Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Leandro. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in San Leandro. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in San Leandro. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in San Leandro. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Best Extracurriculars
Earned the highest extracurricular score in San Leandro. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcaretoddlerpreschoolmontessori
Montessori School of San Leandro is an American Montessori Society (AMS)-affiliated center at 16492 Foothill Blvd in San Leandro, serving children ages 2–6 with a specialized Montessori curriculum emphasizing hands-on learning in language, mathematics, and practical life skills. Established in 1995, the school holds an active CCLD license (since October 2023) with no citations on its most recent inspection, operates a 130-student program at a state-compliant 12:1 ratio with 7 AM–6 PM weekday hours, and draws among the highest review volume on Yelp (123 reviews as of March 2026) from San Leandro and Castro Valley families. Parents consistently praise the teaching staff and director Teresa for institutional continuity and care. The center does not serve infants (youngest age is 2 years), and its larger enrollment may feel less intimate than boutique Montessori programs; prospective families should tour classrooms and outdoor spaces to assess environment quality.
Safety5.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care4.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management7.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Follows Maria Montessori's educational principles in a hands-on, child-centered environment. Preschool/kindergarten curriculum covers language (reading and writing), mathematics, sensorial, practical life skills, and studying plants, animals, and geography.
Programs & activities: Two Year Old Program (ages 2-3), Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 3-6), and Summer School (ages 2-6) with themed programs (Invertebrate Animals, Human Anatomy, Solar System) featuring models, puzzles, books, projects, and arts and crafts.
What sets it apart: Member of the American Montessori Society; teachers hold Montessori credentials or are in training. Operating since 1995, hours Mon-Fri 7am-6pm; touchless attendance, daily sanitizing, enclosed campus with external security cameras and access code entry; state ratio of one teacher per 12 children.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in San Leandro
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Montessori School of San Leandro -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in San Leandro</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Leandro. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
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</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Montessori School of San Leandro -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/san-leandro/montessori-school-of-san-leandro/" 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 Curriculum</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in San Leandro. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Montessori School of San Leandro -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/san-leandro/montessori-school-of-san-leandro/" 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-kinder.jpg" alt="Best K-Ready - Montessori School of San Leandro - San Leandro, 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 K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in San Leandro. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Montessori School of San Leandro -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/san-leandro/montessori-school-of-san-leandro/" 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 Management</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest management score in San Leandro. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Extracurriculars
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Montessori School of San Leandro -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/sf-bay-area/san-leandro/montessori-school-of-san-leandro/" 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-extra.jpg" alt="Best Extracurriculars - Montessori School of San Leandro - San Leandro, 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 Extracurriculars</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest extracurricular score in San Leandro. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core 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.
