Best Child Daycare & Preschools in San Diego, CA
Compare 372 child daycare & preschools in San Diego. Average rating: 4.57/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
San Diego, California at a glance
- Programs
- 372
- Avg rating
- 4.57/5
- Parent reviews
- 1,914
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 121
San Diego has 372 licensed child daycare & preschools with 1,914 parent reviews averaging 4.57/5.121 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 72% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 92107 (avg 5 stars), while 92113 has the largest selection (21 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in San Diego
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.
- 1Montessori Child Development LLC4.8 score5(20)
4754 Sea Tern Court, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 14 children
Montessori Child Development LLC receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and effective Montessori curriculum. Parents report significant improvements in their children's confidence, independence, academic skills, and social development. The school is highlighted for its welcoming environment, strong communication with families, and dedicated leadership.
Caring and attentive staffeffective Montessori curriculumhe - 2Little Angels Academy4.8 score5(20)
3078 L Street, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children
Little Angels Academy receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive staff, smooth transitions for children of all ages, educational activities, and communication through their parent app. Children show strong development and look forward to attending.
Loving and nurturing staffbilingual teachers availablesmooth transitions for infants and toddlerseducational activities (art - 3Sacred Heart Academy Preschool4.8 score5(20)
4895 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 137 children
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool in San Diego receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated staff and comprehensive curriculum that balances play-based learning with kindergarten readiness skills. Parents consistently highlight the school's effectiveness with potty training, social-emotional development, and strong teacher-parent communication through the Brightwheel app.
Caring and dedicated teachersstrong kindergarten preparationplay-based learning approachpotty training success - 4Manna'S Martial Arts INC.4.8 score5(20)
12285 B World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children
Manna's Martial Arts is a highly-rated martial arts studio in San Diego with consistent 5/5 star reviews. Parents praise the quality instruction, strong emphasis on discipline and life skills, and community atmosphere that extends beyond martial arts training. Multiple families report long-term enrollment (8-13 years) and significant positive impacts on their children's confidence, self-defense abilities, and character development.
Excellent instruction qualityemphasis on safety and respectpersonal attention to studentsflexible class scheduling with unlimited monthly classes - 5Fleur De Lis Nursery School4.78 score5(18)
3743 Front Street, San Diego, CA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 95 children
Parents consistently praise Fleur de Lis as an exceptional preschool that fosters individual growth, confidence, and a love of learning through a dedicated, play-based curriculum. Staff members are described as caring, professional, and genuinely invested in each child's cognitive, emotional, and physical development. The beautiful natural setting, diverse and welcoming community, and strong preparation for kindergarten are frequently highlighted.
Individualized attention to each childwarm and caring staffdedicated curriculumbeautiful canyon setting with playgrounds - 6Manchester Family Child Development Center4.76 score5(16)
1752 Via Las Cumbres, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Manchester Family Child Development Center receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who praise its caring, professional staff, safe and welcoming environment, and focus on child development and learning through play. Parents highlight excellent communication through daily apps and photos, strong parent community engagement, and successful preparation for kindergarten and school transitions. The center has a long-standing positive reputation in the San Diego community.
- 7Scripps Exploring Academy-Infant4.74 score5(14)
9855 Erma Road Ste. 128, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 36 children
Parents consistently praise Scripps Exploring Academy for exceptional childcare with attentive, caring staff who genuinely bond with children. Families report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and experience smooth transitions. The facility is described as clean, welcoming, and homey with strong parent communication.
Caring and attentive teachershappy childrensmooth transition to kindergartenacademic preparation (reading and writing) - 8Chinese Bilingual Pre-School4.72 score5(13)
5075 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 90 children
Chinese Bilingual Preschool receives consistently high praise from parents for its bilingual Mandarin-English curriculum, caring and patient teachers, and strong sense of community. Parents highlight the school's commitment to child development, flexible scheduling, and on-site prepared meals. Children show advanced academic preparation and develop lasting friendships.
Bilingual Mandarin-English immersioncaring and patient teacherson-site fresh meals (breakfastlunch - 9Wee Wisdom Preschool4.72 score5(13)
8999 Activity Road, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children
Wee Wisdom Preschool receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, knowledgeable staff, clean facility, and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Parents highlight strong teacher-child relationships, innovative teaching methods including yoga and meditation, and children's enthusiasm for attending school.
Caring and knowledgeable staffclean and well-organized facilityindividualized attention to each childdevelopmentally appropriate activities - 10Al-Rribat Academy4.72 score4.9(20)
7183-A Saranac Street, San Diego, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 23 children
AL-RRIBAT Academy appears to be an Islamic center (masjid) rather than a daycare facility. Reviews praise it as a welcoming community space with clean facilities, active programming including classes and events, and knowledgeable religious leadership. Parents describe feeling a strong sense of belonging and community support.
Clean facilitieswelcoming and friendly communityactive programming (classeslectures
Rating Distribution
Based on 168 daycares with Google ratings in San Diego
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 1,914 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in San Diego, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
San Diego zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92107 | 16 | 5 | 6 | |
| 92104 | 12 | 4.85 | 6 | |
| 92103 | 18 | 4.85 | 10 | |
| 92102 | 17 | 4.85 | 5 | |
| 92110 | 14 | 4.83 | 5 | |
| 92121 | 9 | 4.8 | 2 | |
| 92119 | 11 | 4.8 | 2 | |
| 92127 | 19 | 4.77 | 5 | |
| 92129 | 19 | 4.76 | 5 | |
| 92113 | 21 | 4.74 | 6 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in San Diego (12–251 children)
Small
up to 30 children
125
Medium
31–75 children
184
Large
76–150 children
105
Very Large
150+ children
11
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in San Diego based on parent reviews
Montessori Child Development LLC
4754 Sea Tern Court, San Diego, CA
Montessori Child Development LLC receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and effective Montessori curriculum. Parents report significant improvements in their children's confidence, independence, academic skills, and social development. The school is highlighted for its welcoming environment, strong communication with families, and dedicated leadership.
Little Angels Academy
3078 L Street, San Diego, CA
Little Angels Academy receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive staff, smooth transitions for children of all ages, educational activities, and communication through their parent app. Children show strong development and look forward to attending.
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool
4895 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool in San Diego receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated staff and comprehensive curriculum that balances play-based learning with kindergarten readiness skills. Parents consistently highlight the school's effectiveness with potty training, social-emotional development, and strong teacher-parent communication through the Brightwheel app.
Manna'S Martial Arts INC.
12285 B World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA
Manna's Martial Arts is a highly-rated martial arts studio in San Diego with consistent 5/5 star reviews. Parents praise the quality instruction, strong emphasis on discipline and life skills, and community atmosphere that extends beyond martial arts training. Multiple families report long-term enrollment (8-13 years) and significant positive impacts on their children's confidence, self-defense abilities, and character development.
Manchester Family Child Development Center
1752 Via Las Cumbres, San Diego, CA
Manchester Family Child Development Center receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who praise its caring, professional staff, safe and welcoming environment, and focus on child development and learning through play. Parents highlight excellent communication through daily apps and photos, strong parent community engagement, and successful preparation for kindergarten and school transitions. The center has a long-standing positive reputation in the San Diego community.
Scripps Exploring Academy-Infant
9855 Erma Road Ste. 128, San Diego, CA
Parents consistently praise Scripps Exploring Academy for exceptional childcare with attentive, caring staff who genuinely bond with children. Families report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and experience smooth transitions. The facility is described as clean, welcoming, and homey with strong parent communication.
Map
Daycare types in San Diego
Browse by type in San Diego
Child Daycare & Preschools in San Diego, California
San Diego offers a robust landscape of 372 childcare and preschool options, catering to diverse family needs across the region. Parents frequently highlight the importance of clean facilities and attentive staff when evaluating these centers. For those seeking top-tier performance, the 92114 zip code stands out with an impressive average rating of 5/5 stars.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in San Diego have an average rating of 4.57 out of 5 across 168 rated facilities, with 72% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.7 stars. Our analysis covers 1,914 parent reviews. Parents in San Diego most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, clean facilities, and caring and attentive teachers.
When choosing a daycare in San Diego, 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 San Diego
Showing 372 results
Manchester Family Child Development Center receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who praise its caring, professional staff, safe and welcoming environment, and focus on child development and learning through play. Parents highlight excellent communication through daily apps and photos, strong parent community engagement, and successful preparation for kindergarten and school transitions. The center has a long-standing positive reputation in the San Diego community.
- Address
- 1752 Via Las Cumbres, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 260-4620
- Address
- 4735 Santa Cruz Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 225-0344
- Address
- 10770 Rickert Road, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 536-2807
Mission Hills Community Preschool receives perfect 5-star ratings from all parents who praise the caring, qualified staff and nurturing environment. Parents highlight the thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces that encourage creative play and learning, with regular new activities and daily photo updates. Children reportedly enjoy attending and show strong emotional and academic growth.
- Address
- 1211 W Lewis St, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 291-2112
Parents describe Lotus Montessori as an exceptional, individualized learning environment where caring staff foster independence and confidence. Reviewers highlight strong communication, engaging curricula, and a supportive community that successfully prepares children for elementary school.
- Address
- 11354 Pegasus Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 549-2201
Montessori School of San Diego receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the quality of education and teaching staff. Parents report that children develop a genuine love of learning, strong social skills, and academic success that carries into public school. The school is described as well-organized, clean, and genuinely caring toward students.
- Address
- 1323 West Spruce Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 295-7591
- Address
- 802/804 San Pasqual Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 262-1905
- Address
- 5255 Mt Ararat Dr, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 571-1880
- Address
- 4855 College Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 665-1264
- Address
- 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 849-2223
- Address
- 4800 T Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 266-4551
Parents consistently praise Petits Amigos for its Spanish immersion curriculum and dedicated teachers, particularly Ms. Leslie and Ms. Lydia. Children reportedly enjoy the program with engaging songs, games, and activities, and parents note significant language learning progress. The facility is described as clean, organized, and providing strong one-on-one attention.
- Address
- 17022 Camino San Bernardo, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 428-4652
- Address
- 4425 Valeta St, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 224-4661
Parents consistently praise Penasquitos Christian Preschool for its exceptionally caring and loving staff who create a warm, nurturing environment. The facility offers a thoughtful, play-based educational program with strong communication and community engagement. Multiple families report their children thriving academically and emotionally in this setting.
- Address
- 14484 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 672-9353
- Address
- 7045 Forum Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 279-2016
Parents highlight the program's effective balance of academics, play, and social skills, noting that children leave well-prepared for kindergarten. Reviewers describe the staff and facilities as warm, welcoming, and highly structured, with specific praise for the director and teachers' care.
- Address
- 17394 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 618-2159
Sacred Heart Academy Preschool in San Diego receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated staff and comprehensive curriculum that balances play-based learning with kindergarten readiness skills. Parents consistently highlight the school's effectiveness with potty training, social-emotional development, and strong teacher-parent communication through the Brightwheel app.
- Address
- 4895 Saratoga Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 222-7252
One parent describes the facility as bright, spacious, and extremely clean with an impressive outdoor yard. A second review highlights that the space is brand new with child-sized bathrooms, while a third notes excellent community involvement and engaging activities.
- Address
- 8748 Gold Coast Drive, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 578-9740
Parents consistently praise Scripps Exploring Academy for exceptional childcare with attentive, caring staff who genuinely bond with children. Families report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and experience smooth transitions. The facility is described as clean, welcoming, and homey with strong parent communication.
- Address
- 9855 Erma Road Ste. 128, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 693-3702
- Address
- 11860 Carmel Creek Road, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 704-3807
- Address
- 1979 Chicago Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 275-2241
- Address
- 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 697-1948
- Address
- 5055 Viewridge Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 751-0506
- Address
- 3795b Fairmount Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 283-2780
- Address
- 3219 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 505-9638
- Address
- 5055 Viewridge Avenue, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 751-0506
- Address
- 3598 Talbot Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 224-7403
Manna's Martial Arts is a highly-rated martial arts studio in San Diego with consistent 5/5 star reviews. Parents praise the quality instruction, strong emphasis on discipline and life skills, and community atmosphere that extends beyond martial arts training. Multiple families report long-term enrollment (8-13 years) and significant positive impacts on their children's confidence, self-defense abilities, and character development.
- Address
- 12285 B World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 487-6470
Wee Wisdom Preschool receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, knowledgeable staff, clean facility, and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Parents highlight strong teacher-child relationships, innovative teaching methods including yoga and meditation, and children's enthusiasm for attending school.
- Address
- 8999 Activity Road, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (858) 444-1190
AL-RRIBAT Academy appears to be an Islamic center (masjid) rather than a daycare facility. Reviews praise it as a welcoming community space with clean facilities, active programming including classes and events, and knowledgeable religious leadership. Parents describe feeling a strong sense of belonging and community support.
- Address
- 7183-A Saranac Street, San Diego, CA
- Phone
- (619) 589-6200
Page 2 of 13· 372 results
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 — 372 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 29 facilities
- Church Daycare — 7 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 17 facilities