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

Finding the right childcare
in Gardena, California

Gardena has deep roots as both a agricultural and cultural hub—historically known as "Berryland" for its role as Southern California's strawberry and berry capital, with Japanese immigrant farmers shaping the region's agricultural legacy. The city is also home to one of the nation's most vibrant Japanese-American communities, once holding the second-highest concentration of Japanese Americans of any U.S. city outside Honolulu. In a more unexpected twist of culinary history, the California Roll—one of the most iconic sushi dishes worldwide—was invented in a Gardena restaurant in 1973. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Gardena, 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.

8Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
61,763City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Gardena Buddhist Church Preschool (Nakayoshi Yochien)
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #191603461
6.3/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 94 children, active license #191603461 with zero citations on record
  • Zero CCLD citations — clean inspection history as of April 2024
  • Japanese language immersion program (Nakayoshi Yochien division) — unique cultural offering in South Bay
  • Established faith-based community institution with long-standing presence in Gardena
  • Arts, music, and cultural programming integrated into curriculum

Considerations

  • Japanese-language focus may limit accessibility for non-Japanese-speaking families
  • Phone (310) 327-4627 — limited online information about current enrollment or wait list status
2
4.3 (2 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #197493696
6.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
7
Infant care
7
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Infant Center, active license #197493696, serving infants through age 5
  • Google rating 4.3/5 (2 reviews) — positive early parent feedback
  • Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum with child-led, inquiry-based learning approach
  • Hours 6:30 AM–6:00 PM offer extended coverage for working families
  • Clean citation record — only administrative citation, 0 citations in last 2 years per readyrule.com

Considerations

  • Very small Google review pool (2 reviews) — limited ability to assess consistency
  • Small capacity (20 children) — enrollment may be very limited
  • Citation under code 101213(D)(1)(E) noted on record (2022, 2023, 2025 inspections)
  • Two complaint investigations on file (2024)
3
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedChristian ProgramSpecial Needs SupportLicense #197494730
5.8/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
3
K-ready
5
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Yelp 4.9 out of 5 from 10 reviews — the highest-rated Gardena CCLD-licensed child care center on a major public review platform
  • Multiple 2025 Yelp reviews confirm current parent satisfaction: 'My family is very happy that we found this place' (Sept 2025); '2-year-old loves it very much' (April 2025)
  • CCLD Day Care Center license #197494730, open since December 2020; capacity 72 children — substantial enrollment capacity for a Christian preschool
  • Reviews highlight excellent teachers, rich curriculum, and diverse student and staff community
  • Supports children with special needs — inclusion-capable program for families with children requiring additional support
  • Christian alternative to public education mission — clear values framework for faith-aligned families in Gardena ZIP 90248
  • Open Monday–Friday 6:00 am–6:00 pm with affordable tuition including healthy and delicious meals

Considerations

  • CCLD record shows 1 Type B citation from December 2021 inspection (code 1596.7995(a)(1)) — families should confirm current compliance at ccld.ca.gov
  • Christian educational orientation may not suit non-faith families seeking a fully secular preschool environment
  • Relatively new license (2020) — shorter operating track record compared to some Gardena peers; families may want to visit in person to assess stability
4
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedHead Start + Early Head Start — Free for Qualifying FamiliesInfant Program — Ages 0–3License #197494241
5.8/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
7
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #197494241, open since September 2019; serves both Early Head Start (0–3) and Head Start (3–5) in eight classrooms — rare dual-program center
  • Capacity 92 children — among the largest centers in Gardena; broad community access for south LA County families
  • Federally funded through PACE (Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment) — free of charge for income-qualifying families with no tuition required
  • On-site meals provided; CPR- and first-aid-certified staff; health screenings available — comprehensive child welfare services
  • Outdoor play space, diapers and wipes provided for infants — full-service infant and toddler care infrastructure

Considerations

  • Head Start and Early Head Start federal income eligibility limits access to qualifying low-income families only — not universally available
  • Program runs September through June (not year-round) — families need supplemental summer care arrangements
5
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #197494730
5.7/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 72 children, active license #197494730 issued December 2020
  • Faith-based Christian preschool with established community presence in South Gardena
  • 10 Yelp reviews with 14 photos indicating active parent engagement
  • Large outdoor campus with ample play space for preschool-age children

Considerations

  • Type B Citation on record (December 2021, regulation 1596.7995(a)(1))
  • Relatively new license (2020); limited long-term track record compared to older programs
6
Gardena Early Education Center
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #197413515
5.7/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 168 children, active license #197413515 issued June 2006
  • Large district-linked early education program serving South Gardena families
  • LAUSD-affiliated center providing structured early learning environment
  • 4.4/5 rating from 8 parent reviews on childcare directory sites

Considerations

  • Two Type B Citations on record (most recent inspection 2025)
  • Complaint investigation on file (August 2024)
  • Large capacity (168) may mean less individualized attention per child
7
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #197494384
5.7/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 26 children, active license #197494384 issued February 2021
  • Zero CCLD citations — clean inspection history (most recent June 2025)
  • Small intimate setting (26 capacity) allowing higher adult-to-child ratios
  • Serves children ages 3–5 plus after-school program for ages 6–10
  • Owner-operated since 2002 — long-term community investment and accountability

Considerations

  • Small capacity (26) means limited enrollment availability
  • Hours 7:30 AM–5:30 PM may not accommodate early/late working parents
  • Limited online presence makes vetting more difficult
8
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedHead Start / Income Eligible
5.6/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
6
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 92 children, operated by Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE)
  • Free federally-funded Head Start and Early Head Start for income-qualifying families (ages 0–5)
  • Eight classrooms split between Early Head Start (ages 0–3) and Head Start (ages 3–5)
  • Comprehensive services: health screenings, meals, medication support, special needs support
  • PACE operates 26+ centers across LA County — established accountability and training infrastructure

Considerations

  • Income eligibility requirement — not universally accessible
  • Large enrollment (capacity 92) may limit individual attention
  • Wait lists common for federally-funded Head Start programs
9
Kum Ran Church Preschool
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedKorean Immersion
5.5/ 10
Safety
5
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

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 48 children, zero complaints on childcarecenter.us record
  • Korean language immersion program — valuable bilingual early education in Gardena's diverse community
  • Faith-based environment with structured curriculum for ages 2–6
  • Hours 7:30 AM–6:00 PM accommodate working parents
  • Established church-affiliated center with community roots

Considerations

  • Korean-language focus may be a barrier for non-Korean-speaking families
  • Limited publicly available information about staff credentials or curriculum details
10
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedZero Citations — Clean RecordLicense #197494384
5.4/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
3
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Zero CCLD citations across all inspections including June 2025 and March 2024 — exceptional regulatory compliance record cleaner than the LA County average of 2.1 citations per facility
  • CCLD Day Care Center license #197494384, open since February 2021; most recent inspection June 2025 confirms current compliance
  • Capacity 26 children serving ages 3–5 for preschool plus 6–10 for after-school care — focused age range with attentive staffing
  • Described as one of the most respected centers in the Gardena area with ample play space and personal attention from staff
  • Open Tuesday–Friday 7:30 am–5:30 pm; Monday also 7:30 am–5:30 pm — consistent schedule for working parents

Considerations

  • Capacity of 26 children is small — early enrollment inquiry recommended as slots may fill quickly
  • Closed weekends; 7:30 am open time does not accommodate earliest-shift working parents
11
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedHead Start / Income Eligible
5.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 45 children, license #197410785
  • PACE-operated Head Start providing free early childhood education for income-qualifying families
  • Smaller site (45 capacity) compared to Aloha — potentially more intimate setting
  • CPR/first aid certified staff, meals provided, outdoor play space

Considerations

  • Type B Citation on record (regulation 101238(a)(1), inspections 2022 and 2025)
  • Complaint investigation on file (January 2025)
  • Income eligibility requirement limits access
12
Baby Geniuses Preschool
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicensed Since 2021License #197494610
5.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
5
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #197494610, open since April 2021; most recent inspection October 2024 confirms current operational compliance
  • No CCLD citations prior to one January 2023 record — generally clean compliance history for a newer center
  • Capacity 33 children for infant through pre-K ages — year-round center open Monday–Friday 6:00 am–6:00 pm
  • Name and branding suggest an academic-enrichment focus from early ages — suitable for Gardena families seeking early learning emphasis
  • Located in Gardena ZIP 90247 — accessible to families from multiple surrounding south LA County neighborhoods

Considerations

  • CCLD record includes 1 Type A citation from January 2023 (code unspecified) — Type A citations indicate immediate health or safety risk; families must pull the full report at ccld.ca.gov
  • Relatively new license (2021) — shorter operating track record compared to longer-established Gardena peers
  • No website found in public searches — families cannot preview curriculum, staff credentials, or pricing online before a direct visit
13
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedChristian Program — Since 1969License #197415270
5.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
3
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #197415270, open; most recent inspection June 2025 — actively inspected and current licensing confirmed
  • Serving the Gardena community since 1969 — over 55 years of continuous operation as a ministry of Faith Christian Center
  • Capacity 37 children; serves ages 2 through school-age including kindergarten — multi-year program continuity within one campus
  • Open Monday–Friday 6:30 am–6:30 pm — among the widest operating hours of any Gardena center
  • Teachers have minimum Associate's degree per program standards — credentialing baseline enforced
  • Parent describes teachers and administrators as caring and kindergartener loving school in positive environment (Yelp)

Considerations

  • Yelp 3 out of 5 stars; Lumos Learning 2.3 out of 5 from 28 ratings — below-average review scores on multiple platforms; families should investigate specific concerns raised
  • CCLD record includes 1 Type A citation and 1 complaint investigation (December 2023) — families should pull full report at ccld.ca.gov before enrolling
  • Below-average online review signals on two platforms suggest quality perception concerns among some families — direct visit and reference checks strongly recommended
No centers match this filter.

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