Awards Earned

Top 10 in Gardena

Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Gardena. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.

Best for Safety

Earned the highest safety score in Gardena. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.

Best Infant Care

Earned the highest infant care score in Gardena. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.

Full Ranking Detail

childcareinfanttoddlerpreschoolhead-startearly-head-startsubsidizedfree

PACE — Aloha Learning Center is a federally-funded, non-tuition center serving both Early Head Start (infants to age 3) and Head Start (ages 3–5) programs — a relatively rare dual-program model in the Gardena area. With eight classrooms serving up to 92 children, it represents significant community capacity for low-income South LA County families. Because it is fully subsidized through PACE for income-qualifying families, it eliminates cost barriers and provides essential infrastructure: on-site meals, health screenings, CPR-certified staff, and full infant care with diapers and wipes. The program runs September through June with a culturally responsive curriculum emphasizing emotional regulation, social skills, and individualized learning. The absence of public parent reviews makes it difficult to verify lived experience, and the income-eligibility requirement limits access to qualifying families; families also need to arrange summer supplemental care.

Safety6.0

Curriculum6.0

Art / Music5.0

Infant care7.0

Kindergarten readiness5.0

Teacher quality6.0

Compassion6.0

Management6.0

Culture6.0

Extracurriculars5.0

Programs & curriculum

Curriculum & approach: Culturally responsive Head Start approach: educational activities that fit the child's culture and language, and learning tailored to how each child learns best. Focus on holistic development including emotional regulation, social skills, and language/literacy.

Programs & activities: Head Start and Early Head Start programs (ages 0-5) with full-day and part-day options, indoor and outdoor settings, health screenings, behavioral health services, nutrition with healthy meals and snacks, and family support with a Parent Policy Council.

What sets it apart: No-cost programs for low-income families; serves children experiencing homelessness, in foster care, and with disabilities. Operates five days weekly (Head Start Aug-June; Early Head Start July-June). Delegate agency status with the LA County Office of Education.

Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge

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Top 10 in Gardena

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/gardena/pace-aloha-learning-center/" 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 Gardena - PACE — Aloha Learning Center - Gardena, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Top 10 in Gardena Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Gardena. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring. </a>

Best for Safety

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/gardena/pace-aloha-learning-center/" 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-safety.jpg" alt="Best for Safety - PACE — Aloha Learning Center - Gardena, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best for Safety Earned the highest safety score in Gardena. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews. </a>

Best Infant Care

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/gardena/pace-aloha-learning-center/" 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-infant.jpg" alt="Best Infant Care - PACE — Aloha Learning Center - Gardena, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best Infant Care Earned the highest infant care score in Gardena. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms. </a>

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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.

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