Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Riverside, CA

Compare 5 headstart programs in Riverside. Average rating: 4.36/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Riverside, California at a glance

Programs
5
Avg rating
4.36/5
Parent reviews
535
Top rated (4.5+)
31

Riverside has 5 licensed headstart programs with 535 parent reviews averaging 4.36/5.31 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 66% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 92507 (avg 4.95 stars), while 92506 has the largest selection (20 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Riverside

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
    Fsa-Alvord Cdc
    4.8 score
    5(20)

    8230 Wells Ave., Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children

    FSA-ALVORD CDC in Riverside receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, patient staff and welcoming atmosphere. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning, and show visible growth and development. Multiple families have enrolled siblings and return for younger children, indicating strong satisfaction and trust in the center.

    Caring and patient teacherspositive welcoming atmospherechild development and growthengaging activities and learning opportunities
  2. 2
    Kids Time Montessori
    4.74 score
    5(14)

    5524 Grand Avenue, Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 31 children

    Kids Time Montessori in Riverside receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring staff, individualized Montessori approach, and nurturing environment. Parents report significant developmental progress in their children, including speech improvement, academic skills, and emotional growth. The facility is consistently described as a safe, loving second home for children.

    Patient and caring teachers (Ms. LeoMs. Tanya)passionate and professional director (Ms. Renuka)Montessori-based hands-on learning
  3. 3
    Fsa-Magnolia Cdc
    4.64 score
    4.8(20)

    8172 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 156 children

    FSA-Magnolia CDC receives consistently high praise from parents across all reviews. Parents highlight the warm, caring staff and safe learning environment, with particular appreciation for communication about their children's progress and development. Multiple parents report their children have attended for years and show no signs of wanting to leave.

    Warm and welcoming staffexcellent communication with parentssafe environmentdevelopmental learning activities
  4. 4

    19900 Grove Community Drive, Riverside, CA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 192 children

    Grove Community Church Preschool receives consistently positive reviews from parents and church members. The facility is praised for its welcoming atmosphere, clean and professional childcare, and family-friendly environment. Parents highlight the church's strong community involvement and spiritual education as key strengths.

    welcoming atmosphereclean and professional childcarefamily-oriented programsstrong pastoral leadership
  5. 5

    19743 Lurin Avenue, Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 128 children

    Parents consistently praise Children's Lighthouse of Riverside for its caring, professional staff who treat children with genuine kindness and attention. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured curriculum, educational activities, and daily communication via video feeds and reports. Multiple reviewers report significant improvements in their children's development, learning, and social skills.

    Caring and dedicated staffclean and organized facilitydaily reports and live video accessstrong curriculum and educational activities
  6. 6

    5123 La Sierra Avenue, Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 34 children

    Little Stars Preschool receives consistently positive feedback from parents whose children have attended for varying lengths of time. Parents praise the caring teachers, developmental progress, and supportive environment, with many noting significant milestones achieved including potty training, speech improvement, and academic readiness for kindergarten.

    Warm and loving staffdevelopmental support for speech delayspotty training assistanceacademic skill building (alphabet
  7. 7

    4259 Jurupa Avenue, Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 113 children

    The Growing Place Too receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-like environment where children thrive emotionally and academically. Parents highlight the caring and devoted staff who create a supportive community that fosters learning and individual development. Multiple parents report their children have excelled and transitioned successfully to elementary school.

    Caring and devoted staffnurturing environmentstrong community feelchildren excel academically
  8. 8

    2675 Central Ave, Riverside, CA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 62 children

    Temple Beth El Child Development Center in Riverside receives consistently high praise from parents, with particular emphasis on caring and dedicated teachers who provide a loving, nurturing environment that supports children's academic and social development. Parents report feeling at peace leaving their children in the center's care and note visible progress in their children's learning and communication skills.

    Caring and dedicated teachersnurturing environmentacademic and social skill developmentwell-organized classrooms
  9. 9

    2675 Central Avenue, Riverside, CA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 140 children

    Temple Beth El Child Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, engaged staff and nurturing learning environment. Parents highlight the teachers' dedication, the school's advanced curriculum for young learners, and the sense of community and peace they feel leaving their children there. The facility appears to blend religious values with quality early childhood education.

    Caring and loving teachersadvanced learning environmentorganized classroomsattentive to individual child needs
  10. 10

    2010 Martin Luther King Blvd, Riverside, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 144 children

    Parents consistently praise NATI FUENTES CENTRO DE NINOS for its caring, supportive staff who go above and beyond in nurturing children academically, emotionally, and socially. Reviewers highlight the secure environment, quality education, and strong teacher-family relationships that provide peace of mind. Multiple parents express gratitude for the center's role in preparing children for kindergarten and supporting families during challenging times.

    caring and supportive teachersacademic preparation for kindergartenemotional and social skills developmentsecure facility

Rating Distribution

Based on 47 daycares with Google ratings in Riverside

4.5 - 5.0
31
4.0 - 4.4
9
3.0 - 3.9
3
Below 3
4

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 535 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Safe environment
6
2Flexible scheduling
4
3Caring and friendly staff
4
4Caring and loving staff
3
5Experienced teachers
3
6Special events
3
7Children enjoy attending
3
8Clean facility
3

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Riverside zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9250711
4.95
2
925059
4.74
5
925089
4.7
3
9250419
4.64
6
925015
4.5
1
925096
4.42
2
9250620
4.2
7
9250316
3.92
5

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Riverside (14–220 children)

Small

up to 30 children

31

Medium

31–75 children

38

Large

76–150 children

21

Very Large

150+ children

5

Map

Headstart Programs in Riverside, California

There are 5 headstart programs in Riverside, California, making up 5% of the 95 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 Riverside have an average rating of 4.36 out of 5 across 47 rated facilities, with 66% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.76 stars. Our analysis covers 535 parent reviews. Parents in Riverside most frequently praise daycares for safe environment, flexible scheduling, and caring and friendly staff.

When choosing a daycare in Riverside, 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 Riverside

Showing 5 results

Page 1 of 1· 5 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 5 headstart programs daycares in Riverside, California, out of 95 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 Riverside have an average Google rating of 4.36 out of 5 across 47 rated facilities. About 66% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Riverside, 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
Riverside offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 70 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 5 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 5 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 15 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 Riverside for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Riverside 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.