Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Monterey, CA

Compare 9 daycare centers in Monterey. Average rating: 4.8/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Monterey, California at a glance

Daycares
9
Avg rating
4.8/5
Parent reviews
38
Top rated (4.5+)
5

Monterey has 9 licensed daycares with 38 parent reviews averaging 4.8/5.5 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 83% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 93940 zip code, averaging 4.8 stars across 9 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Monterey

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    Great Beginnings
    4.56 score
    4.8(12)

    52 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 42 children

    Great Beginnings receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, engaged staff and enriching learning environment. Children show significant developmental progress in language, socialization, and creativity, with parents noting their kids are happy and reluctant to leave. The center is commended for balancing structured learning with play in a well-maintained facility with ample outdoor space.

    caring and professional staffchild language and social developmentcreative activities tailored to individual interestslarge outdoor play area
  2. 2
    Monterey Peninsula College Children'S Center
    4.24 score
    4.3(20)

    980 Fremont Street, Monterey, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 96 children

    These reviews do not pertain to the Children's Center but rather to Monterey Peninsula College itself. The reviews praise the college's academic programs, campus facilities, and staff professionalism, but contain no information about the daycare center's operations, curriculum, or child care services.

    Beautiful campus with scenic viewsstrong math and chemistry departmentshelpful and engaging instructorsprofessional admissions staff

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Monterey

4.5 - 5.0
5
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
0

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Monterey zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
939409
4.8
5

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Monterey (24–104 children)

Small

up to 30 children

2

Medium

31–75 children

4

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Monterey based on parent reviews

Great Beginnings

4.8(12)

52 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA

Great Beginnings receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, engaged staff and enriching learning environment. Children show significant developmental progress in language, socialization, and creativity, with parents noting their kids are happy and reluctant to leave. The center is commended for balancing structured learning with play in a well-maintained facility with ample outdoor space.

caring and professional staffchild language and social developmentcreative activities tailored to individual interests

Serendipity Pre-School

5(2)

1231 Seventh Street, Monterey, CA

Monterey Peninsula College Children'S Center

4.3(20)

980 Fremont Street, Monterey, CA

These reviews do not pertain to the Children's Center but rather to Monterey Peninsula College itself. The reviews praise the college's academic programs, campus facilities, and staff professionalism, but contain no information about the daycare center's operations, curriculum, or child care services.

Beautiful campus with scenic viewsstrong math and chemistry departmentshelpful and engaging instructors

Ryan Ranch Children'S Center (Pre-School)

4.7(2)

2 Justin Court, Monterey, CA

Parents highlight the center's nurturing environment and diverse curriculum, which includes Spanish, art, music, and gymnastics. Reviewers specifically note the attentiveness of the staff and administration, citing significant progress in their children's development.

nurturing environmentdiverse curriculum (Spanishart

Teddy Bear Preschool

5(1)

1291 Fourth Street, Monterey, CA

Mothers Morning Out

5(1)

501 Eldorado, Monterey, CA

Map

Browse by type in Monterey

🎨 Preschools 6

Daycare Centers in Monterey, California

There are 9 daycare centers in Monterey, California. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Monterey have an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 83% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.8 stars. Our analysis covers 38 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Monterey, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Daycare Centers in Monterey

Showing 9 results

Serendipity Pre-School
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
1231 Seventh Street, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 375-9743
Teddy Bear Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
1291 Fourth Street, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 643-2273
Mothers Morning Out
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
501 Eldorado, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 373-1067
Great Beginnings
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.8

Great Beginnings receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, engaged staff and enriching learning environment. Children show significant developmental progress in language, socialization, and creativity, with parents noting their kids are happy and reluctant to leave. The center is commended for balancing structured learning with play in a well-maintained facility with ample outdoor space.

caring and professional staffchild language and social developmentcreative activities tailored to individual interests
Address
52 Soledad Drive, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 647-0551
Ryan Ranch Children'S Center (Pre-School)
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.7

Parents highlight the center's nurturing environment and diverse curriculum, which includes Spanish, art, music, and gymnastics. Reviewers specifically note the attentiveness of the staff and administration, citing significant progress in their children's development.

nurturing environmentdiverse curriculum (Spanishart
Address
2 Justin Court, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 647-9556
Monterey Peninsula College Children'S Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.3

These reviews do not pertain to the Children's Center but rather to Monterey Peninsula College itself. The reviews praise the college's academic programs, campus facilities, and staff professionalism, but contain no information about the daycare center's operations, curriculum, or child care services.

Beautiful campus with scenic viewsstrong math and chemistry departmentshelpful and engaging instructors
Address
980 Fremont Street, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 646-4066
Santa Catalina Pre-School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 655-9363
Shoreline Pre-School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2500 Garden Road, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 641-0209
Cclc Preschool At Monterey Presidio
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1608 Private Bolio Road, Monterey, CA
Phone
(831) 647-1880

Page 1 of 1· 9 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 9 all daycares in Monterey, California. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Monterey have an average Google rating of 4.8 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 83% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Monterey, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with California's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in California)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Daycare costs in California typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Monterey for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Monterey must be licensed by California's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.