Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in San Luis Obispo, CA

Compare 3 headstart programs in San Luis Obispo. Average rating: 4.58/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

San Luis Obispo, California at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.58/5
Parent reviews
52
Top rated (4.5+)
10

San Luis Obispo has 3 licensed headstart programs with 52 parent reviews averaging 4.58/5.10 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 77% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 93401 zip code, averaging 4.77 stars across 18 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in San Luis Obispo

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
    Love To Learn
    4.71 score
    5(12)

    1739 Fredricks, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children

    Love to Learn is a highly-rated preschool in San Luis Obispo with 10 five-star reviews. Parents consistently praise the caring, professional staff, engaging curriculum balancing academics with play, and children's strong preparation for kindergarten. Children reportedly arrive home excited about learning and confident in their social-emotional development.

    Dedicated and well-trained teachersengaging curriculum with hands-on learningbalanced approach of academics
  2. 2
    Love To Learn
    4.71 score
    5(12)

    1701 Fredericks, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Love to Learn is a highly regarded preschool in San Luis Obispo where parents consistently praise the dedicated, caring teaching staff and well-balanced curriculum combining academic learning with play. Parents report their children are exceptionally well-prepared for kindergarten and experience significant social-emotional growth, with children showing enthusiasm about attending school daily.

    Skilled and caring teachersstrong academic preparation for kindergartenbalanced curriculum with outdoor playengaging hands-on learning activities
  3. 3
    Country Cottage Preschool
    4.62 score
    5(8)

    2075 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 29 children

    Country Cottage Preschool receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the caring, engaged staff and clean, welcoming environment. Parents consistently report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and benefit from thoughtful lesson planning and frequent family events. The owner and teachers are noted for excellent communication and going above and beyond to make families feel valued.

    Nurturing and caring teachersclean classroomsengaging daily activities and lessonsexcellent parent communication
  4. 4
    Foothill Preschool
    3.56 score
    3.2(6)

    317 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children

    Foothill Preschool receives mixed reviews ranging from 1-5 stars. Positive reviews praise the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and quality instruction, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about child safety, supervision, facility cleanliness, and staff responsiveness to behavioral issues.

    caring and attentive teachersstrong relationships with familiesquality educational curriculumstaff dedication

Rating Distribution

Based on 13 daycares with Google ratings in San Luis Obispo

4.5 - 5.0
10
4.0 - 4.4
0
3.0 - 3.9
3
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in San Luis Obispo, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.58avg rating
21 daycares · 13 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
4 daycares

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
3 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

San Luis Obispo zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
9340118
4.77
6
934057
4.4
2

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in San Luis Obispo (10–100 children)

Small

up to 30 children

14

Medium

31–75 children

11

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

0

Map

Daycare types in San Luis Obispo

Child Daycare & Preschools 21Headstart Programs 3Before or After School Daycare 4

Browse by type in San Luis Obispo

🎨 Preschools 8

Headstart Programs in San Luis Obispo, California

There are 3 headstart programs in San Luis Obispo, California, making up 11% 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 San Luis Obispo have an average rating of 4.58 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities, with 77% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.58 stars. Our analysis covers 52 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo

Showing 3 results

Capslo - Children'S Waiting Room Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo, CA
Phone
(805) 594-1752
Capslo - Cuesta Head Start - Rm 4011
Headstart Programs
Address
4000 Chorro Valley Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA
Phone
(805) 546-3100
Capslo - High Street Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
480 High Street, San Luis Obispo, CA
Phone
(805) 542-0320

Page 1 of 1· 3 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 3 headstart programs daycares in San Luis Obispo, 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 San Luis Obispo have an average Google rating of 4.58 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities. About 77% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in San Luis Obispo, 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
San Luis Obispo offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 21 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 3 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 4 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 San Luis Obispo for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in San Luis Obispo 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.