How Pinewood’s iPad Program Works by Grade
Pinewood phases in device access rather than handing every student the same setup on day one. In kindergarten through 2nd grade, iPads are shared classroom tools used for group activities, guided by the teacher, rather than personal devices. Starting in 3rd grade, each student receives their own iPad, though it remains at school as a learning tool rather than going home. The pattern continues into Upper Campus: from 7th grade, students receive an iPad they keep through sophomore year, then a larger model for junior and senior year that they keep after graduating.
| Grade Band | Device Setup |
| Kindergarten – 2nd Grade | Shared classroom iPads, teacher-directed |
| 3rd – 6th Grade | One iPad per student; stays at school |
| 7th Grade – Sophomore Year | One iPad per student, issued at Upper Campus |
| Junior – Senior Year | Larger iPad model; students keep it after graduation |
Why Shared iPads for the Youngest Students?
The shared setup in K-2 is intentional: it pushes students to take turns, narrate their thinking out loud, and problem-solve with a partner, with the teacher steering how and when the device gets used. It’s a deliberately social introduction to technology rather than a solo one.
Inside Pinewood’s Computer Science & Engineering Curriculum
Pinewood’s Computer Science & Engineering (CS&E) program runs as a formal academic thread from kindergarten onward, not just a device rollout. Kindergartners are introduced to early programming concepts, robotics, and design thinking through cross-curricular projects. In Grades 1 and 2, monthly modules alternate between programming lessons and engineering or design collaborations, using platforms like Scratch 3.0, VEX, Ozobots, and Lego Spike. By Grades 3 through 6, lessons shift from block-based to text-based programming, with students working in Python by 6th grade, alongside CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting within a design-thinking framework.
From Robotics to Python: The Progression
- Kindergarten: Early programming concepts, robotics, and design thinking through hands-on projects
- Grades 1–2: Scratch 3.0, VEX, Ozobots, and Lego Spike in alternating programming and engineering modules
- Grades 3–6: Daily lessons moving from block-based to text-based programming, reaching Python by Grade 6, plus CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting
How Pinewood Approaches AI in the Classroom
Pinewood’s stated position is that technology, including generative AI, should support rather than replace a student’s own thinking. Under the school’s generative AI guidelines, AI tools are introduced only with a specific purpose and teacher approval, rather than being left open for unsupervised use. The goal, as the school frames it, is to keep students developing as independent thinkers even as the tools available to them get more capable.
What This Looks Like Day to Day
In practice, this means AI tools show up in Pinewood classrooms as teacher-selected instructional aids for a specific lesson or project, not as a general-purpose assistant students can reach for on their own. The same balance applies to iPads more broadly: Pinewood frames devices as tools that complement, rather than substitute for, the critical thinking and interpersonal skills it prioritizes.
The Bottom Line for Families
Pinewood’s technology program is deliberately paced. It’s less about handing over devices early and more about building specific skills, from shared iPad turn-taking in kindergarten to Python and CAD by 6th grade, on a defined timeline. Elite families evaluating Pinewood alongside other Bay Area independent schools often benefit from private school admissions consulting and academic coaching to ensure these programs align with their specific goals.
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