Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in South San Francisco, CA

Compare 33 daycare centers in South San Francisco. Average rating: 4.71/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

South San Francisco, California at a glance

Daycares
33
Avg rating
4.71/5
Parent reviews
67
Top rated (4.5+)
15

South San Francisco has 33 licensed daycares with 67 parent reviews averaging 4.71/5.15 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 83% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 94080 zip code, averaging 4.71 stars across 33 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in South San Francisco

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
    The Early Years
    4.71 score
    5(12)

    371 Allerton Avenue, South San Francisco, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 90 children

    The Early Years Preschool in South San Francisco receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. They consistently praise the caring, knowledgeable staff, structured yet engaging curriculum, clean facilities, and excellent parent communication. Parents report significant developmental progress in their children's social, academic, and confidence skills.

    caring and attentive teachersknowledgeable about child developmentstaff longevity and teamworkclean and safe facilities
  2. 2
    Genius Learning
    4.67 score
    5(10)

    1165 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 35 children

    Genius Learning is a highly-regarded Mandarin immersion preschool in South San Francisco where children develop language skills, academic foundation, and social confidence. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive teachers, particularly head teacher Heidi, strong curriculum, and full-day program with provided meals. Children reportedly leave happy, excited to return, and well-prepared for kindergarten.

    Mandarin language immersioncaring and dedicated tea
  3. 3
    Temporary Tot Tending #3
    4.5 score
    5(5)

    350 Dolores Way, South San Francisco, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 56 children

    Temporary Tot Tending #3 receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, dedicated staff and affordable pricing. Parents highlight the safe, learning-oriented environment and strong emotional growth focus, with many expressing long-term satisfaction with their children's experiences.

    Affordable pricingcaring and attentive staffsafe environmentlearning-oriented atmosphere
  4. 4
    Friends To Parents INC.
    4.47 score
    4.6(18)

    2525 Wexford Avenue, South San Francisco, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 51 children

    Parents consistently praise Friends to Parents as a nurturing, well-run center with caring, experienced staff who treat children as individuals. Children show strong developmental progress across academic, social, and emotional skills, with parents noting excellent communication and a family-like community atmosphere.

    Patient and caring teachersstrong child development and kindergarten readinessgood staff-to-child ratiosflexible hours (7:30am-6pm)

Rating Distribution

Based on 18 daycares with Google ratings in South San Francisco

4.5 - 5.0
15
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
2
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in South San Francisco, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.67avg rating
30 daycares · 16 rated

Before or After School Daycare

5avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Headstart Programs

5avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

South San Francisco zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9408033
4.71
15

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in South San Francisco (20–430 children)

Small

up to 30 children

5

Medium

31–75 children

15

Large

76–150 children

11

Very Large

150+ children

2

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in South San Francisco based on parent reviews

The Early Years

5(12)

371 Allerton Avenue, South San Francisco, CA

The Early Years Preschool in South San Francisco receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. They consistently praise the caring, knowledgeable staff, structured yet engaging curriculum, clean facilities, and excellent parent communication. Parents report significant developmental progress in their children's social, academic, and confidence skills.

caring and attentive teachersknowledgeable about child developmentstaff longevity and teamwork

Genius Learning

5(10)

1165 El Camino Real, South San Francisco, CA

Genius Learning is a highly-regarded Mandarin immersion preschool in South San Francisco where children develop language skills, academic foundation, and social confidence. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive teachers, particularly head teacher Heidi, strong curriculum, and full-day program with provided meals. Children reportedly leave happy, excited to return, and well-prepared for kindergarten.

Mandarin language immersioncaring and dedicated tea

Temporary Tot Tending #3

5(5)

350 Dolores Way, South San Francisco, CA

Temporary Tot Tending #3 receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, dedicated staff and affordable pricing. Parents highlight the safe, learning-oriented environment and strong emotional growth focus, with many expressing long-term satisfaction with their children's experiences.

Affordable pricingcaring and attentive staffsafe environment

Friends To Parents INC.

4.6(18)

2525 Wexford Avenue, South San Francisco, CA

Parents consistently praise Friends to Parents as a nurturing, well-run center with caring, experienced staff who treat children as individuals. Children show strong developmental progress across academic, social, and emotional skills, with parents noting excellent communication and a family-like community atmosphere.

Patient and caring teachersstrong child development and kindergarten readinessgood staff-to-child ratios

Let'S Play In Spanish

5(4)

800 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA

Parents describe a warm, family-like environment where children enthusiastically engage in learning through play, songs, and dance. Reviewers highlight significant improvements in their children's Spanish proficiency and self-confidence, noting that teachers are dedicated and nurturing.

Warm and loving teachersstrong Spanish language acquisitionengaging curriculum using puppets and dance

Pfs- Club Leo J. Ryan (Sa)

5(1)

1200 Miller Avenue, South San Francisco, CA

One parent describes their time at PFS- CLUB LEO J. RYAN (SA) as the 'Best Experience Ever,' indicating a highly positive interaction. This single review highlights exceptional satisfaction without noting specific operational details or complaints.

Best Experience Ever

Map

Daycare types in South San Francisco

Child Daycare & Preschools 30Headstart Programs 1Before or After School Daycare 2

Browse by type in South San Francisco

🎨 Preschools 9🎒 After School Programs 3

Daycare Centers in South San Francisco, California

There are 33 daycare centers in South San Francisco, 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 South San Francisco have an average rating of 4.71 out of 5 across 18 rated facilities, with 83% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 67 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in South San Francisco, 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 South San Francisco

Showing 33 results

Cssf Rec Dept - Buri Buri After School Prog. (Sa)
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
325 Del Monte Ave, South San Francisco, CA
Phone
(650) 875-6900
Study Buddies Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
230 South Spruce Ave., Suite A, South San Francisco, CA
Phone
(650) 583-2803
Gateway Child Care Center - Infant
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
559 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA
Phone
(650) 873-8145

Page 2 of 2· 33 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 33 all daycares in South San Francisco, California. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in South San Francisco have an average Google rating of 4.71 out of 5 across 18 rated facilities. About 83% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in South San Francisco, 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
South San Francisco offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 30 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 2 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 South San Francisco for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in South San Francisco 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.