Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Culver City. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschool
Village Tree Preschool is a California-licensed (CCLD #197417540) preschool-age community center with a play-based curriculum at 4235 Duquesne Ave in Culver City, CA 90232, operating Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. With a capacity of 45 children and 15 years of continuous licensure, the center emphasizes small classes, advanced teacher credentials (all CPR-certified and FBI-screened), and a diverse activity program spanning music, art, science, emerging Spanish, and outdoor play. Families appreciate the low student-to-teacher ratio, three daily organic snacks, and scholarship support for families facing chronic or terminal illness. However, a September 2023 CCLD evaluation resulted in four Type B citations and a prior complaint investigation on file (July 2022), warranting potential in-person review; additionally, the center does not serve infants or children under 2, limiting access for multi-age families.
Safety6.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care3.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Play-based learning approach that weaves play into daily learning to develop key skills. Emphasizes adventure, natural competencies, and motivation for learning through play and individual choice.
Programs & activities: Music, art, science, math, emerging Spanish curriculum, yoga, and outdoor play. Age groups span Infant (2-18 months), Toddlers, Jr. Preschool (18 months-3 years), and Preschool (2.5-6 years), with potty training support for Jr. Preschool.
What sets it apart: Low student-to-teacher ratio; 2 to 3 healthy organic snacks daily (families provide lunch); opens at 7:30am; teachers hold advanced degrees or ECD certifications, all CPR-certified and FBI-screened. Scholarships offered for families facing chronic or terminal illness; references PBS, California State Senate, and U.S. Senate recognition.
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 Culver City
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Village Tree Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/culver-city/village-tree-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 Culver City - Village Tree Preschool - Culver City, 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 Culver City</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Culver City. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</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.
