Best of Winner: Early Childhood Learning Center

Parents feel strongly about their children’s preschools in Scotts Valley, which was evident in the voter turnout for our second “Best of Patch” contest. A total of 1,099 Patch readers cast their ballots for the best preschool in town.

And the winner? , with 330 votes. 

ECLC is one of a trio of Baymonte Christian preschools in Scotts Valley. Together, the three preschools got more than half the votes in this poll, with ECLC getting 30 percent, and the main campus of Baymonte Christian Preschool coming in second with 22 percent of the votes.

The Early Childhood Learning Center is at 570 Bethany Drive and was affiliated with Bethany University until the college closed last June. That’s when Baymonte took it over, keeping its staff and program.

“It’s been a miracle year for us,” site director Helena Coffelt said of the school’s transition to Baymonte.

The center has been in operation since 1989. It is licensed to serve 55 children from ages 2 to 6 in two different classrooms. It has both half-day and full-day options and is accredited with the Association of Christian Schools International.

Baymonte Christian School’s main preschool campus, on Granite Creek Road, was established in 1973 to complement Baymonte’s growing elementary school. It offers three age-specific classes for students from 3 to 5. Parents may enroll their children in two, three, or five-day options for either full or half days.

Patch reader Sandra Jensen has been part of Baymonte’s schools for many years and commented: "Both of our boys went to Baymonte's preschool on the main campus. We had no intention on sending our boys to private school but decided to after experiencing Baymonte's preschool. They went all the way through eighth grade. This is our last year. A Christ-centered education has molded and changed our entire family into the healthy, thriving family it is today. We would do it this way again, if given the choice."

Kelly Johnson is another reader whose children are Baymonte preschool graduates. "The whole school has a dedicated staff," she said in her comment. "The preschool has a great environment—loving, happy, active. Without exception, the teaching staff in the preschool was and is the best in the county."

Coming in third in the Readers' Choice for best preschool was Scotts Valley Children's Center, with 17 percent of the votes. Fourth was Montessori Scotts Valley, with 9 percent. Fifth place went to Circle of Friends Preschool, with 8 percent of the votes. Sixth went to Baymonte Christian Preschool (the Scotts Valley Drive location), and seventh went to A Child's Connection, with 5 percent.

Next week, Scotts Valley Patch will look for the "Best Place to Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day." The voting begins at 5 a.m. on Monday.