Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Davis across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.
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 Davis. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Davis. 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 Davis. 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 Davis. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Full Ranking Detail
childcareinfantpreschool
Center for Child and Family Studies at UC Davis is a NAEYC-accredited early childhood laboratory operated by the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology, serving infants through preschool-age children (12 months to 5 years) on the UC Davis campus at 238 1st Street in Davis. Its staff are credentialed child development researchers and clinicians—the highest teacher qualification level of any Davis center researched—and the curriculum integrates Reggio Emilia, High Scope Active Learning, and Program for Infant/Toddler Care frameworks, representing the most evidence-based blend of any Davis preschool. With over 60 years of institutional backing and operation, the center offers a research-environment setting unmatched for academic rigor in the region. Prospective families should note that enrollment prioritizes UC Davis affiliates, availability is limited, and the program operates part-time (12 hours per week per research schedule), making it suitable only for families with flexible or supplemental childcare needs; applicants should contact (530) 752-2888 early to confirm eligibility and waitlist status.
Safety6.0
Curriculum9.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality9.0
Compassion8.0
Management7.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 3 in Davis
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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-3-city.jpg" alt="Top 3 in Davis - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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 3 in Davis</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Davis across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 100 in California
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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 - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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 - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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 Davis. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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 - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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 Davis. 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: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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 - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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 Davis. 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: Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sacramento/davis/center-for-child-and-family-studies-uc-davis-early-childhood-lab/" 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 - Center for Child and Family Studies (UC Davis Early Childhood Lab) - Davis, 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 Davis. 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.
