Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Menlo Park, CA

Compare 2 headstart programs in Menlo Park. Average rating: 4.31/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Menlo Park, California at a glance

Programs
2
Avg rating
4.31/5
Parent reviews
67
Top rated (4.5+)
4

Menlo Park has 2 licensed headstart programs with 67 parent reviews averaging 4.31/5.The largest concentration is in 94025 with 28 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Menlo Park

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
    Bright Angel Academy
    4.1 score
    4.2(5)

    695 Bay Road, Menlo Park, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 48 children

    Parents consistently praise Bright Angel Academy for its caring teachers, beautiful facilities, and positive learning environment. Children reportedly enjoy attending and benefit from the Montessori-based educational approach. The center serves multiple age groups from infants through preschool.

    Caring and nice teachersexcellent facilitiesMontessori education approachmultiple age-appropriate classes
  2. 2
    Bright Angel Montessori Academy
    4.1 score
    4.2(5)

    687 Bay Road, Menlo Park, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 42 children

    Parents consistently praise Bright Angel Montessori Academy for its caring teachers, beautiful facilities, and quality Montessori education. Multiple families report their children enjoy attending and are happy with the overall environment. The center serves infants through preschool-age children.

    caring and nice teachersbeautiful facilitiesquality Montessori educationchildren enjoy attending
  3. 3
    Toddle
    3.95 score
    3.9(5)

    3131 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 25 children

    TODDLE receives mostly positive feedback from parents whose children attended, praising the dedicated staff, small class sizes, inquiry-based learning, and strong community feel. However, two negative reviews cite poor customer service during a tour and facility limitations.

    Dedicated and experienced staffsmall student-to-teacher ratioinquiry-based learning approachwelcoming community
  4. 4
    All Five @ Belle Haven (Ps)
    3.93 score
    3.9(11)

    415 Ivy Drive Ptbl 15, Menlo Park, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children

    All Five @ Belle Haven receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the nurturing environment, strong social-emotional learning approach, and dedicated staff, reporting significant positive development in their children. However, a small number of parents report serious concerns about inadequate supervision, failure to address bullying and physical injuries, and lack of behavioral boundaries.

    Nurturing and supportive teaching approachstrong social-emotion
  5. 5
    Jobtrain INC Child Dev Ctr
    3.93 score
    3.9(13)

    1200 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children

    This appears to be a job training center, not a daycare. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive (9 five-star ratings) praising instructors, practical skills training, and career support, but two negative reviews cite enrollment delays and poor customer service.

    Engaging and supportive instructorspractical hands-on trainingfree or affordable coursesjob placement assistance

Rating Distribution

Based on 14 daycares with Google ratings in Menlo Park

4.5 - 5.0
4
4.0 - 4.4
6
3.0 - 3.9
4
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Menlo Park, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.25avg rating
24 daycares · 13 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
2 daycares

Headstart Programs

5avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Menlo Park zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9402528
4.31
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Menlo Park (23–120 children)

Small

up to 30 children

10

Medium

31–75 children

13

Large

76–150 children

5

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Menlo Park based on parent reviews

Ihsd INC-Fair Oaks Head Start Center

5(1)

3502 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA

Map

Daycare types in Menlo Park

Child Daycare & Preschools 24Headstart Programs 2Before or After School Daycare 2

Browse by type in Menlo Park

🎨 Preschools 7

Headstart Programs in Menlo Park, California

There are 2 headstart programs in Menlo Park, California, making up 7% 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 Menlo Park have an average rating of 4.31 out of 5 across 14 rated facilities, with 29% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 67 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Menlo Park, 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 Menlo Park

Showing 2 results

Ihsd INC-Fair Oaks Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
5
Address
3502 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA
Phone
(650) 368-0869
Ihsd INC-Menlo Park Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
Address
419 6th Avenue, Menlo Park, CA
Phone
(650) 369-7970

Page 1 of 1· 2 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 2 headstart programs daycares in Menlo Park, California, out of 28 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 Menlo Park have an average Google rating of 4.31 out of 5 across 14 rated facilities. About 29% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Menlo Park, 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
Menlo Park offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 24 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 2 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 Menlo Park for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Menlo Park 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.