Best Headstart Programs in Long Beach, CA
Compare 19 headstart programs in Long Beach. Average rating: 4.51/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Long Beach, California at a glance
- Programs
- 19
- Avg rating
- 4.51/5
- Parent reviews
- 370
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 45
Long Beach has 19 licensed headstart programs with 370 parent reviews averaging 4.51/5.45 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 65% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 90804 (avg 4.88 stars), while 90805 has the largest selection (31 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Long Beach
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.
- 1Nature'S Edge Child Development Center4.67 score5(10)
2700 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 45 children
Nature's Edge Child Development Center receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, creative staff and hands-on learning approach. Parents report significant developmental growth in their children and appreciate the strong communication, clean facilities, and balanced indoor/outdoor activities.
Caring and dedicated staffcreative hands-on learningstrong teacher-parent communicationclean facilities - 2Bethany Lutheran Church Preschool4.64 score4.8(20)
4644 Clark Ave, Long Beach, CA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 75 children
Bethany Lutheran Church Preschool receives consistently high ratings from parents and alumni who praise the school's positive impact on child development and personal growth. Parents highlight the caring faculty, welcoming community atmosphere, and strong Christian foundation that helps shy or introverted children build confidence and social skills. Multiple long-term alumni credit the school with providing a solid life foundation that has positively influenced them into adulthood.
Supportive and mentoring facultyhelps shy/introverted children develop confidencestrong friendships formedwelcoming community - 3Dorothy Ahrens Nursery School4.62 score5(8)
4960 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 63 children
Dorothy Ahrens Nursery School receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the safe, caring environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared for, and learning effectively, with many citing long-term family loyalty spanning decades.
Safe environmentcaring and friendly staffchildren happy and well-cared foreffective learning - 4Kidz First Academy4.62 score5(8)
5253 Los Coyotes Diagonal, Long Beach, CA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 85 children
Parents consistently praise Kidz First Academy for its caring, loving staff who are deeply invested in each child's growth and development. The school offers a well-balanced, intentional curriculum combining education and play, with thoughtful classroom and playground design. Families report their children thrived socially, emotionally, and academically during their time here.
Warm and caring staffstrong teacher-child relationshipsintentional and well-organized curriculumbalanced learning and play activities - 5Bethany Pre-School4.55 score5(6)
2244 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 107 children
Parents consistently praise Bethany Pre-School for its dedicated staff, strong academics, and nurturing environment. Students report being well-prepared for future educational levels, with positive long-term outcomes. Families appreciate the diverse student body, small class sizes, and welcoming community.
Excellent and kind staffstrong academic preparationsmall classroom sizes with good teacher-to-student ratiodiverse student body - 6Giant Steps Childrens Center4.51 score4.7(13)
6951 Obispo Ave., Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children
Parents consistently praise Launch Pad Learning (operated at Giant Steps location) for caring, attentive teachers who genuinely invest in child development. The center offers a strong academic curriculum, diverse activities, and meals included, with parents noting significant developmental milestones achieved under their care.
Caring and attentive teachersstrong academic focusmeals providedpotty training support - 7Forest Language Preschool4.5 score5(5)
2935 East Spaulding, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Forest Language Preschool is a small, highly-rated center-based preschool in Long Beach offering Spanish and French language immersion. Parents consistently praise the caring and communicative teachers, smooth transitions for young children, and strong language development outcomes.
Language immersion programs (Spanish and French)caring and patient teacherssmall class sizesoutdoor play area with equipment - 8Un Mundo De Amigos Preschool4.49 score4.9(6)
1480 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children
Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool receives consistently positive feedback from parents, with particular praise for caring and communicative staff, academic instruction, and support for shy or anxious children. Parents highlight the facility's cleanliness, organized activities, book club program, parental resources, and the transformation they see in their children's confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
Attentive and caring staffexcellent communication via appacadem - 9Barbara And Ray Alpert Jewish Community Center4.48 score4.6(20)
3801 East Willow Avenue, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 210 children
Parents consistently praise the Barbara and Ray Alpert JCC's Early Childhood Education program as the best preschool in Long Beach, highlighting warm and caring staff who treat children like family. The facility offers excellent amenities including a newly renovated pool, flexible scheduling, and strong community programming. Families appreciate the child-led learning philosophy, inclusive Jewish cultural integration, and numerous extracurricular activities.
Caring a - 10Creative Arts4.4 score4.8(5)
1423 Walnut Ave, Long Beach, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 47 children
Creative Arts Preschool in Long Beach receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, well-trained staff and positive learning environment. Parents report that their children are thriving academically and emotionally, with individualized instruction and early literacy success. The center is noted as Black-owned and conveniently located for local families.
kind and well-trained staffindividualized learning based on child's needsteaches reading and early literacy skillspositive and progressive atmosphere
Rating Distribution
Based on 69 daycares with Google ratings in Long Beach
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 370 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Long Beach, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Long Beach zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90804 | 5 | 4.88 | 4 | |
| 90814 | 6 | 4.87 | 3 | |
| 90803 | 5 | 4.7 | 2 | |
| 90805 | 31 | 4.69 | 9 | |
| 90815 | 20 | 4.56 | 9 | |
| 90807 | 10 | 4.55 | 4 | |
| 90808 | 13 | 4.53 | 7 | |
| 90806 | 11 | 4.35 | 3 | |
| 90813 | 15 | 4.23 | 3 | |
| 90802 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Long Beach (12–210 children)
Small
up to 30 children
29
Medium
31–75 children
79
Large
76–150 children
28
Very Large
150+ children
1
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Long Beach based on parent reviews
Adult School Head Start
3701 E.Willow St., Long Beach, CA
One parent describes the ADULT SCHOOL HEAD START in Long Beach as a great school. This single review highlights positive impressions of the program. No specific complaints or negatives were reported in the available feedback.
Gaviota Head Start
1131 Gaviota Street, Long Beach, CA
Reviewers highlight the staff as friendly, professional, and compassionate, noting their dedication to children's learning and relationship-building. One parent describes the facility as one of the best Head Start programs, while another specifically praises the staff as the best they have encountered.
Garfield Head Start
2240 Baltic Avenue, Long Beach, CA
One parent reports that teachers are rude to their child, while another expresses anger without specifying details and a third mentions their son attending the school. A third review criticizes the food quality and overall atmosphere, urging other parents not to enroll their children.
Map
Daycare types in Long Beach
Browse by type in Long Beach
Headstart Programs in Long Beach, California
There are 19 headstart programs in Long Beach, California, making up 14% of the 137 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 Long Beach have an average rating of 4.51 out of 5 across 69 rated facilities, with 65% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 370 parent reviews. Parents in Long Beach most frequently praise daycares for friendly staff, safe environment, and welcoming community.
When choosing a daycare in Long Beach, 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 Long Beach
Showing 19 results
One parent describes the ADULT SCHOOL HEAD START in Long Beach as a great school. This single review highlights positive impressions of the program. No specific complaints or negatives were reported in the available feedback.
- Address
- 3701 E.Willow St., Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 989-4678
Reviewers highlight the staff as friendly, professional, and compassionate, noting their dedication to children's learning and relationship-building. One parent describes the facility as one of the best Head Start programs, while another specifically praises the staff as the best they have encountered.
- Address
- 1131 Gaviota Street, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 599-3843
One parent reports that teachers are rude to their child, while another expresses anger without specifying details and a third mentions their son attending the school. A third review criticizes the food quality and overall atmosphere, urging other parents not to enroll their children.
- Address
- 2240 Baltic Avenue, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (310) 427-0833
One parent highlights the center as a good learning environment with friendly staff, while another reports a negative experience involving alleged racial favoritism in the enrollment process. The latter reviewer claims their child was denied a spot despite completing paperwork, citing unequal treatment compared to other families.
- Address
- 495 E. Plymouth Street, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 422-1775
- Address
- 1755 West 32nd Way, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 426-7028
- Address
- 565 E. Hill Street, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 595-9465
- Address
- 2350 Ximeno Avenue, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 498-2431
- Address
- 730 W. 3rd Street Avenue, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 590-0904
- Address
- 625 Maine Avenue, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 590-8481
- Address
- 710 W. Spring Street, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 426-6314
- Address
- 5250 Via Pasillo, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (310) 428-1926
- Address
- 6822 Paramount Blvd., Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 630-6200
- Address
- 1671 E. Phillips Street, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 426-8144
- Address
- 1903 Santa Fe Ave., Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 590-1532
- Address
- 145 E. Artesia, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (310) 422-3784
- Address
- 21503 Prospect Ave., Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (310) 835-0137
- Address
- 1574 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 426-8144
- Address
- 700 Locust Ave., Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 426-8144
- Address
- 1761 Walnut Avenue, Long Beach, CA
- Phone
- (562) 591-9258
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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 — 105 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 19 facilities
- Church Daycare — 10 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 3 facilities