Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Aliso Viejo across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.
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.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarefaith-basedcurriculumkinder
St. Mary's School Early Education Program in Aliso Viejo is Orange County's only NAEYC-accredited International Baccalaureate school serving preschool through eighth grade, offering an inquiry-based, whole-child curriculum grounded in IB standards and developmentally appropriate practice. With a 30-year track record since 1994, CCLD license capacity of 130, zero citations across six inspections from 2023–2025, and recognition from Niche (A- rating) and local chamber leadership (4.3 stars from 15 reviews), the school demonstrates sustained institutional excellence and community trust. The program integrates arts, world languages, athletics, and field studies within a cohesive K–8 continuum. As a premium Catholic independent school, tuition and faith-based affiliation merit confirmation with families to ensure alignment with their values and budget.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care4.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion7.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: International Baccalaureate (IB) framework; the Early Education program follows IB standards and NAEYC developmentally appropriate practice guidelines with an inquiry-based, whole-child approach.
Programs & activities: Arts, athletics, world languages, field studies/trips, summer session, and intersession programs.
What sets it apart: St. Mary's School, an independent school serving Early Preschool through 8th grade; describes itself as the only independent IB school in Orange County, CA with Primary and Middle Years Programmes; founded 1994; ~720 students on a 6.25-acre campus.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 3 in Aliso Viejo
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 3 in Aliso Viejo</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Aliso Viejo across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.</span>
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Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/st-mary-s-school-early-education-program/" 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 - St. Mary's School Early Education Program - 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: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/st-mary-s-school-early-education-program/" 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 - St. Mary's School Early Education Program - 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>
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Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/st-mary-s-school-early-education-program/" 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;">
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<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>
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</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/st-mary-s-school-early-education-program/" 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 - St. Mary's School Early Education Program - 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 K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: St. Mary's School Early Education Program -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/aliso-viejo/st-mary-s-school-early-education-program/" 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 - St. Mary's School Early Education Program - 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 Arts & Music</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Aliso Viejo. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span>
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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.
