San Leandro, CA · Alameda County · Based on public reviews & parent communities
Finding the right childcare in San Leandro, California
San Leandro earned the nickname "The Cherry City" after its first cherry festival in 1909, when orchards covered much of the fertile flatlands and drew crowds of 75,000 by the early 1910s. The city was officially designated California's "Sausage Capital" by the state legislature, a distinction rooted in its strong Portuguese heritage and its long tradition as a center for sausage manufacturing, with companies like SPAR Sausage still operating there today. More CCLD-licensed child care centers in San Leandro, CA. We scored each California-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.
CCLD license #13422421 — active since June 2016; a non-profit private school at 750 Fargo Ave, San Leandro 94579; established as a community institution since 1974
Yelp 16 reviews (updated June 2026) — one parent writes: 'Unlike other places I visited, the teachers here are 100% engaged with the kids — playing on the floor, sitting in tiny chairs doing a craft, talking to kids on the playground'
True play-based educational philosophy: nurtures cognitive, physical, and social development with a very large outdoor play area praised repeatedly by Berkeley Parents Network families
Teachers praised for extraordinary longevity — '30 years between them' noted by multiple reviewers, signaling exceptional staff retention rare in childcare
Berkeley Parents Network profile lists consistent 5-star parent endorsements describing the school as 'very warm, nurturing, play-based, lovely, and affordable' for preschool–elementary families
Non-profit governance with community accountability; serves preschool through grade 5 — families can stay across multiple childhood years with the same teaching community
Considerations
CCLD records show one inspection report in 2022 with limited citation details — families should request full current CCLD inspection history before enrolling
Tuition approximately $12,000/year — above entry-level preschool pricing, though parents note it is 'competitive' for the quality; no subsidy information found online
Elementary school component (K–5) means campus serves a wide age range; preschool families should confirm dedicated pre-K classroom separation from older students
CCLD license #013420912 — active since November 2011; zero citations across all CCLD inspections from 2022–2025; established 1979 — over 45 years of continuous Montessori education in San Leandro
Yelp 4.5 stars from 59 reviews (updated February 2026) — parents say 'I couldn't be happier with Learning Clock Montessori — my daughter started at 2 and has flourished'
BBB A+ accredited with 28 years of verified business operation — one of the longest BBB records for a San Leandro childcare center
Weekly enrichment activities including yoga, plus regular graduation ceremonies that parents describe as memorable and community-building
Accepts ages 18 months through 5 years; open Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–5:30 PM — full working-parent hours on the Doolittle Drive industrial corridor near San Leandro BART
Staff described as 'trustworthy' and 'excellent' across multiple Yelp reviews; school has evolved curriculum since 1979 to incorporate contemporary Montessori best practices
Considerations
Closes at 5:30 PM — earlier than centers open until 6:00–6:30 PM; may constrain families with evening-shift or late-meeting schedules
Located in an industrial corridor on Doolittle Dr — outdoor environment may be less aesthetically natural than park-adjacent or neighborhood campuses
No infant care for children under 18 months — families needing infant slots from birth to 18 months must seek another center
CCLD license #013418096 — active since February 2005; capacity 36 children at 580 Joaquin Ave, San Leandro 94577; over 20 years of Montessori education in the Estudillo district
Yelp 40 reviews (updated May 2026); Yahoo Local reports 4.9 rating — consistently high cross-platform parent satisfaction score
Spanish immersion Montessori program — a distinctive bilingual offering for English-speaking and Spanish-speaking families seeking authentic early language acquisition
Serves ages 2 through 6 years; open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–6:00 PM — full working-parent hours in central San Leandro near the 880 corridor
Small capacity of 36 provides intimate class sizes with individualized Montessori attention; non-subsidized center focused on private-pay quality
Parents describe teachers as building a 'foundation for a lifetime of discovery' with a 'safe, fun, and nurturing learning atmosphere' across multiple review platforms
Considerations
No confirmed Google Maps rating found from an attributed public source — Google Maps count not independently verified; families should check directly
Very small capacity (36) — likely waitlisted; families should inquire early, especially for age 2 Spanish immersion spots
Does not participate in subsidized childcare programs — families needing CalWORKs, CAPP, or other subsidized care must seek another center
No infant program — youngest age is 2 years; families needing care for children under 2 must seek another provider
CCLD LicensedYelp 123 Reviews · AMS Montessori · Est. 1995 · Ages 2–6 · 130 Students
6.5/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
7
Strengths
CCLD license #015700622 — active since October 2023; no citations on March 2025 inspection; located at 16492 Foothill Blvd, San Leandro 94578; AMS Montessori affiliated
Yelp 123 reviews (updated March 2026) — among the highest Yelp review volume for any San Leandro childcare center; serving San Leandro and Castro Valley families since 1995
130 students with 12:1 student-teacher ratio; Montessori curriculum for ages 2–6 with a two-year-old program; open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliated — nationally recognized Montessori accreditation for curriculum and teacher training standards
Parents highlight 'Ms Bingjie in room 4' and director Teresa for keeping the school running consistently; strong staff culture noted across multiple reviews
Foothill Blvd location (94578) convenient for families in the San Leandro–Castro Valley corridor — serves both communities effectively
Considerations
One Yelp reviewer noted classroom environment feels 'less cheerful than hoped' — families should tour classrooms and outdoor spaces before committing
Large enrollment (130 students) — may feel less intimate than boutique Montessori programs with under 40 children
No infant program — youngest age is 2 years; families needing infant care must seek another provider
CCLD LicensedKidango Network · NAEYC Eligible · Ages 3–5 · Head Start · Est. 2010
6.0/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5
Strengths
CCLD license #013420560 — active since August 2010; most recent inspection December 2024 shows zero citations — excellent current regulatory standing
Part of Kidango's 50+ Bay Area center network — 33% NAEYC accredited across the system; a quality benchmark fewer than 4% of California centers achieve
San Lorenzo Unified School District partnership — Kidango provides preschool programming for 3- and 4-year-olds at Corvallis and district campuses across approximately 400 preschool slots
Kidango's research-based curriculum develops language, math, and social-emotional kindergarten readiness; bilingual staff available at the Corvalis campus
Nutritious professionally designed meals included for all enrolled children; early childhood mental health services integrated across Kidango centers
Capacity 24 at 14790 Corvalis St (94579) — neighborhood-embedded center serving south San Leandro's residential community with equity-focused Head Start programming
Considerations
Very small capacity (24) — likely waitlisted; Head Start income eligibility may limit access for families above income thresholds
Preschool-only center (ages 3–5) — no infant or toddler care; families with children under 3 must seek another Kidango location or separate provider
CCLD LicensedYelp 19 Reviews · Infant–School Age · Bilingual · Est. 2010
5.7/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
6
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5
Strengths
CCLD license #013420527 — active since May 2010; 890 Fargo Ave, San Leandro 94579; part of the Li'l Angels childcare network with multiple East Bay locations
Yelp 19 reviews (updated April 2026); Winnie parent review notes 'attentive and caring infant teachers' who provide daily app updates with photos — strong infant-specific communication
Serves ages 2 through 12 years — extended care for school-age children makes this a full continuum option for working families in south San Leandro (94579)
Open Monday–Friday 6:30 AM–6:00 PM — among the earliest opening times in San Leandro, ideal for early-commute families
Li'l Angels mission emphasizes a safe, creative, intellectually stimulating environment with respect and appreciation for each child's individuality
Fargo Ave location (94579) accessible to families in the Washington Manor, Bonaire, and Floresta neighborhoods of south San Leandro
Considerations
CCLD inspection summary not available in online public records — families should request current inspection reports from the state portal before enrolling
Limited online curriculum documentation — families should request a written daily schedule and program overview before making enrollment decisions
No confirmed Montessori or specialized curriculum — program specifics should be confirmed by contacting the center at (510) 895-8736
CCLD license #013411568 — active since 1996; capacity 39 children at 1699 Orchard Ave, San Leandro 94577 — Christian Life Church ministry preschool with nearly 30 years of community operation
Nextdoor community reviews cite 'dedicated teachers, structured program, and children who thrive' with prayer incorporated meaningfully into the daily curriculum
Non-profit Christian preschool for ages 24 months through 1st grade entry; breakfast and snacks provided; Bible-integrated phonics, ABCs, numbers, shapes, and arts curriculum
Potty training assistance provided — an important practical feature for families enrolling 2-year-olds who are still developing this milestone
Open Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–6:00 PM — full working-parent hours in the residential Orchard Ave corridor of San Leandro (94577)
Two Type B citations noted but center has maintained continuous active license for nearly 30 years — long-term operational stability
Considerations
Faith-based (Christian) curriculum — families seeking a secular or non-religious program should carefully consider the integration of Bible, prayer, and worship into daily activities
Two Type B CCLD citations noted in inspection history (2021–2024) — families should request current inspection reports and ask about corrective actions taken
Full street address not confirmed in search results
Limited public information available
No centers match this filter.
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🔍 San Leandro CA childcare — all 6 centers ranked across safety, curriculum, teacher quality & more. Independent, honest, based on real parent reviews. #SanLeandro #AlamedaCounty