Awards Earned

Top 3 in Oxnard

Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Oxnard across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.

Most Compassionate

Earned the highest compassion score in Oxnard. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.

Best K-Ready

Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.

Best Management

Earned the highest management score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.

Best Culture

Earned the highest culture score in Oxnard. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.

Best Arts & Music

Earned the highest arts & music score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.

Full Ranking Detail

childcarepreschooltoddlerkinderelementary

Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy is a family-owned, CCLD-licensed center in Oxnard serving children ages 2 through 5th grade—a rare full-continuum program under one roof. Founded in 1984 with 40 years of community presence, it holds BBB accreditation with an A+ rating and strong community reviews on GreatSchools (4.8 stars) and Yelp. The center's brain-based curriculum emphasizes character development and life skills, complemented by enrichment programs including art, computer skills, music, PE, and community service, with before/after care and summer camps available. The program does not serve infants or toddlers under 2 years (preschool enrollment requires potty training), and independent verification through Google reviews is unavailable, which reflects some limitation in public parent feedback data.

Safety5.0

Curriculum7.0

Art / Music6.0

Infant care3.0

Kindergarten readiness8.0

Teacher quality7.0

Compassion7.0

Management7.0

Culture7.0

Extracurriculars6.0

Programs & curriculum

Curriculum & approach: Brain-based quality education approach designed to promote social, cognitive, emotional, creative and physical growth with emphasis on character development and life skills. Research-based, developmentally appropriate learning experiences.

Programs & activities: Preschool (ages 2-5) and elementary programs (TK through Grade 6). Enrichment programs for grades 1-3 include computer skills, art, PE, character education, music, community service, and leadership. Seasonal programs include KinderKamp and Theme Summer Camp.

What sets it apart: Private, family-owned center established 1984. Required uniforms for elementary students. Hours Monday-Friday 7 AM to 6 PM. License number 566216220. Tours available daily at 10 AM and 3 PM.

Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge

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Top 3 in Oxnard

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-3-city.jpg" alt="Top 3 in Oxnard - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Top 3 in Oxnard Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Oxnard across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options. </a>

Most Compassionate

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-compassion.jpg" alt="Most Compassionate - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Most Compassionate Earned the highest compassion score in Oxnard. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center. </a>

Best K-Ready

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-kinder.jpg" alt="Best K-Ready - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best K-Ready Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum. </a>

Best Management

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-mgmt.jpg" alt="Best Management - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best Management Earned the highest management score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership. </a>

Best Culture

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best Culture Earned the highest culture score in Oxnard. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door. </a>

Best Arts & Music

<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/oxnard/peppermint-junction-preschool-elementary-academy/" 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-arts.jpg" alt="Best Arts & Music - Peppermint Junction Preschool & Elementary Academy - Oxnard, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy"> Best Arts & Music Earned the highest arts & music score in Oxnard. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play. </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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