Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in El Cajon. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in El Cajon. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschoolschool-age
Children's Choice Learning Connection operates two campuses in El Cajon serving infants through school-age children, with the primary location at 1268 & 1276 N 2nd St. Founded in 1994 as a non-profit with nine locations across East County, the center uses a ZooPhonics and Common Core-aligned academic curriculum integrated with the Incredible Years social-emotional program. It provides breakfast, lunch, and two daily snacks as a Nutrition Program participant, extends hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and offers outdoor play for up to an hour and a half daily. With strong community trust reflected in a 4.6-star Yelp rating from 38 reviews, the center provides a robust educational and care foundation—though its inspection record includes citations at both locations, warranting careful consideration alongside its strong parent reviews.
Safety4.0
Curriculum6.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care4.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality6.0
Compassion6.0
Management4.0
Culture5.0
Extracurriculars5.0
Programs & curriculum
Programs & activities: Outdoor play up to an hour and a half daily with opportunities for physical development and social skill-building through cooperation and turn-taking. Programs for infants (6 weeks - 18 months), toddlers (18 months - 2.5 years), preschool (2.5 - 4 years), pre-K (4 years), advanced kinder readiness (4 - 5 years), and school age (5 - 16 years). Free preschool option available.
What sets it apart: Hours 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM. License #376700510. CPR-certified teachers with securely fenced-in yards. Daily sanitization of high-touch items and professional deep cleaning. Director: Kate Yohe.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in City
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Children's Choice Learning Connection -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in City</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in El Cajon. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Children's Choice Learning Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/san-diego/el-cajon/children-s-choice-learning-connection/" 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 K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in El Cajon. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</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.
