Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in National City, CA

Compare 3 headstart programs in National City. Average rating: 4.48/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

National City, California at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.48/5
Parent reviews
38
Top rated (4.5+)
4

National City has 3 licensed headstart programs with 38 parent reviews averaging 4.48/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 91950 zip code, averaging 4.48 stars across 17 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in National City

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
    Ecs Harbison Head Start
    4.2 score
    4.4(5)

    1540 South Harbison Avenue, National City, CA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 78 children

    ECS Harbison Head Start receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising dedicated staff members and field trip opportunities. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving alleged child abuse by a supervisor, claiming staff denied the incident and failed to follow up on a county investigation.

    Dedicated and patient teachers (Ms. BiancaMs. GonzalezMs. Nancy)field trips
  2. 2
    Dino Daycare And Preschool
    3.44 score
    3.2(12)

    6 Highland Avenue, National City, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 48 children

    Dino Daycare receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the bilingual curriculum, attentive staff, modern facilities, and child development progress. However, several parents report serious concerns about staff conduct, injury incidents, and alleged uncooperative responses when requesting camera footage for review.

    Bilingual education (English and Spanish)attentive and caring staffmodern high-tech facilitynice playground

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in National City

4.5 - 5.0
4
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in National City, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.45avg rating
14 daycares · 4 rated

Headstart Programs

4.55avg rating
3 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

National City zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9195017
4.48
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in National City (24–80 children)

Small

up to 30 children

4

Medium

31–75 children

11

Large

76–150 children

2

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in National City based on parent reviews

Ecs Harbison Head Start

4.4(5)

1540 South Harbison Avenue, National City, CA

ECS Harbison Head Start receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising dedicated staff members and field trip opportunities. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving alleged child abuse by a supervisor, claiming staff denied the incident and failed to follow up on a county investigation.

Dedicated and patient teachers (Ms. BiancaMs. GonzalezMs. Nancy)

Ecs - Highland Head Start

4.7(2)

2605 Highland Ave., National City, CA

One parent reports that their daughter is very happy, while another describes the location as good for children with friendly teachers and secure facilities. These few reviews highlight positive staff interactions and a safe environment without noting any specific drawbacks.

happy childfriendly teacherssecure facilities

Map

Daycare types in National City

Child Daycare & Preschools 14Headstart Programs 3

Browse by type in National City

🎨 Preschools 11

Headstart Programs in National City, California

There are 3 headstart programs in National City, California, making up 18% of the 17 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 National City have an average rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 67% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.55 stars. Our analysis covers 38 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in National City, 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 National City

Showing 3 results

Ecs - Highland Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.7

One parent reports that their daughter is very happy, while another describes the location as good for children with friendly teachers and secure facilities. These few reviews highlight positive staff interactions and a safe environment without noting any specific drawbacks.

happy childfriendly teacherssecure facilities
Address
2605 Highland Ave., National City, CA
Phone
(619) 477-8083
Ecs Harbison Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.4

ECS Harbison Head Start receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising dedicated staff members and field trip opportunities. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving alleged child abuse by a supervisor, claiming staff denied the incident and failed to follow up on a county investigation.

Dedicated and patient teachers (Ms. BiancaMs. GonzalezMs. Nancy)
Address
1540 South Harbison Avenue, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 475-1765
Ecs - Plaza Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
1805 East 17th Street, National City, CA
Phone
(619) 474-3477

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Frequently asked questions

There are 3 headstart programs daycares in National City, California, out of 17 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 National City have an average Google rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 67% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in National City, 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
National City offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 14 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 3 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 National City for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in National City 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.