Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across Florida.
Top 3 in Lakeland
Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Lakeland across all 11 quality dimensions.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Lakeland. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and school-readiness preparation.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Lakeland. Weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth in parent reviews, and consistency of care.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Lakeland. Reflects director responsiveness, communication, and operational consistency.
Smallest Classes
Earned the highest low-crowding score in Lakeland. Reflects class sizes, child-to-teacher ratios, and individual attention.
Best Extracurriculars
Earned the highest extracurricular score in Lakeland. Covers enrichment — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and more.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschool
Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab is a university-affiliated preschool located on the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus in Lakeland, serving ages 3-5 in a research-based, play-centered curriculum supervised by college faculty. Open to the general public through a competitive application process, the lab school maintains low student-to-teacher ratios and offers half-day or full-day enrollment options, with summer programming including themed adventures ("Around the World in 9 Weeks") and field trips to regional attractions. The center focuses on holistic development—cognitive, social/emotional, linguistic, and physical—with activities spanning art, investigation, outdoor time, movement, and special events; it does not serve infants or toddlers, and potty training is required for enrollment.
Safety8.0
Curriculum9.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care4.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality9.0
Compassion8.0
Management8.0
Culture8.0
Class sizes8.0
Extracurriculars8.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Child-centered, play-based approach with research-based instruction supporting social/emotional, cognitive, and physical development, aiming to prepare children as Kindergarten Ready.
Programs & activities: Art/crafts, experiments, investigation, outdoor time, dance/movement, gym time, and special events (fall parade, winter music performance, spring egg hunt). Summer camp "Around the World in 9 Weeks" features themed weekly activities and field trips including Epcot.
What sets it apart: Serves ages 3-5 (potty training required). Low student-to-teacher ratios; 3 or 5-day options with half-day (9am-12pm) or full-day (9am-3:30pm) enrollment available.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 100 in Florida
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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-100-state.jpg" alt="Top 100 in Florida - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 100 in Florida</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across Florida.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 3 in Lakeland
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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-3-city.jpg" alt="Top 3 in Lakeland - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 3 in Lakeland</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Lakeland across all 11 quality dimensions.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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 - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 Lakeland. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and school-readiness preparation.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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 - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 Lakeland. Weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth in parent reviews, and consistency of care.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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-mgmt.jpg" alt="Best Management - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 Management</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest management score in Lakeland. Reflects director responsiveness, communication, and operational consistency.</span>
</span>
</a>
Smallest Classes
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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-crowding.jpg" alt="Smallest Classes - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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;">Smallest Classes</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest low-crowding score in Lakeland. Reflects class sizes, child-to-teacher ratios, and individual attention.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Extracurriculars
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/florida-southern-college-early-childhood-learning-lab/" 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 - Florida Southern College Early Childhood Learning Lab - Lakeland, FL" 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 Lakeland. Covers enrichment — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and more.</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.
