Residents reported a loud explosion coming from the area of La Entrada Middle School in the Sharon Heights neighborhood shortly after 10 p.m., Menlo Park police Sgt. William Dixon said.
Responding officers spoke with witnesses and determined the teen suspect was in the area at the time of the explosion, and the teen later admitted to detonating the device in a grassy area behind the school, according to Dixon.
No one was injured and no substantial property damaged occurred, Dixon said.
Police and the San Mateo County sheriff's bomb squad searched the suspect's home but did not find any other explosives, Dixon said. The county crime lab assisted with evidence collection.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Menlo Park Police Department at (650) 330-6300.
