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

Finding the right childcare
in Lawndale, California

Lawndale emerged in 1905 when real estate developer Charles B. Hopper subdivided the area and named it after Chicago, though early nicknames like "Billy Goat Acres" reflected the Depression-era Midwestern migrants who settled there. Oil discoveries in the 1920s transformed the community into a commercial hub, and after World War II, Lawndale became a sought-after South Bay bedroom community for returning veterans and new Californians. Today, the city has developed into a diverse, ethnically rich community that is part of the vibrant South Bay region of Los Angeles County. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Lawndale, 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.

5Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
33,792City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Wiley Center for Speech and Language Development
14327 Hawthorne Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedSpecial Needs / Speech Therapy
6.2/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
5
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
7

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 15 children, specializing in speech-language development
  • Language-based multidisciplinary curriculum led by credentialed speech-language pathologists (Masters-level, ASHA-certified)
  • Serves children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other special needs — rare specialized center in South Bay
  • Services offered in English, Spanish, Japanese, Farsi, and Sign Language — exceptional linguistic diversity
  • Nonprofit organization with outcomes-focused programming

Considerations

  • Specialized program — not appropriate for all families (primarily serves children with special communication needs)
  • Very small capacity (15) — extremely limited availability
  • Address based on Winnie listing — verify current location directly with provider
2
PACE - Anderson Head Start
4130 W 154th St Rm 50, Lawndale, CA 90260
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedHead Start / Income Eligible
5.6/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
7
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 18 children, active license #197411203 issued February 2004
  • Zero CCLD citations on inspection record (verified inspections 2022 and 2025)
  • Very small group size (18 capacity) — unusually high adult-to-child ratio for Head Start
  • Free federally-funded program for income-qualifying families
  • Located at William Anderson Elementary campus — convenient for families already in LESD

Considerations

  • Extremely limited capacity (18 children) — highly competitive enrollment
  • Income eligibility requirement
  • Limited online information about program hours and current availability
3
Lawndale School District - Mark Twain Preschool
4161 W 147th St, Lawndale, CA 90260
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLawndale School District
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 district preschool operated by Lawndale Elementary School District
  • State Preschool program meeting California's Title 5 educational standards
  • School district oversight provides additional accountability layer beyond CCLD
  • Convenient pathway into LESD kindergarten for enrolled families
  • Phone (310) 644-8458

Considerations

  • Income eligibility may apply for subsidized slots — verify current enrollment criteria directly
  • Address estimated from Mark Twain Elementary campus — confirm current site with district
  • Limited online program details; call (310) 644-8458 for current availability
4
Little Ones Academy
4415 165th St, Lawndale, CA 90260
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedLicense #197495012
5.4/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Day Care Center, capacity 38 children, active license #197495012 issued March 2022
  • 5.0/5 Yelp rating with 9 reviews — parents praise cleanliness, communication, and caring staff
  • Hands-on learning curriculum developing confidence and social-emotional foundations
  • Serves ages 18 months–5 years; daily activity photos shared with parents
  • Helpfulness noted by parents for children with developmental concerns (e.g., speech delay)

Considerations

  • Multiple complaint investigations on file (5 reports, most recent March 2026) — warrants direct inquiry
  • Relatively new license (2022) — limited multi-year track record
  • Small capacity (38) means limited enrollment spots
5
PACE - Green Head Start
4540 W 168th St, Lawndale, CA 90260
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 36 children, active license #197411204 issued January 2004
  • Free federally-funded Head Start for income-qualifying families — zero cost to eligible families
  • PACE operates 26+ centers across LA County with established training and oversight infrastructure
  • Comprehensive services including health screenings, meals, and family support

Considerations

  • Type B Citation on record (March 2024, regulation 101223(a)(1))
  • Income eligibility requirement — not available to all families
  • Small capacity (36) with anticipated wait lists for subsidized programs
No centers match this filter.

Families in this area also explore

Compare:
Side-by-side comparison