Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Baldwin Park. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Baldwin Park. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Baldwin Park. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschoolmontessori
The Beginning Montessori Academy is a CCLD-licensed Montessori preschool at 3970 Maine Ave in Baldwin Park, serving ages 2–5 with a half-day State Preschool program free for qualifying families. Director Maryam Saeidy holds a Montessori Diploma and B.A. in Education, and all teachers meet California's minimum A.A. in Child Development with valid Teacher Permits. The center maintains an exemplary compliance record with only one Type B citation—well below county average—and offers both full-day and part-day Montessori sessions, Transitional Kindergarten, and summer camp. With a focus on child-guided exploration in a prepared environment, the academy provides daily meals and family support services. The half-day preschool sessions may not fully meet extended childcare needs of working families, and the small 30-child capacity means enrollment fills quickly.
Safety5.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion6.0
Management6.0
Culture6.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Montessori-based approach grounded in Montessori and Child Development methods, offered in a prepared nurturing environment intended to develop each child's individual potential. Emphasizes empowering children to guide their own exploration.
Programs & activities: Full-day preschool (6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), part-day A.M. and P.M. programs, a Montessori-only program, Transitional Kindergarten, income-qualifying free half-day State Preschool, and a summer camp (July 1-August 15).
What sets it apart: Healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks served daily. Supervisors/directors hold Montessori diplomas and B.A. degrees in education and teachers hold at least an A.A. in Child Development; site notes a Parent Advisory Committee and family referral services.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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#1 in Baldwin Park
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
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<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-1-city.jpg" alt="#1 in Baldwin Park - The Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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;">#1 in Baldwin Park</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Baldwin Park. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/baldwin-park/the-beginning-montessori-academy/" 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-teacherq.jpg" alt="Best Teachers - The Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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 Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher quality score in Baldwin Park. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/baldwin-park/the-beginning-montessori-academy/" 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 Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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 Baldwin Park. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/baldwin-park/the-beginning-montessori-academy/" 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-kinder.jpg" alt="Best K-Ready - The Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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 K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/baldwin-park/the-beginning-montessori-academy/" 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-mgmt.jpg" alt="Best Management - The Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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 Management</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest management score in Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Beginning Montessori Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/baldwin-park/the-beginning-montessori-academy/" 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 Beginning Montessori Academy - Baldwin Park, 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 Baldwin Park. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span>
</span>
</a>
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.
