Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Van Nuys. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Van Nuys. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Smile Learning Academy is a CCLD-licensed day care center at 16930 Sherman Way in Van Nuys, serving preschool and kindergarten-age children with a distinctive curriculum blending Armenian and American pedagogical philosophies. Founded in 2007 and deeply rooted in Van Nuys's Armenian-American community, the center operates Monday–Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and provides homemade nutritious meals—a notable differentiator in its neighborhood. Parent reviews highlight friendly staff and a clean environment that honors cultural roots. The very limited public review base (one Yelp review, no confirmed Google rating) means families should seek current-parent references before enrolling, and CCLD inspection records should be independently reviewed at ccld.ca.gov.
Safety5.0
Curriculum6.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care3.0
Kindergarten readiness5.0
Teacher quality6.0
Compassion6.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars5.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Play-based approach with developmentally appropriate experiences; lists "Play to Learn" as a core principle. States its aim is to prepare children for life, not just the next phase of education.
Programs & activities: Preschool program and Kindergarten program.
What sets it apart: Four core values: Quality Educators, Safety and Security, Play to Learn, and Caring Environment. Food services provided; tours available by appointment. Located in Van Nuys, CA.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Van Nuys
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Smile Learning Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/van-nuys/smile-learning-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-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in Van Nuys - Smile Learning Academy - Van Nuys, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in Van Nuys</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Van Nuys. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Smile Learning Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/los-angeles/van-nuys/smile-learning-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 - Smile Learning Academy - Van Nuys, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Arts & Music</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Van Nuys. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span>
</span>
</a>
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.
