Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Salinas, CA

Compare 35 child daycare & preschools in Salinas. Average rating: 4.35/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Salinas, California at a glance

Programs
35
Avg rating
4.35/5
Parent reviews
83
Top rated (4.5+)
7

Salinas has 35 licensed child daycare & preschools with 83 parent reviews averaging 4.35/5.7 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 47% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 93908 (avg 5 stars), while 93905 has the largest selection (18 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Salinas

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
    Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Pre-School)
    4.32 score
    4.4(20)

    275 River Road A, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and attentive staff, structured educational activities, and strong communication through daily updates and photos via the Procare app. Children reportedly thrive academically and emotionally, with parents feeling confident and relieved leaving their children in the center's care.

    caring and attentive teachersplanned educational activities (artfine motorsensory
  2. 2
    Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Infant)
    4.32 score
    4.4(20)

    275 River Road A, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 19 children

    Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the caring staff, structured learning activities, developmental progress, and transparent communication through daily updates and photos. Families express strong satisfaction with the safe, nurturing environment and enrichment programs offered.

    Caring and attentive staffstructured learning activities (artsciencecoo
  3. 3
    Alisal Campus Early Education Center
    4.25 score
    4.4(8)

    1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children

    Reviews are predominantly positive, with visitors praising the clean, accessible campus and educational opportunities. However, one negative review mentions a poor experience with an instructor in the Diesel program. Note: Many reviews appear to reference a college/vocational campus rather than early education childcare.

    Clean and well-maintained facilityaccessible campusgood learning opportunitiesknowledgeable staff
  4. 4
    Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep
    4.22 score
    4.4(6)

    315 East Alvin Drive, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children

    Parents praise Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep as a welcoming, community-oriented facility with great daycare and pre-school programs. The church hosts engaging community events and has a nice music program. Overall, families view it as a quality, well-established institution.

    welcoming environmentcommunity-orientedquality daycare and pre-school programsengaging events
  5. 5
    Northminster Presbyterian Infant Care
    4.22 score
    4.4(6)

    315 East Alvin Avenue, Salinas, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 12 children

    Northminster Presbyterian Infant Care is a small, welcoming church-based daycare in Salinas. Parents praise the daycare and pre-school programs as great, and appreciate the community-oriented atmosphere and family-friendly events.

    welcoming environmentcommunity orientedgreat daycare and pre-school programsfamily-friendly events

Rating Distribution

Based on 15 daycares with Google ratings in Salinas

4.5 - 5.0
7
4.0 - 4.4
5
3.0 - 3.9
2
Below 3
1

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Salinas, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.47avg rating
35 daycares · 11 rated

Headstart Programs

3avg rating
11 daycares · 2 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
2 daycares

Church Daycare

5avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Salinas zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
939086
5
3
9390613
4.4
0
939019
4.35
2
9390518
3.47
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Salinas (12–120 children)

Small

up to 30 children

23

Medium

31–75 children

21

Large

76–150 children

6

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Salinas based on parent reviews

Montessori Learning Center

5(4)

30 Hitchcock Road, Salinas, CA

Parents highlight the school's caring staff and Montessori philosophy, noting that students develop into independent, creative thinkers who are well-prepared for higher education. Long-term families report that children are challenged, loved, and allowed to learn at their own pace, fostering a genuine love for learning.

caring and knowledgeable staffindependent and creative thinkingpreparation for high school

Little Friends Day Nursery

4.8(4)

1025 Post Dr, Salinas, CA

Parents highlight the school's Christian values, individualized attention, and academic preparation for kindergarten, though one family notes the religious emphasis despite appreciating the balanced approach. Reviewers praise the friendly and firm teaching staff, including specific mentions of Ms. Joanna, Ms. Angela, Ms. Ariana, and Ms. Carmen. The program includes field trips and holiday programs, with costs averaging around $630 monthly.

Christian stories and values instilledindividual attentionsafe environment

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Pre-School)

4.4(20)

275 River Road A, Salinas, CA

Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and attentive staff, structured educational activities, and strong communication through daily updates and photos via the Procare app. Children reportedly thrive academically and emotionally, with parents feeling confident and relieved leaving their children in the center's care.

caring and attentive teachersplanned educational activities (artfine motor

Laura'S Barn Childcare Center (Infant)

4.4(20)

275 River Road A, Salinas, CA

Laura's Barn Childcare Center receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the caring staff, structured learning activities, developmental progress, and transparent communication through daily updates and photos. Families express strong satisfaction with the safe, nurturing environment and enrichment programs offered.

Caring and attentive staffstructured learning activities (artscience

Alisal Campus Early Education Center

4.4(8)

1752 East Alisal Street, Salinas, CA

Reviews are predominantly positive, with visitors praising the clean, accessible campus and educational opportunities. However, one negative review mentions a poor experience with an instructor in the Diesel program. Note: Many reviews appear to reference a college/vocational campus rather than early education childcare.

Clean and well-maintained facilityaccessible campusgood learning opportunities

Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep

4.4(6)

315 East Alvin Drive, Salinas, CA

Parents praise Northminster Presbyterian Preschool/Kinderprep as a welcoming, community-oriented facility with great daycare and pre-school programs. The church hosts engaging community events and has a nice music program. Overall, families view it as a quality, well-established institution.

welcoming environmentcommunity-orientedquality daycare and pre-school programs

Map

Daycare types in Salinas

Child Daycare & Preschools 35Headstart Programs 11Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 2

Browse by type in Salinas

🎨 Preschools 23

Child Daycare & Preschools in Salinas, California

There are 35 child daycare & preschools in Salinas, California, making up 70% of the 50 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 Salinas have an average rating of 4.35 out of 5 across 15 rated facilities, with 47% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 83 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Salinas, 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 Salinas

Showing 35 results

Boronda Meadows Elementary Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
915 Larkin Drive, Salinas, CA
Phone
(831) 753-0648
Creekside Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1770 Kittery Street, Salinas, CA
Phone
(831) 753-5252
El Gabilan Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1256 Linwood Drive, Salinas, CA
Phone
(831) 753-5664
Tiburcio Vasquez Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1300 Tuscany Blvd, Salinas, CA
Phone
(831) 770-6000
Shoreline Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
22732 Portola Drive, Salinas, CA
Phone
(831) 484-5005

Page 2 of 2· 35 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 35 child daycare & preschools daycares in Salinas, California, out of 50 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 Salinas have an average Google rating of 4.35 out of 5 across 15 rated facilities. About 47% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Salinas, 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
Salinas offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 35 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 11 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 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 Salinas for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Salinas 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.