Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Aliso Viejo. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.
Top 100 in California
Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across California.
Best for Safety
Earned the highest safety score in Aliso Viejo. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Full Ranking Detail
childcaremontessoriinfantkinder
Academy on the Hills is a CCLD-licensed Montessori-principled childcare center in Aliso Viejo, serving infants through kindergarten-age children (6 weeks to 6 years). With over 25 years of operation and a multi-site presence across Orange County, the center brings institutional consistency to its Language Arts, Math, and Social Sciences-focused program delivered through creative and nurturing activities. It commands the highest Yelp review volume among Aliso Viejo licensed preschools (76 reviews) and holds a 4.8-star Kinside rating, reflecting strong community confidence. Families considering enrollment should verify the center's citation history through CCLD's public records before enrolling.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion8.0
Management8.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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#1 in Aliso Viejo
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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-1-city.jpg" alt="#1 in Aliso Viejo - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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;">#1 in Aliso Viejo</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 Aliso Viejo. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 100 in California
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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-100-state.jpg" alt="Top 100 in California - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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 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>
</span>
</a>
Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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 - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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 for Safety</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest safety score in Aliso Viejo. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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-teacherq.jpg" alt="Best Teachers - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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 Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher quality score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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-curriculum.jpg" alt="Best Curriculum - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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 Curriculum</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Academy on the Hills -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/academy-on-the-hills/" 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 - Academy on the Hills - Aliso Viejo, 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;">Most Compassionate</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest compassion score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</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.
