Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Lakeland.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in Lakeland. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, and parent feedback for infant rooms.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschool
The Nest Schools Lakeland is a premium, NAEYC-recognized childcare center at Lake Miriam Drive, offering infant through school-age care under the proprietary Nest Play Curriculum. The facility stands out for its comprehensive program suite including private kindergarten, VPK, flexible drop-in days, and enrichment extras like arts and fitness. Early parent feedback is enthusiastic, highlighting child development gains in speech, emotional growth, and academic readiness. Staff are praised for attentiveness and clear parent communication.
Safety8.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality7.0
Compassion7.0
Management7.0
Culture8.0
Class sizes6.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Nest Play Curriculum incorporating current research in early development; play-based education with emphasis on home-to-school connections.
Programs & activities: Age-grouped programs from infants through school-age; summer camp; holiday drop-in care; before/after school care with creative activities.
What sets it apart: NAEYC accreditation; Florida VPK provider; outdoor classrooms with natural elements; CDA-credentialed leadership team; hours 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 10 in Lakeland
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Nest Schools, Inc. -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in Lakeland</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Lakeland.</span>
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Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Nest Schools, Inc. -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/florida/major-cities/lakeland/the-nest-schools-inc/" 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 - The Nest Schools, Inc. - 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 Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in Lakeland. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, and parent feedback for 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.
