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

Finding the right childcare
in Downey, California

Downey built its legacy as the birthplace of the Apollo program—North American Aviation's Downey plant designed and constructed the command and service modules for all Apollo missions, with crews of up to 35,000 engineers and technicians working at the sprawling facility during the 1960s and '70s. The iconic Columbia Memorial Space Center now anchors the city's downtown as a testament to Downey's pivotal role in putting astronauts on the moon. Today, this Los Angeles suburb quietly carries one of California's most remarkable chapters in aerospace history. CCLD-licensed child care centers serving Downey families. 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.

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

1
Creative Beginnings Schools
10819 New St, Downey, CA 90241
Licensed Childcare
6.4/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
7
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Dual locations in Downey — separate infant/toddler site (10910B Paramount Blvd) and preschool site
  • Serves 6 weeks to 5 years across both campuses
  • Named Top 3 Preschools in Downey by Business Rate Award
  • Experiential curriculum — Tools for Innovation, play-based learning, shared expression
  • Nutritious daily meals included; nut-free facility
  • Attentive staff praised for patience and genuine care in reviews

Considerations

  • Yelp shows 14 reviews — moderate review volume; Google-specific rating not confirmed
  • No infant care beyond toddler age at preschool location — families must navigate two campuses
2
Blooming Minds Preschool
10225 Old River School Rd, Downey, CA 90241
Licensed Childcare
6.2/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
7
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Accepts newborns through age 5 — rare full continuum for young families
  • Guided by Montessori principles — focuses on developing each child\'s natural potential
  • Affordable private childcare in LA County
  • Serves Downey and surrounding communities

Considerations

  • Montessori-"inspired" not fully certified Montessori — verify credentials directly
3
Montessori Academy of Downey
7515 Firestone Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
Licensed Childcare
6.2/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Authentic Montessori curriculum in Downey
  • Yelp shows 17 reviews with approximately 4.0 stars — reasonable public feedback
  • Open 7 AM to 6 PM Monday-Friday

Considerations

  • Primarily preschool-age focus — limited infant care
  • Previous listing (Montessori Children\'s Academy) at same address shows as closed on Yelp — confirm current operation
4
Downey Christian Early Learning Center
10335 Paramount Blvd, Downey, CA 90241
Licensed Childcare
6.2/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Christian academic curriculum from age 2 through elementary school — strong continuity
  • Accepts children with special needs
  • Open 6:30 AM to 6 PM
  • Parents report warm, caring staff and children testing advanced for their age
  • Part of Downey Christian School — established institution

Considerations

  • Faith-based curriculum may not suit all families
  • Google-specific rating not confirmed — listed as closed on Yellow Pages but Yelp shows active; verify current status
5
Kids First Learning Center – Downey
13200 Columbia Way, Downey, CA 90242
Licensed Childcare
5.6/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • One of the finest subsidized centers in LA County with over 20 years serving families
  • Large licensed capacity of 144 children — availability generally better than small private centers
  • Linguistic and cultural diversity emphasized; art, outdoor sessions, family events
  • Subsidized care available for qualifying families

Considerations

  • Primarily preschool-age focus — limited or no infant care
6
Around the World Learning Center
8441 Florence Ave, Downey, CA 90240
Licensed Childcare
5.1/ 10
Safety
4
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
5
Compassion
5
Mgmt
5
Culture
5
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Bilingual staff; STEAM curriculum including Pre-Reading, Writing, Language, Music and Movement
  • Low student-to-teacher ratio emphasized
  • Full and part time enrollment plus after-school care
  • Budget-friendly monthly tuition

Considerations

  • The third-party review platform DaycareCheck, which aggregates state inspection data, assigns this center a "C" safety grade (77.5/100) and lists 24 cited items on record; families may wish to review the current state licensing record directly.
  • Yelp shows 3.7 stars on 12 reviews — below average parent satisfaction
  • Last inspection June 26, 2024 — check CCLD for current status
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