Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in National City, CA

Compare 14 child daycare & preschools in National City. Average rating: 4.48/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

National City, California at a glance

Programs
14
Avg rating
4.48/5
Parent reviews
38
Top rated (4.5+)
4

National City has 14 licensed child daycare & preschools with 38 parent reviews averaging 4.48/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 91950 zip code, averaging 4.48 stars across 17 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

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.

  1. 1
    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
  2. 2
    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

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in National City

4.5 - 5.0
4
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in National City, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.45avg rating
14 daycares · 4 rated

Headstart Programs

4.55avg rating
3 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

National City zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9195017
4.48
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in National City (24–80 children)

Small

up to 30 children

4

Medium

31–75 children

11

Large

76–150 children

2

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in National City based on parent reviews

Cda - Parks Child Development Center

4.8(3)

2200 E Avenue, National City, CA

Parents report high satisfaction with the center, noting that children enjoy attending daily and benefit from engaging, didactic programs. Reviewers highlight the teachers and director as attentive and dedicated to student learning.

children love attendingengaging and fun curriculumattentive teachers

Miracle Moments Child Development Center

4.8(3)

2740 E 4th St, National City, CA

Parents highlight the center's ability to foster academic readiness and social growth, with students achieving academic awards and overcoming shyness. Reviewers appreciate the high teacher-to-child ratio and describe the environment as loving and beneficial for their children.

academic readinesssocial developmenthigh teacher-to-child ratio

Little Lambs Preschool - National City

5

1200 East 8th Street, National City, CA

Dino Daycare And Preschool

3.2(12)

6 Highland Avenue, National City, CA

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 facility

Map

Daycare types in National City

Child Daycare & Preschools 14Headstart Programs 3

Browse by type in National City

🎨 Preschools 11

Child Daycare & Preschools in National City, California

There are 14 child daycare & preschools in National City, California, making up 82% of the 17 total childcare facilities in the city. 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 National City have an average rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 67% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.55 stars. Our analysis covers 38 parent reviews.

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.

All Child Daycare & Preschools in National City

Showing 14 results

Little Lambs Preschool - National City
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
1200 East 8th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 477-2422
Cda - Parks Child Development Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.8

Parents report high satisfaction with the center, noting that children enjoy attending daily and benefit from engaging, didactic programs. Reviewers highlight the teachers and director as attentive and dedicated to student learning.

children love attendingengaging and fun curriculumattentive teachers
Address
2200 E Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 477-9602
Miracle Moments Child Development Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.8

Parents highlight the center's ability to foster academic readiness and social growth, with students achieving academic awards and overcoming shyness. Reviewers appreciate the high teacher-to-child ratio and describe the environment as loving and beneficial for their children.

academic readinesssocial developmenthigh teacher-to-child ratio
Address
2740 E 4th St, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 961-5138
Dino Daycare And Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.2

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 facility
Address
6 Highland Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 434-5295
Episcopal Community Services-Boys&Girls Club
Child Daycare & Preschools

Episcopal Community Services-Boys & Girls Club offers various programs including DUI counseling, transitional housing, and Head Start services. While some parents praise staff quality and program impact, multiple reviewers report significant communication and administrative issues, including long waiting lists, unresponsive follow-up, and lost documentation.

Knowledgeable and caring instructorstransitional housing available at affordable rateslife-changing program impact for some participants
Address
1430 D Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 228-2800
Central State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
910 E Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 474-1670
El Toyon State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2000 E. Division Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8046
John Otis Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
621 East 18th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8800
Kimball State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
302 W. 18th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8345
Las Palmas State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1900 East 18th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8500
Lincoln Acres State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2401 East 24th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8670
Miracle Moments Christian Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools

Parents describe Miracle Moments Christian Preschool as a wonderful and blessing-filled environment where children are thriving academically and socially. Reviewers highlight significant developmental progress, including readiness for kindergarten and increased confidence, while noting the supportive staff and favorable teacher-to-child ratios.

academic readinesssocial growthsupportive staff
Address
2740 E. 4th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 399-5463
Olivewood State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2505 F Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8745
Palmer Way State Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2900 Palmer Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 336-8945

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Frequently asked questions

There are 14 child daycare & preschools daycares in National City, California, out of 17 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in National City have an average Google rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 67% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
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.