Redwood Shores
Redwood Shores is located along the San Francisco Bay, northeast of Redwood City, and is one of the Peninsula’s most distinctive waterfront residential communities. It is a large master-planned community, with homes, lagoons, waterways, parks, schools, and office campuses integrated into a cohesive environment. The area feels quieter, more open, and more resort-like than many traditional Peninsula neighborhoods.
One of Redwood Shores’ defining features is its waterfront lifestyle. Many single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums are built around lagoons and waterways, with numerous properties offering direct water views and some featuring private docks. The community also includes extensive parks, walking paths, and outdoor spaces, creating a strong appeal for buyers who value a peaceful setting and an active outdoor lifestyle.
Redwood Shores also has an interesting history. The area was once associated with oyster farming, salt production, and other Bay Area industries before gradually being transformed into the residential and technology community seen today. Marine World was once located here, and after it relocated, the former site evolved into a major office district. Oracle also maintained a significant headquarters presence in Redwood Shores for many years, helping shape the area’s identity as a technology hub.
From a real-estate perspective, Redwood Shores stands out for its combination of newer housing, lower-density planning, water views, parks, and convenient access to Silicon Valley employment centers. The community is also served by the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. For buyers seeking a balance of schools, waterfront living, a quiet residential environment, and commuting convenience, Redwood Shores remains one of the Peninsula’s most distinctive residential choices.
Race & Ethnicity
Schools
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
Understanding Redwood Shores Public Schools
Elementary and middle-school students in Redwood Shores are served by the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD). The two principal public schools located within the Redwood Shores community are Redwood Shores Elementary School and Sandpiper School.
Belmont-Redwood Shores School District · BRSSD
BRSSD currently operates seven schools: Central Elementary, Cipriani Elementary, Fox Elementary, Redwood Shores Elementary, Sandpiper TK–8, Nesbit TK–8, and Ralston Middle School.
For Redwood Shores residents, the principal neighborhood schools are Redwood Shores Elementary and Sandpiper. Specific school placement, however, should still be verified using the residential address, current enrollment capacity, and the district's current assignment policies.
Redwood Shores Elementary School
Redwood Shores Elementary is located at 225 Shearwater Parkway and is one of the principal public elementary schools within the Redwood Shores community. The school currently serves Preschool, TK, and Kindergarten through Grade 5.
Sandpiper School · TK–8
Sandpiper is located on Redwood Shores Parkway and currently operates as a TK–8 public school. This allows some families to remain on the same campus from the elementary years through middle school.
Middle School Options
BRSSD currently provides Ralston, Sandpiper, and Nesbit as middle-school options. Families entering Grade 6 participate in the district's middle-school preference process.
Final placement may depend on family preference, school capacity, and specific program constraints. The current system therefore should not be understood as a simple “elementary school → Ralston” pathway for every Redwood Shores student.
High School · SUHSD
At the high-school level, Redwood Shores is served by the Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD). Carlmont High School is one of the high schools commonly considered by Redwood Shores families.
High-school assignment, however, should always be confirmed using the specific residential address and SUHSD's current attendance boundaries. Buyers should not rely solely on the Redwood Shores community name to determine the assigned high school.
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School
Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School is located in nearby Foster City and is a TK–8 Jewish day school.
The school combines a general academic curriculum with Jewish studies, Jewish values, and community education, spanning both elementary and middle-school years.
Wornick emphasizes critical thinking, academic development, leadership, and ethical decision-making.
Because Foster City is close to Redwood Shores, Wornick is one of the more relevant nearby TK–8 private-school options for Redwood Shores families.
Notre Dame High School Belmont
Notre Dame High School Belmont is located in nearby Belmont and is a Catholic all-girls private high school.
The school emphasizes college-preparatory academics, leadership, service, and student development.
Notre Dame offers AP courses, STEM, humanities, visual and performing arts, athletics, and a range of student activities.
For Redwood Shores families considering a private high-school pathway, Notre Dame Belmont is one of the notable nearby options.
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Neighborhoods
Shearwater
Shearwater includes several distinct subdivisions, including Harbor Court, Gossamer Cove, Gossamer Hollow and The Preserve. Housing ranges from larger single-family homes to newer multi-level townhomes, giving the area a more recent planned-community character.
Lighthouse Cove
Lighthouse Cove spans one of the broader sections of the Redwood Shores Lagoon and includes condos, apartments, waterfront townhomes and larger single-family homes. Bridgeport, Governor’s Bay, Sandpiper Lagoon and Laguna Pointe represent different styles of waterfront living.
Boardwalk
Boardwalk sits near the center of Redwood Shores, surrounded by waterways, walking paths and major employment centers. Housing is primarily made up of condos and townhomes, including communities such as Cork Harbour, appealing to buyers seeking a lower-maintenance lifestyle.
Beacon Shores
Beacon Shores is one of Redwood Shores’ more visually distinctive neighborhoods, known for Cape Cod-inspired pitched-roof homes and a waterfront setting. Housing is primarily medium-sized single-family homes, with selected properties directly facing the lagoon and shared community amenities.
Dolphin Park
Dolphin Park is one of Redwood Shores’ earlier residential pockets, with some homes dating to the late 1960s and 1970s. Housing includes more compact single-family homes and selected waterfront properties, with convenient access to Dolphin Park and nearby employment centers.
Marlin Park
Marlin Park is one of the earliest residential communities developed in Redwood Shores. Built around a waterfront park, the neighborhood includes single-family homes and townhomes, with housing ranging from more compact residences to larger family homes.
Shearwater
Shearwater is located at the eastern end of Redwood Shores and is one of the larger residential areas with multiple layers of development.
The area includes Harbor Court, Gossamer Cove, Gossamer Hollow and The Preserve, among other subdivisions. Much of the housing was developed from the 1990s onward, making the overall housing stock relatively newer.
Harbor Court and the Gossamer communities include larger single-family homes, often with open floor plans. Some properties also offer lagoon frontage or comparatively larger parcels.
The Preserve reflects a more contemporary planning approach, with multi-level townhomes, walking paths, community open space and a more compact neighborhood layout.
Lighthouse Cove
Lighthouse Cove spans one of the wider sections of the Redwood Shores Lagoon and offers one of the broadest mixes of housing types in Redwood Shores.
Buyers can find condos, apartments, luxury waterfront townhomes and single-family homes, creating a wide range of residential styles and lifestyles.
Subdivisions such as Bridgeport, Governor’s Bay, Sandpiper Lagoon and Laguna Pointe include larger three- to five-bedroom residences, with some homes approaching or exceeding 3,000 sq.ft.
Waterfront orientation, lagoon views, private outdoor space, HOA structure and the specific subdivision can matter more than square footage alone.
Boardwalk
Boardwalk is centrally located within Redwood Shores, near Belmont Slough, lagoon waterways, walking trails and major employment centers.
Residential housing is primarily made up of condo and townhome communities, with generally more compact floor plans than the larger single-family neighborhoods.
Cork Harbour is one of the area’s better-known condominium communities, offering a range of layouts from smaller one-bedroom units to larger three-bedroom residences.
For buyers, Boardwalk’s primary appeal is central location, lower-maintenance housing, trail access and proximity to employment centers.
Beacon Shores
Beacon Shores is located near Marine Parkway and Shell Parkway, close to the Redwood Shores Lagoon.
One of the neighborhood’s most recognizable features is its Cape Cod-inspired architecture, pitched roofs and waterfront setting, giving it a distinct identity within Redwood Shores.
Housing is primarily made up of single-family residences, generally in the mid-sized family-home range, with selected properties positioned directly on the water.
Community amenities include shared pool facilities. Waterfront location, views, orientation and HOA amenities can all create meaningful differences between properties.
Dolphin Park
Dolphin Park is one of Redwood Shores’ earlier residential areas, with some homes dating to the late 1960s and 1970s.
Housing includes more compact single-family homes, waterfront properties and some attached residences. Compared with later Redwood Shores developments, many homes here have more modest interior footprints.
The neighborhood sits close to Dolphin Park and the employment centers around Twin Dolphin Drive, creating a relatively walkable live-near-work environment.
Buyers should compare home condition, renovation level, waterfront position and lot configuration, because housing age and property quality can vary significantly within the area.
Marlin Park
Marlin Park is one of the earliest residential communities developed in Redwood Shores, with development dating back to the late 1960s.
The neighborhood is organized around Marlin Park and nearby waterways, with housing that includes single-family homes, townhomes and other attached residences.
Many homes reflect Redwood Shores’ early planned-community character: relatively efficient floor plans, landscaped streets, park access and proximity to lagoon or waterway settings.
Compared with later developments, Marlin Park has a more mature housing stock. Renovation condition, floor plan efficiency, waterfront position and lot orientation are therefore important buyer considerations.