Best Daycare Centers in Novato, CA
Compare 43 daycare centers in Novato. Average rating: 4.47/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Novato, California at a glance
- Daycares
- 43
- Avg rating
- 4.47/5
- Parent reviews
- 102
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 18
Novato has 43 licensed daycares with 102 parent reviews averaging 4.47/5.18 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 72% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 94945 (avg 5 stars), while 94949 has the largest selection (20 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Novato
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.
- 1Indian Valley College Children'S Center4.7 score4.9(18)
1800 Ignacio Blvd, Novato, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Reviews consistently praise Indian Valley College Children's Center for its beautiful, spacious campus setting with pleasant natural surroundings, trails, and access to various facilities. Parents appreciate the quiet, well-maintained location suitable for outdoor activities and events. Some mention COVID-19 restrictions as a limitation.
Beautiful campusspacious groundspleasant trails and natural settingquiet location - 2Novato Parents Nursery School INC4.69 score5(11)
1473 South Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 26 children
Novato Parents Nursery School is a cooperative preschool in Novato, California with consistently excellent ratings. Parents praise the play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, outdoor learning environment, supportive teachers, and strong community aspect where parents work one day per week in the classroom.
Play-based learningoutdoor focusReggio Emilia inspired curriculumknowledgeable and nurturing teachers - 3Noah'S Ark Preschool4.37 score4.6(8)
1370 South Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
Noah's Ark Preschool in Novato receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the caring staff, clean facilities, strong curriculum, and excellent kindergarten preparation. However, one parent reported serious concerns including alleged failure to share student information with a legal guardian, documentation bias, and lack of communication from administration.
caring and knowledgeable staffdaily communication via HiMama app with photosclean an - 4Marin Ymca @ Rancho (Sa)3.92 score3.9(20)
1430 Johnson Street, Novato, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 70 children
The reviews provided are not for daycare services but rather for the YMCA sports and fitness facility. This appears to be a mismatch between the facility type listed (CENTER BASED daycare) and the actual reviews received, which focus on gym amenities, classes, and memberships.
Clean and well-maintained facilitiesaffordable membership with sliding scale pricingexcellent amenities including poolsauna
Rating Distribution
Based on 25 daycares with Google ratings in Novato
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Novato, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Novato zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94945 | 8 | 5 | 5 | |
| 94947 | 15 | 4.69 | 9 | |
| 94949 | 20 | 3.9 | 4 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Novato (16–197 children)
Small
up to 30 children
17
Medium
31–75 children
18
Large
76–150 children
6
Very Large
150+ children
2
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Novato based on parent reviews
Indian Valley College Children'S Center
1800 Ignacio Blvd, Novato, CA
Reviews consistently praise Indian Valley College Children's Center for its beautiful, spacious campus setting with pleasant natural surroundings, trails, and access to various facilities. Parents appreciate the quiet, well-maintained location suitable for outdoor activities and events. Some mention COVID-19 restrictions as a limitation.
Novato Parents Nursery School INC
1473 South Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA
Novato Parents Nursery School is a cooperative preschool in Novato, California with consistently excellent ratings. Parents praise the play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, outdoor learning environment, supportive teachers, and strong community aspect where parents work one day per week in the classroom.
Heidi'S Kinderhaus
799 Plaza Linda, Novato, CA
Parents highlight the welcoming, family-like atmosphere and attentive staff who genuinely care for children, with one noting a long commute as the only drawback to an otherwise ideal program. Multiple families report that their children thrived socially and academically, forming strong bonds with teachers and peers. While some enrolled temporarily due to location, the quality of care was highly recommended by those who stayed.
Alpha Kids Academy LLC
495 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA
Parents describe Alpha Kids Academy as a well-run center with attentive and caring staff, noting that children enjoy the variety of activities and community feel. Reviewers highlight the administration's personal engagement with families and the value added by educational extras like music and arts. One parent mentioned they are returning for a younger sibling after a positive experience with an older child at a different facility.
Noah'S Ark Preschool
1370 South Novato Boulevard, Novato, CA
Noah's Ark Preschool in Novato receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the caring staff, clean facilities, strong curriculum, and excellent kindergarten preparation. However, one parent reported serious concerns including alleged failure to share student information with a legal guardian, documentation bias, and lack of communication from administration.
Marin Ymca @ San Ramon (Sa)
45 San Ramon Way, Novato, CA
One parent describes the staff as wonderful and dedicated to providing high-quality care. The single review highlights a positive experience with the team's commitment to children.
Map
Daycare types in Novato
Browse by type in Novato
Daycare Centers in Novato, California
There are 43 daycare centers in Novato, 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 Novato have an average rating of 4.47 out of 5 across 25 rated facilities, with 72% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 102 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Novato, 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 Novato
Showing 43 results
One parent describes NORTH BAY CHILDREN'S CENTER-TINKER WAY CAMPUS-S/A as the best place they have encountered, highlighting that the staff are very nice and their niece loved the program. The review focuses on positive staff interactions and child enjoyment without noting specific negatives.
- Address
- 22 Tinker Way, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 883-6228
- Address
- 940 C Street, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 328-4576
- Address
- 680 Wilson Avenue, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 892-1643
- Address
- 1320 Lynwood Drive, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 883-3791
- Address
- 531 Hamilton Parkway, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 883-4313
- Address
- 1180 Lynwood Drive, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 897-2510
- Address
- 1800 Center Road, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 446-2140
- Address
- 22 Tinker Way, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 883-6222
- Address
- 629 Plum Street, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 492-9622
- Address
- 5520 Nave Drive, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 883-4385
- Address
- 288 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 892-8002
- Address
- 5530 Nave Drive, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 492-9622
- Address
- 5530 Nave K-3, Novato, CA
- Phone
- (415) 798-5347
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Frequently asked questions
- 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
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 36 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 5 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 2 facilities