Child care center · Gardena, California

Pace - St. John Head Start Center

Gardena · Licensed for 45 children · licensed since 2003

14517 Crenshaw Blvd., 90249(213) 989-3244
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Preschools aren’t tested, scored or ranked.

Licensed since 2003. No serious violations in 11 state visits.

Common questions

Is it licensed?

Yes: an active child care center licence, no. 197410785, first issued September 24, 2003. Evidence ↓

Has the state found problems?

11 state visits on file, with no Type A finding and no Type B finding across them. Type A means an immediate risk to health or safety. Evidence ↓

How many children are there?

Up to 45 children at once under the licence. That’s the state’s maximum, not current enrollment; ask how many are enrolled and their ages. Evidence ↓

More questions (3)

What does it cost?

We have no source for its prices. Ask for the weekly or monthly rate and what it includes. Evidence ↓

When could my child start free TK instead?

The September after they turn 4: TK is free at public elementary schools for children who turn 4 by September 1. 9 public and charter campuses in Gardena have a TK class. Evidence ↓

How do I visit?

Call (213) 989-3244 and ask to visit during the day, while children are there. Evidence ↓

State licensing

What does the state record about Pace - St. John Head Start Center?

Licensed for 45 children since 2003: 11 state visits on file, no Type A finding.

California Community Care Licensing

Child Care Center, licence 197410785

Type A means an immediate risk to health or safety.

  • StatusActive
  • Licensed capacity45 childrenThe most allowed at once, not current openings or group size
  • First licensedSeptember 24, 2003When this licence was issued
  • State visits on file11Latest recorded visit: June 11, 2026
  • Type A findings0Across 11 state visits
  • Type B findings0Across 11 state visits. CCLD reports findings as totals, not tied to a visit
  • Complaint visits2Investigations; the record doesn’t show whether complaints were upheld
  • Citation codes listed101238(a)(1)A code doesn’t say when a finding happened or whether it was corrected

Source: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing · synced August 13, 2026 · Full state record for licence 197410785 ↗

Licensing records describe regulatory oversight, not teaching or daily experience. Check the state’s current inspection records ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Ask: When was your last state licensing visit, and what did it find?

Visit dates and visit types

Dates are listed as supplied by CCLD. Finding totals above are not attached to individual visits.

Inspection visits
2
Other visits
7

Child care licensing regulations →

Complaint information date: 01/31/2025

TK and kindergarten

When could free TK start instead?

California’s public transitional kindergarten (TK) is free for children who turn 4 by September 1.

California’s TK rule

TK in Gardena9 public and charter campuses with a TK class, free for children who turn 4 by September 1 →
Nearby public elementary schoolsPercentile among California elementary schools, spring 2026
2 more nearby

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. Distance isn’t an attendance boundary; check TK and kindergarten entry with the district.

Next steps

How do I visit Pace - St. John Head Start Center, and what should I ask?

  1. When was your last state licensing visit, and what did it find?
  2. Licensed for 45 children: how many share your child’s room, and with how many adults?
  3. Which ages do you take, and how does a new child settle in?
  4. What are the daily hours and closure dates, and is there care before or after?
  5. What does a year cost in total, and when could our child start?
  6. 2 complaint visits are on file: what were they about, and how were they resolved?

On a visit, watch how adults talk with children, how play and rest are set up, and how staff handle a hard morning.

Address
14517 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena 90249
Phone
(213) 989-3244
Licensed as
Child Care Center
Facility number
197410785

Call (213) 989-3244Directions ↗

Source recordsstate licensing

The inspection source covers child care centers, not family child care homes. Check each license’s sync date and the current state reports, then confirm routines and enrollment with the program.

Data source: California Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) · Licensing record synced August 13, 2026

Inspection reports ↗ · Parent reviews on Winnie ↗ · Pre-K vs TK vs preschool in California: a 2026 parent’s guide · Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio · Preschool cost guide