Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Richmond. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.
Best for Safety
Earned the highest safety score in Richmond. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Richmond. 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 Richmond. 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 Richmond. 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 Richmond. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Full Ranking Detail
childcareinfantpreschool
Nomura Preschool is a licensed, long-established provider at 1711 Carlson Blvd in Richmond, California, serving children from 6 months through 5 years across multiple Bay Area locations including Albany, El Cerrito, and Berkeley. Operating since 1964 and licensed for a capacity of 90 children, the center has maintained a strong community presence and consistently earned recognition with multiple Parents' Press Best of the Bay awards over the past decade. A child-centered curriculum emphasizes curiosity and learning through enrichment classes in soccer, gymnastics, dance, and music, with flexible Monday–Friday hours from 7:30am to 6pm. Yelp reviews consistently highlight warm and welcoming staff with smooth child transitions, though parents should note that infant capacity is limited and standard enrollment is ages 18 months to 5 years.
Safety6.0
Curriculum7.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management7.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Child-centered, nurturing approach designed to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning, with a stated "neighborhood feel" and a mission to build connections between students and the world around them.
Programs & activities: Toddler, preschool, and Pre-K programs for ages 18 months to 5 years. Weekly specialized enrichment classes in soccer, gymnastics, dance, and music (about 30 minutes each) that culminate in end-of-year performances.
What sets it apart: Operating since 1964 (nearly 60 years) with locations in Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Berkeley and surrounding areas. Hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-6pm; multiple Parents' Press Best of the Bay awards (2015-2024).
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
🏆 For Center Directors
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#1 in Richmond
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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-1-city.jpg" alt="#1 in Richmond - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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;">#1 in Richmond</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Richmond. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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 - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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 Richmond. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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 - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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 Richmond. 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: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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 - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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 Richmond. 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: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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 - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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 Richmond. 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: Nomura Preschool -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/richmond/nomura-preschool/" 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 - Nomura Preschool - Richmond, 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 Richmond. 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.
