Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Clemente. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best for Safety
Earned the highest safety score in San Clemente. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in San Clemente. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in San Clemente. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcareinfantkinder
The Goddard School — San Clemente is a California Department of Social Services-licensed Day Care and Infant Center (license 304371416, capacity 24) located at 1351 Calle Avanzado in San Clemente, serving infants from six weeks through pre-K. With strong parent reviews (Google 4.4 stars from 15 reviews), the center is praised for kind, attentive teachers and owner Anu's personal responsiveness. Its signature STEAM program emphasizes science and nature exploration, while enrichment activities include American Sign Language, languages, music, yoga, and technology-based learning. The facility maintains clean, organized spaces and emphasizes social-skill development; extended hours (7 am–6 pm, Monday–Friday) support working families. With only 24 licensed spots, enrollment likely involves waitlist competition, particularly for infant rooms.
Safety6.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management7.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Uses the Wonder of Learning curriculum, designed by early childhood development experts and focused on whole-child development. Emphasizes nurturing each child's unique potential by encouraging natural curiosity through personalized lesson plans.
Programs & activities: Enrichment includes American Sign Language and secondary languages, S.T.E.A.M. (computers, engineering, robotics), music appreciation, yoga and mindfulness, interactive whiteboard and tablet-based learning, and handwriting instruction. Summer camp is available. Serves infants (6 weeks) through Pre-K.
What sets it apart: Open Monday-Friday 7:00 am-6:00 pm. Security features include iris scanner access, crash-rated fencing, gate alarm, outdoor cameras, parking lot bollards, and finger guards. On-site owner, daily email updates to parents, and a food/nutrition program are mentioned.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in San Clemente
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Goddard School — San Clemente -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in San Clemente</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Clemente. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
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Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Goddard School — San Clemente -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/san-clemente/the-goddard-school-san-clemente/" 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 for Safety</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest safety score in San Clemente. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Goddard School — San Clemente -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/san-clemente/the-goddard-school-san-clemente/" 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-infant.jpg" alt="Best Infant Care - The Goddard School — San Clemente - San Clemente, 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 Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in San Clemente. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Goddard School — San Clemente -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/orange-county/san-clemente/the-goddard-school-san-clemente/" 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 - The Goddard School — San Clemente - San Clemente, 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 San Clemente. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</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.
