Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Lake Elsinore, CA

Compare 4 headstart programs in Lake Elsinore. Average rating: 4.05/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Lake Elsinore, California at a glance

Programs
4
Avg rating
4.05/5
Parent reviews
33
Top rated (4.5+)
1

Lake Elsinore has 4 licensed headstart programs with 33 parent reviews averaging 4.05/5.The largest concentration is in 92530 with 9 programs.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Lake Elsinore

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
    Lakeland Children'S Center
    4.29 score
    4.5(7)

    17159 Grand Avenue, Lake Elsinore, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 78 children

    Lakeland Children's Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the clean, organized environment, caring staff, and comprehensive curriculum that supports children's educational and developmental growth. The center offers reasonable tuition, daily photo updates, and engaging activities. One parent reported experiencing exclusionary treatment regarding blended family situations.

    Clean and safe environmentfriendly and caring staffstrong curriculumreasonable tuition
  2. 2
    Stepping Stones Preschool And Child Care LLC
    4.19 score
    4.3(9)

    16527 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Elsinore, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 85 children

    Stepping Stones Preschool receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, with praise for staff expertise, child development outcomes, and engaging activities. However, two negative reviews raise serious concerns about neglect, communication, and billing practices.

    Excellent teacher quality and passion for educationstrong academic preparation for kindergartenengaging activities and special eventspositive social-emotional development
  3. 3
    Storybook Preschool
    4.16 score
    4.3(6)

    31910 Mission Trail, Lake Elsinore, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 156 children

    Storybook Preschool receives strong praise for its caring staff, clean facilities, and safe environment. However, one parent expressed significant disappointment about the facility's recent transition from secular to religious programming without adequate notice or accommodations for families with differing beliefs.

    Responsive and caring staffwell-maintained classroomsspacious outdoor play areastrong communication with parents
  4. 4
    Lake Elsinore Unified School District Childcare
    3.51 score
    3.2(8)

    520 Chaney Street, Lake Elsinore, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 29 children

    Lake Elsinore Unified School District Childcare receives mixed reviews. Parents praise helpful and caring staff members, particularly noting genuine teachers in the TK program. However, several parents report significant communication issues, including unresponsive phone lines, delayed transfer requests, and poor pandemic communication.

    Helpful and nice staffcaring teacherswelcoming environmentserves ages 0 to high school

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Lake Elsinore

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

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Lake Elsinore, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4avg rating
6 daycares · 5 rated

Headstart Programs

4.3avg rating
4 daycares · 1 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Lake Elsinore zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
925309
4.05
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Lake Elsinore (20–156 children)

Small

up to 30 children

5

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

5

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Lake Elsinore based on parent reviews

Lake Elsinore Usd Head Start Jeannette Ellis Ctr.

4.3(3)

411 W. Heald Street, Lake Elsinore, CA

One parent describes the Head Start program as wonderful and great for children ages 3-5, highlighting specific staff members. Another review reports a serious security issue involving a stolen vehicle and missing dogs associated with the center's location.

Wonderful Pre-K programGreat for ages 3-5Supportive staff

Map

Daycare types in Lake Elsinore

Child Daycare & Preschools 6Headstart Programs 4Before or After School Daycare 1

Browse by type in Lake Elsinore

🎨 Preschools 6

Headstart Programs in Lake Elsinore, California

There are 4 headstart programs in Lake Elsinore, California, making up 36% of the 11 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 Lake Elsinore have an average rating of 4.05 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 17% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.3 stars. Our analysis covers 33 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Lake Elsinore, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Headstart Programs in Lake Elsinore

Showing 4 results

Lake Elsinore Usd Head Start Jeannette Ellis Ctr.
Headstart Programs
4.3

One parent describes the Head Start program as wonderful and great for children ages 3-5, highlighting specific staff members. Another review reports a serious security issue involving a stolen vehicle and missing dogs associated with the center's location.

Wonderful Pre-K programGreat for ages 3-5Supportive staff
Address
411 W. Heald Street, Lake Elsinore, CA
Phone
(951) 245-4794
Lake Elsinore Machado State Preschool/Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
15150 Joy Street, Lake Elsinore, CA
Phone
(951) 253-7662
Lake Elsinore Head Start Preschool Railroad Canyon
Headstart Programs
Address
1300 Mill Street, Lake Elsinore, CA
Phone
(951) 674-3153
Lake Elsinore Usd Head Start Lakeland Village Schl
Headstart Programs
Address
18730 Grand Avenue, Lake Elsinore, CA
Phone
(951) 253-7400

Page 1 of 1· 4 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 4 headstart programs daycares in Lake Elsinore, California, out of 11 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 Lake Elsinore have an average Google rating of 4.05 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 17% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Lake Elsinore, 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
Lake Elsinore offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 6 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 4 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 1 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 Lake Elsinore for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Lake Elsinore 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.