Recognition of Excellence · Fresno, CA · 2026

The Growing Patch Private Preschool

5560 W Spruce Ave, Fresno, CA 93722
https://thegrowingpatchpreschool.com
🏆 Ranked #5 in Fresno · 6.3 / 10 overall
Awards Earned
Top 10 in City
Top 10 in City
Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Fresno. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
 Best Curriculum
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Fresno. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
 Best Arts & Music
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Fresno. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
 Best Culture
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Fresno. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Full Ranking Detail
Ages 2–6yrNW FresnoPlay-Based

The Growing Patch Private Preschool in northwest Fresno is a teacher-owned, California-licensed facility (License #103810196) that has operated continuously since 1991, serving children ages 2 to 6 with age-specific curricula covering literacy, math, music, science, and art. The center's classrooms and facilities were uniquely designed for preschoolers, including tailored bathrooms and a large backyard, and offers year-round open enrollment with strong parent satisfaction reported via Facebook. Learning activities emphasize creativity and motor development through coloring, painting, and a year-long book creation project, with communication via the Brightwheel app. The center does not serve infants or school-age children, which limits the age range compared to full-service providers in the market.

Safety7.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care2.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0

Programs & curriculum

Curriculum & approach: The site does not name a specific curriculum model. It is owned and operated by a teacher and offers age-specific curricula for ages 2-6 covering literacy, math, music, science, art, creativity, motor skills, and social development.

Programs & activities: Learning activities include coloring, painting, cutting, writing, and calendar work, plus a year-long book creation project. Uses the Brightwheel app for parent communication.

What sets it apart: Licensed facility (#103810196) uniquely designed and built for preschoolers ages 2-6 with tailored classrooms, bathrooms, and a large backyard. Located at 5560 W. Spruce Ave, Fresno, CA; markets complete preparation for kindergarten. Site does not state hours, meals, ratios, tuition, or accreditations.

Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
🏆 For Center Directors
Your center has earned independent recognition based on verified parent reviews. You are welcome to display this badge on your website. Paste the snippet below into your site's HTML — it links back to this verified recognition page.
Top 10 in City
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Growing Patch Private Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/central-valley/fresno/the-growing-patch-private-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in City - The Growing Patch Private Preschool - Fresno, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in City</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Fresno. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span> </span> </a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Growing Patch Private Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/central-valley/fresno/the-growing-patch-private-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-curriculum.jpg" alt="Best Curriculum - The Growing Patch Private Preschool - Fresno, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Curriculum</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in Fresno. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span> </span> </a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Growing Patch Private Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/central-valley/fresno/the-growing-patch-private-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-arts.jpg" alt="Best Arts & Music - The Growing Patch Private Preschool - Fresno, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Arts & Music</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Fresno. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span> </span> </a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Growing Patch Private Preschool --> <a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/central-valley/fresno/the-growing-patch-private-preschool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - The Growing Patch Private Preschool - Fresno, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> <span> <strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Culture</strong> <span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Fresno. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span> </span> </a>

Updated · July 2026

This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.

Read our full ranking methodology →