Cerritos, CA · Los Angeles County · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Cerritos, California

Cerritos was once known as Dairy Valley—a milk-producing powerhouse with over 120,000 dairy cows and more cattle than people during its early years—before shifting to residential development in the 1960s. The city's name was formally changed to Cerritos in 1967, referencing the Spanish land grant Rancho Los Cerritos and nearby Cerritos College. A playful reminder of its agricultural heritage remains in the acronym of the city's bus system, COW (Cerritos On Wheels), a fitting tribute to the days when cows outnumbered residents. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Cerritos, CA. We scored each California-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.

7Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
49,695City population
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
6.7/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
8
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Zero CCLD citations on record — cleaner than county average of 2.1 citations per facility
  • Most recent inspection February 2026 with no violations; serving community for over 40 years
  • Licensed capacity 60 children; ages 2–5; hours 7:00 AM–6:30 PM
  • Faith-based environment with rich, diverse learning program
  • Facebook reviews show 92% recommendation rate

Considerations

  • Faith-based environment (Lutheran) may not suit all families
  • Primarily preschool/pre-K focus; not an infant center
2
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.8/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
7
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Before- and after-school care program at the same Concordia Lutheran campus
  • Part of a well-regarded facility with zero citation history on the preschool license
  • Phone (562) 926-2491; convenient for families already enrolled at Concordia Preschool

Considerations

  • School-age program focus — limited use for families with infants or toddlers
  • Limited independent public information beyond the shared campus listing
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Established program since 1976; large licensed capacity of 133 children
  • Hours 6:30 AM–6:00 PM Monday–Friday; accommodates working parents
  • Parents praise teachers as 'amazing, kind, helpful, generous, and supportive'
  • Organizes performances and events for children
  • 29 Yelp reviews reflecting active parent community engagement

Considerations

  • 1 Type B CCLD citation on record; multiple complaint investigations filed 2021–2024 — review state reports
  • Faith-based (Nazarene Church) environment may not suit all families
4
Tracy Infant Center
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.5/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
7
K-ready
4
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Infant center designation — specialized care for youngest children
  • CCLD-licensed and monitored; phone (562) 229-7762

Considerations

  • Full street address not publicly confirmed in available sources — contact CCLD or center directly
  • No website or detailed program information found publicly
5
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.4/ 10
Safety
4
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
6
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
5
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Full infant-through-school-age programs (ages 6 weeks–12 years) in single location
  • Hours 6:30 AM–6:30 PM; broad coverage for working parents
  • Teachers described as 'super good, always positive, showing love and respect'
  • Structured KinderCare curriculum with developmental activities including water play and music

Considerations

  • 1 Type A and 6 Type B CCLD citations; complaint investigations filed February and September 2025 — review state reports carefully
  • Yelp shows 3 stars from 28 reviews — mixed parent sentiment
  • Corporate chain; experience can vary significantly by individual staff
6
Carver Head Start / State Preschool
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.4/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Head Start program — federally funded, comprehensive early childhood services for income-qualifying families
  • Located on Carver Elementary campus; smooth transition to kindergarten
  • Capacity 38 children; CCLD licensed; phone (562) 229-7933

Considerations

  • Income eligibility requirements apply — not open to all families
  • Part-day schedule typical of Head Start/State Preschool; may require supplemental care arrangement
7
First Evangelical Church of Cerritos Preschool
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.2/ 10
Safety
4
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
5
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Large licensed capacity of 87 children; licensed since 1999 (license #198005309)
  • Stated commitment to providing 'academic and spiritual foundation' for children
  • Offers summer care, after school, and preschool programs — wide service range

Considerations

  • 1 Type A and 8 Type B CCLD citations; complaint investigation filed August 2025 — review state reports before enrolling
  • Faith-based environment may not suit all families; no website found for detailed program review
No centers match this filter.

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