Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Auburn. 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 Auburn. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Auburn. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in Auburn. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Full Ranking Detail
childcareinfantpreschool
Lily Pad Early Learning Center on Lincoln Way in Auburn is a dual-licensed CCLD childcare provider serving infants through pre-K, with dual licenses (313623319 and 313623318) confirming specialized infant programming rare in the 95603 area. Operating since January 2020 with full working-parent hours (6 am–6 pm, Monday–Friday), it emphasizes small group sizes and low student-teacher ratios: infant classes capped at 6 children with at least 2 teachers, toddlers at 9 with 3 teachers, and preschool at 17 with 2+ teachers. Parents consistently describe staff as patient and engaged, with strong family communication. The Creative Curriculum framework supports kindergarten readiness through small-group, interest-based activities. CCLD inspection records show Type B citations across 2022–2025 for the main license and prior substantiated complaints in the infant program; prospective families should review current corrective actions at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment, and limited capacity (19 day-care and 33 infant-center slots) suggests waitlists are likely.
Safety5.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care6.0
Kindergarten readiness5.0
Teacher quality6.0
Compassion7.0
Management5.0
Culture6.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Follows the Creative Curriculum, adapted to children's interests and needs. Preschool programming centers on kindergarten readiness skills and fostering independence.
What sets it apart: Emphasizes small group sizes with low student-teacher ratios: infant classes max 6 children with at least 2 teachers plus floating staff, toddler classes 9 children with 3 teachers, and preschool (ages 3-5) max 17 students with at least 2 teachers. Virtual tours and waitlist/contract signup offered.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Auburn
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Lily Pad Early Learning Center -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in Auburn</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Auburn. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Lily Pad Early Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/auburn/lily-pad-early-learning-center/" 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 - Lily Pad Early Learning Center - Auburn, 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 Auburn. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Lily Pad Early Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/auburn/lily-pad-early-learning-center/" 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 - Lily Pad Early Learning Center - Auburn, 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 Auburn. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Lily Pad Early Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/auburn/lily-pad-early-learning-center/" 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 - Lily Pad Early Learning Center - Auburn, 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 Auburn. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</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.
