Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Newark. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Newark. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Newark. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Newark. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschoolmontessori
Safari Kid – Newpark Mall is a CCLD-licensed center-based provider at 5700 Newpark Mall Rd in Newark, serving toddlers through school age with an extended day schedule from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The center has maintained zero CCLD citations since its 2012 opening, earning consistent positive ratings on Niche and Yelp for its Montessori and Reggio Emilia-informed curriculum. On-site enrichment activities including Lego Robotics, chess, dance, and debate, combined with available school drop-off and pick-up services, support working families and comprehensive child development. The mall location offers convenient parking and freeway access but lacks a traditional outdoor play yard, meaning outdoor learning may rely on periodic field outings rather than a dedicated campus space. Licensed capacity is 50 children.
Safety6.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care4.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management7.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Whole child development approach addressing cognitive, social, language/literacy, physical, emotional, and health/care domains using play-based learning with hands-on activities and nature-based learning guided by the WISDOM Learning Path.
Programs & activities: Toddler, preschool (Entry Level, Intermediate, Pre-K), Kindergarten, After School (TK-6th), Summer Camp, extracurricular activities including dance, chess, Lego Robotics, public speaking, and debate. Local school drop-off and pick-up services available.
What sets it apart: Hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM. On-site extracurricular enrichment activities. Individual progress assessments. Parent-school collaboration. ECE-credentialed staff.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Newark
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Safari Kid – Newpark Mall -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/newark/safari-kid-newpark-mall/" 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-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in Newark - Safari Kid – Newpark Mall - Newark, 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 10 in Newark</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Newark. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Safari Kid – Newpark Mall -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/newark/safari-kid-newpark-mall/" 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 - Safari Kid – Newpark Mall - Newark, 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 Newark. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Safari Kid – Newpark Mall -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/newark/safari-kid-newpark-mall/" 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-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - Safari Kid – Newpark Mall - Newark, 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 Culture</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Newark. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Safari Kid – Newpark Mall -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/newark/safari-kid-newpark-mall/" 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 - Safari Kid – Newpark Mall - Newark, 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 Newark. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</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.
