Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Madera, CA

Compare 10 headstart programs in Madera. Average rating: 4.09/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Madera, California at a glance

Programs
10
Avg rating
4.09/5
Parent reviews
70
Top rated (4.5+)
5

Madera has 10 licensed headstart programs with 70 parent reviews averaging 4.09/5.5 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 45% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 93637 zip code, averaging 4.7 stars across 17 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Madera

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
    Valley West Child Care Center
    4.32 score
    4.4(19)

    101 Adell, Madera, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 15 children

    The reviews provided appear to be for a church (Valley West Church) rather than the Valley West Child Care Center daycare. The reviews praise the church's fellowship, worship services, and Celebrate Recovery program, but do not contain information about childcare services or facilities.

    Kind and welcoming communityquality worship and preachingsupportive fellowship programsfamily-oriented environment
  2. 2
    Nancy Fuller Children'S University INC
    3.74 score
    3.6(9)

    36199 Avenue 12, Madera, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Nancy Fuller Children's University in Madera receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the director and staff for individualized child development, safety, and consistency in learning. The center is noted for successfully managing staff transitions and maintaining strong academic and social preparation for kindergarten. One negative review exists but provides no specific details.

    Caring and attentive directorindividualized attention to childr
  3. 3
    Nancy Fuller Children'S University INC
    3.74 score
    3.6(9)

    12018 Charlton Rd, Madera, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children

    Nancy Fuller Children's University in Madera receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the director's leadership, staff quality, and individualized attention to children's development and needs. Parents highlight successful academic and social preparation for kindergarten, effective potty training consistency, and strong problem-solving. One negative review provided no specific details.

    Director's leadership and problem-solvingstaff quality a

Rating Distribution

Based on 11 daycares with Google ratings in Madera

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.37avg rating
25 daycares · 7 rated

Headstart Programs

3.6avg rating
10 daycares · 4 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Madera zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9363717
4.7
4
9363816
3.58
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Madera (15–96 children)

Small

up to 30 children

20

Medium

31–75 children

12

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Madera based on parent reviews

Verdell Mckelvey Head Start Center

5(1)

1901 Clinton Avenue, Madera, CA

One parent describes the Verdell McKelvey Head Start Center as a beautiful environment that helps children start on the right path.

Beautiful facilityPositive start for children

Pomona Migrant Head Start

4.5(1)

11777 Woodward Way, Madera, CA

Mis Angelitos Migrant Head Start Center

3.9(1)

75 E. Adell Street, Madera, CA

Cottonwood Creek Head Start Center

1(1)

2236 Tozar, Madera, CA

Map

Daycare types in Madera

Child Daycare & Preschools 25Headstart Programs 10

Browse by type in Madera

🎨 Preschools 14

Headstart Programs in Madera, California

There are 10 headstart programs in Madera, California, making up 29% of the 35 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 Madera have an average rating of 4.09 out of 5 across 11 rated facilities, with 45% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.37 stars. Our analysis covers 70 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Madera, 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 Madera

Showing 10 results

Verdell Mckelvey Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
5

One parent describes the Verdell McKelvey Head Start Center as a beautiful environment that helps children start on the right path.

Beautiful facilityPositive start for children
Address
1901 Clinton Avenue, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 673-1500
Pomona Migrant Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.5
Address
11777 Woodward Way, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 661-0269
Mis Angelitos Migrant Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
3.9
Address
75 E. Adell Street, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 675-5725
Cottonwood Creek Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
1
Address
2236 Tozar, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 673-9173
Ruth Gonzales Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
Address
838 Lilly Street, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 673-9173
Easton Arcola Migrant Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
29551 Avenue 8, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 673-0417
Los Ninos Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
Address
29171 Desha, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 673-9173
Mis Tesoros Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
Address
131 Mace Street, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 675-9137
Sierra Vista Migrant Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
917 E. Olive Avenue, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 675-8620
Sunset Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
8594 Road 23, Madera, CA
Phone
(559) 675-1921

Page 1 of 1· 10 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 10 headstart programs daycares in Madera, California, out of 35 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 Madera have an average Google rating of 4.09 out of 5 across 11 rated facilities. About 45% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Madera, 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
Madera offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 25 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 10 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 Madera for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Madera 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.