Best Child Daycare & Preschools in San Luis Obispo, CA
Compare 21 child daycare & preschools in San Luis Obispo. Average rating: 4.58/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
San Luis Obispo, California at a glance
- Programs
- 21
- Avg rating
- 4.58/5
- Parent reviews
- 52
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 10
San Luis Obispo has 21 licensed child daycare & preschools with 52 parent reviews averaging 4.58/5.10 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 77% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 93401 zip code, averaging 4.77 stars across 18 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in San Luis Obispo
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.
- 1Love To Learn4.71 score5(12)
1739 Fredricks, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Love to Learn is a highly-rated preschool in San Luis Obispo with 10 five-star reviews. Parents consistently praise the caring, professional staff, engaging curriculum balancing academics with play, and children's strong preparation for kindergarten. Children reportedly arrive home excited about learning and confident in their social-emotional development.
Dedicated and well-trained teachersengaging curriculum with hands-on learningbalanced approach of academics - 2Love To Learn4.71 score5(12)
1701 Fredericks, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
Love to Learn is a highly regarded preschool in San Luis Obispo where parents consistently praise the dedicated, caring teaching staff and well-balanced curriculum combining academic learning with play. Parents report their children are exceptionally well-prepared for kindergarten and experience significant social-emotional growth, with children showing enthusiasm about attending school daily.
Skilled and caring teachersstrong academic preparation for kindergartenbalanced curriculum with outdoor playengaging hands-on learning activities - 3Country Cottage Preschool4.62 score5(8)
2075 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 29 children
Country Cottage Preschool receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the caring, engaged staff and clean, welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and benefit from thoughtful lesson planning and frequent family events. The owner and teachers are noted for excellent communication and going above and beyond to make families feel valued.
Nurturing and caring teachersclean classroomsengaging daily activities and lessonsexcellent parent communication - 4Foothill Preschool3.56 score3.2(6)
317 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Foothill Preschool receives mixed reviews ranging from 1-5 stars. Positive reviews praise the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and quality instruction, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about child safety, supervision, facility cleanliness, and staff responsiveness to behavioral issues.
caring and attentive teachersstrong relationships with familiesquality educational curriculumstaff dedication
Rating Distribution
Based on 13 daycares with Google ratings in San Luis Obispo
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in San Luis Obispo, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
San Luis Obispo zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93401 | 18 | 4.77 | 6 | |
| 93405 | 7 | 4.4 | 2 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in San Luis Obispo (10–100 children)
Small
up to 30 children
14
Medium
31–75 children
11
Large
76–150 children
3
Very Large
150+ children
0
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in San Luis Obispo based on parent reviews
Love To Learn
1739 Fredricks, San Luis Obispo, CA
Love to Learn is a highly-rated preschool in San Luis Obispo with 10 five-star reviews. Parents consistently praise the caring, professional staff, engaging curriculum balancing academics with play, and children's strong preparation for kindergarten. Children reportedly arrive home excited about learning and confident in their social-emotional development.
Love To Learn
1701 Fredericks, San Luis Obispo, CA
Love to Learn is a highly regarded preschool in San Luis Obispo where parents consistently praise the dedicated, caring teaching staff and well-balanced curriculum combining academic learning with play. Parents report their children are exceptionally well-prepared for kindergarten and experience significant social-emotional growth, with children showing enthusiasm about attending school daily.
Country Cottage Preschool
2075 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
Country Cottage Preschool receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the caring, engaged staff and clean, welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and benefit from thoughtful lesson planning and frequent family events. The owner and teachers are noted for excellent communication and going above and beyond to make families feel valued.
Grandmother'S House At St. Stephens
1344 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
One parent highlights the staff's professional training and loving care for their children over several years, while another praises the school as the best in town for its small class sizes and focus on creative play and social skills. A third review describes the experience as wonderful, noting that both of their children successfully completed the program.
Bright Life Playschool
880 Laureate Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA
Parents highlight the director's passion and the staff's loving, knowledgeable approach, noting that children appear happy and engaged in a fun, enriching environment. Reviewers appreciate the focus on outdoor time, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.
San Luis Obispo Classical Academy
165 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
Map
Daycare types in San Luis Obispo
Browse by type in San Luis Obispo
Child Daycare & Preschools in San Luis Obispo, California
There are 21 child daycare & preschools in San Luis Obispo, California, making up 75% of the 28 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 San Luis Obispo have an average rating of 4.58 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities, with 77% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.58 stars. Our analysis covers 52 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo
Showing 21 results
One parent highlights the staff's professional training and loving care for their children over several years, while another praises the school as the best in town for its small class sizes and focus on creative play and social skills. A third review describes the experience as wonderful, noting that both of their children successfully completed the program.
- Address
- 1344 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 541-1305
Country Cottage Preschool receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the caring, engaged staff and clean, welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and benefit from thoughtful lesson planning and frequent family events. The owner and teachers are noted for excellent communication and going above and beyond to make families feel valued.
- Address
- 2075 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 235-2153
- Address
- 4000 Chorro Valley Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 546-3285
- Address
- 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 704-0999
Parents highlight the director's passion and the staff's loving, knowledgeable approach, noting that children appear happy and engaged in a fun, enriching environment. Reviewers appreciate the focus on outdoor time, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.
- Address
- 880 Laureate Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 345-9628
One parent highlights the facility's great playground and recommends it as a place for children to play and have fun.
- Address
- 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 756-2220
Love to Learn is a highly-rated preschool in San Luis Obispo with 10 five-star reviews. Parents consistently praise the caring, professional staff, engaging curriculum balancing academics with play, and children's strong preparation for kindergarten. Children reportedly arrive home excited about learning and confident in their social-emotional development.
- Address
- 1739 Fredricks, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 546-1001
Love to Learn is a highly regarded preschool in San Luis Obispo where parents consistently praise the dedicated, caring teaching staff and well-balanced curriculum combining academic learning with play. Parents report their children are exceptionally well-prepared for kindergarten and experience significant social-emotional growth, with children showing enthusiasm about attending school daily.
- Address
- 1701 Fredericks, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 610-6053
- Address
- 4085 Earthwood Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 548-1286
- Address
- 165 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 548-8700
One parent describes the center as the best in the county, highlighting daily updates, photos, and a caring environment, while another notes a positive internship experience. In contrast, a separate reviewer reports a rude interaction with staff when calling to inquire about services in Spanish, raising concerns about how children are treated.
- Address
- 1720 Bishop St., San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 544-0801
Foothill Preschool receives mixed reviews ranging from 1-5 stars. Positive reviews praise the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and quality instruction, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about child safety, supervision, facility cleanliness, and staff responsiveness to behavioral issues.
- Address
- 317 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 543-7174
- Address
- 1 Grand Ave, Rm # 133, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 756-1267
- Address
- 3396 Johnson Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 544-5194
- Address
- 981 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 471-7529
- Address
- 221 Daly Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 549-8819
- Address
- 1130 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 704-0999
- Address
- 1515 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 549-0332
- Address
- 2755 Augusta St., San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 781-7289
- Address
- 375 Ferrini, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 781-7247
- Address
- 651 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Phone
- (805) 545-7836
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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 — 21 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 3 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 4 facilities