantee your child will flourish—intellectually, physically, and socially—through a bespoke, joyful education that delivers academic excellence, real-world mastery, and lifelong confidence to thrive in tomorrow’s world.
— A Research Collaboration with the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative
We are proud to announce a research collaboration with the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania—one of the world’s leading centers for neuroscience.
This collaboration focuses on advancing the scientific research that strengthens the foundations of Masterminds' neuroscience-driven educational model, exploring how the science of the brain shapes early learning, creativity, and lifelong success.
- At Masterminds, learning isn’t just inspired by science, it’s grounded in it.
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We integrate neuroscience with over 60 years of child development research to create an evidence-based, effective learning environment.
The ATHENA+ Framework is designed to develop intellectual, physical, and social excellence through a purposeful blend of core academics, enrichment, and life skills.
At Masterminds, academics and life skills go hand in hand. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures students connect knowledge across subjects, apply it in real-world contexts, and develop the curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking to lead in an ever-changing world. This is why our students typically perform 2–3 years ahead of their peers.
At Masterminds, learning is never one-size-fits-all. Every classroom experience is personal, immersive, and deeply human, where authentic understanding replaces rote memorization.
Our educators design bespoke learning pathways that evolve with each child’s pace, strengths, and passions, using continuous assessment and attentive observation to ensure every learner grows with confidence, purpose, and joy.
Our teachers are far more than educators — they are highly accomplished subject-matter experts, trusted confidants, and lifelong mentors who understand each child’s individuality.
Through deep, personal relationships with students and their families, they create an environment of emotional safety, intellectual challenge, and genuine connection.
This foundation of trust inspires confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning — ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Our Philosophy
We integrate neuroscience with over 60 years of child development research to create an evidence-based, effective learning environment.
Our Philosophy
The ATHENA+ Framework is designed to develop intellectual, physical, and social excellence through a purposeful blend of core academics, enrichment, and life skills.
At Masterminds, academics and life skills go hand in hand. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures students connect knowledge across subjects, apply it in real-world contexts, and develop the curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking to lead in an ever-changing world. This is why our students typically perform 2–3 years ahead of their peers.
Our Philosophy
At Masterminds, learning is never one-size-fits-all. Every classroom experience is personal, immersive, and deeply human, where authentic understanding replaces rote memorization.
Our educators design bespoke learning pathways that evolve with each child’s pace, strengths, and passions, using continuous assessment and attentive observation to ensure every learner grows with confidence, purpose, and joy.
Our Philosophy
Our teachers are far more than educators — they are highly accomplished subject-matter experts, trusted confidants, and lifelong mentors who understand each child’s individuality.
Through deep, personal relationships with students and their families, they create an environment of emotional safety, intellectual challenge, and genuine connection.
This foundation of trust inspires confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning — ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Cultivating the foundational neural pathways for literacy, logic, and lifelong intellectual curiosity—while fostering holistic intellectual, physical, and social development that shapes confident, well-rounded minds.
An accelerated curriculum focused on deep conceptual mastery and the application of cross-disciplinary knowledge.
Fostering intellectual autonomy through academic rigor, leadership development, and real-world entrepreneurship challenges.
Traditional schools were created over 150 years ago to train obedient factory workers for an industrial economy. One teacher standing in front of 20 to 30 students delivering the same lesson to all remains the dominant model—even in many of the best elite private schools in the Bay Area.
The result? Large class sizes, rigid instruction and minimal alignment with how children truly learn.
At Masterminds, every child is recognized as a distinct mind with limitless potential. In contrast to the standardized, large-group instruction common across Bay Area and global schools, our 5-to-6 students-per-teacher model cultivates profound individual attention and enduring intellectual depth.
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Masterminds offers premium door-to-door transportation for families in Palo Alto, Atherton, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Los Altos, Portola Valley, and surrounding areas—ensuring your child’s learning journey is seamless from the moment they leave home.
of parents cite personalized learning as their top priority.
of students are identified as gifted in multiple domains after just three years in our Early Years Program.
years ahead — students frequently outperform traditional curriculum benchmarks.
From personalized academics to daily enrichment, follow a student’s journey through a week of rigorous learning, joyful movement, and real-world exploration.
This video offers a vivid window into how our unique model comes together — showing not just what we teach, but how children experience it every day.
"What’s been missing is a model that combines rigor with soul. That’s what sets Masterminds apart."
Discover how Masterminds can transform your child’s learning journey. Book a tour or apply now to secure a place at one of our pioneering campuses in San Mateo—and experience how we redefine the best in private education.
At Masterminds, our global faculty members go beyond teaching — they nurture, mentor, and inspire for life
Masterminds brings an internationally acclaimed, award-winning educational model to the Bay Area — one recognized for its innovation, academic mastery, and holistic child development.
Though our San Mateo campus is newly established, our proven philosophy has already earned the trust of families worldwide. Now, Bay Area parents can access that same research-driven, world-class standard of education — where learning is deeply personal, forward-thinking, and designed to nurture every dimension of a child’s potential.
Founded in Dubai, Masterminds has been recognized as the Best Early Education Provider for nine consecutive years. With micro-school campuses launching across the U.S. and Europe, families can now access a truly global educational journey.
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Contact our support team for further assistance.
Masterminds is redefining what education in the San Francisco Bay Area can be. Nestled in the heart of San Mateo, on the border with Hillsborough, our micro-school combines rigorous academics, daily enrichment, and real-world learning in small groups of 5–6 students. Grounded in decades of educational research and global expertise, we prepare children not just for school—but for life.
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Preschool: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Pre-K: 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
KG1 & KG2: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Grade 1 – Grade 8: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
After-School Clubs: until 4:00 PM
After-School Supervision: until 5:00 PM
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