The Modern Schoolhouse — San Gabriel is a CCLD-licensed center-based provider at 248 S. Mission Dr in central San Gabriel, serving children ages 18 months through 5 years in three dedicated classrooms. Part of a five-location institutional network founded in 2020, the center maintains a whole-child curriculum framework emphasizing intelligence, emotional, spiritual, creative, and adversity quotients across small-group instruction. With a 4.9-star Google rating from 40 verified reviews and consistent parent reports of safe, nurturing care since 2023, it operates below state-required teacher-to-child ratios and integrates sign language and leadership skills across age groups. The three-classroom model and high demand suggest families should expect waitlists and should request site-specific inspection details and staff information before enrolling.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality9.0
Compassion9.0
Management8.0
Culture9.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Whole-child development approach across five dimensions: Intelligence (IQ), Emotional (EQ), Spiritual (SQ), Creative (CQ), and Adversity Quotient (AQ), rooted in the belief that each child is capable and rich in potential. Weekly themed lessons built on monthly themes delivered through small-group instruction for individualized attention.
Programs & activities: Programs by age: Infant Care (6 weeks-18 months), Toddler (18 months-3 years), Preschool (3-4 years), and Transitional Kindergarten (4-5 years). Sign language is taught from infancy, and children receive take-home materials reinforcing classroom learning; TK adds public speaking, academic assessments, and leadership skills.
What sets it apart: Below state-required teacher-to-child ratios and a 4.9-star Yelp rating across locations. Five campuses across Los Angeles and the Bay Area (Eagle Rock, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Duarte, San Mateo); founded 2020 by Sue Athwal, a published author with 10+ years in LA education.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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#1 in San Gabriel
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">#1 in San Gabriel</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in San Gabriel. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
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Top 100 in California
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 100 in California</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across California.</span>
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Best for Safety
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best for Safety</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest safety score in San Gabriel. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
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Best Teachers
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher quality score in San Gabriel. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.</span>
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Most Compassionate
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Most Compassionate</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest compassion score in San Gabriel. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
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Best Infant Care
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in San Gabriel. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</span>
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Updated · July 2026
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.
