How do I choose the right daycare in National City?

When choosing a daycare in National City, 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 Centers in National City, California (17 Results)

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in California?

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 National City for current pricing.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in National City

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.

Ecs Harbison Head Start

4.2 score

4.4(5)

1540 South Harbison Avenue, National City, CA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 78 children

ECS Harbison Head Start receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising dedicated staff members and field trip opportunities. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving alleged child abuse by a supervisor, claiming staff denied the incident and failed to follow up on a county investigation.

Dedicated and patient teachers (Ms. BiancaMs. GonzalezMs. Nancy)field trips

Dino Daycare And Preschool

3.44 score

3.2(12)

6 Highland Avenue, National City, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 48 children

Dino Daycare receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the bilingual curriculum, attentive staff, modern facilities, and child development progress. However, several parents report serious concerns about staff conduct, injury incidents, and alleged uncooperative responses when requesting camera footage for review.

Bilingual education (English and Spanish)attentive and caring staffmodern high-tech facilitynice playground

Daycare Centers in National City, California

There are 17 daycare centers in National City, California. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

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

Frequently asked questions

There are 17 all daycares in National City, California. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.

When choosing a daycare in National City, 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

National City offers several types of childcare facilities:

Child Daycare & Preschools — 14 facilities
Headstart Programs — 3 facilities

Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

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 National City for current pricing.

Yes, daycare centers in National City 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.

17 Daycare Centers in National City, California

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in National City

Top Rated

Cda - Parks Child Development Center

Miracle Moments Child Development Center

Ecs Harbison Head Start

Ecs - Highland Head Start

Little Lambs Preschool - National City

Dino Daycare And Preschool

Map

Daycare types in National City

Browse by type in National City