Children at daycare

Best Before or After School Daycare in Merced, CA

Compare 6 before or after school daycare in Merced. Average rating: 4.46/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Merced, California at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.46/5
Parent reviews
43
Top rated (4.5+)
8

Merced has 6 licensed before or after school daycare with 43 parent reviews averaging 4.46/5.8 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 50% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 95348 (avg 4.73 stars), while 95340 has the largest selection (26 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Merced

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
    Dina'S Daycare And Preschool
    4.58 score
    5(7)

    220 S. Canal St., Merced, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children

    Dina's Daycare and Preschool in Merced receives uniformly positive feedback from parents. Reviews highlight the quality of the preschool program, children's academic progress, and strong staff performance. Parents consistently recommend the facility.

    Excellent preschool programchildren learning and succeeding in schoolgood quality carefriendly and competent staff
  2. 2
    Merced College Child Development Center
    4.16 score
    4.2(20)

    3600 M Street, Merced, CA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children

    NOTE: The reviews provided are for Merced College, a community college, not for the Child Development Center daycare. Based on college reviews only: Students praise the quality of education, supportive professors, and available student services, though some note parking issues and variable staff quality.

    Quality professors and educationhelpful staff going above and beyondstrong support services (EOP&SDSPS

Rating Distribution

Based on 16 daycares with Google ratings in Merced

4.5 - 5.0
8
4.0 - 4.4
5
3.0 - 3.9
3
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.42avg rating
26 daycares · 15 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
6 daycares

Headstart Programs

5avg rating
3 daycares · 1 rated

Church Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Merced zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
953485
4.73
2
9534026
4.28
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Merced (15–135 children)

Small

up to 30 children

20

Medium

31–75 children

10

Large

76–150 children

6

Very Large

150+ children

0

Map

Daycare types in Merced

Child Daycare & Preschools 26Headstart Programs 3Church Daycare 1Before or After School Daycare 6

Browse by type in Merced

🎨 Preschools 20🌱 Montessori 3✝️ Christian Daycare 3

Before or After School Daycare in Merced, California

There are 6 before or after school daycare in Merced, California, making up 17% of the 36 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 Merced have an average rating of 4.46 out of 5 across 16 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 43 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Merced, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Before or After School Daycare in Merced

Showing 6 results

Charles Wright School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
900 E. Twentieth Street, Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 385-6615
Alexander Street Montessori School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
201 E Alexander, Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 383-1232
John C. Fremont School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1120 West 22nd St., Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 385-6000
Luther Burbank School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
609 East Alexander Avenue, Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 385-6674
Merced Montessori School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
436 West 21st Street, Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 722-9823
Merced Montessori School
Before or After School Daycare
Address
424 W 21st Street, Merced, CA
Phone
(209) 722-9823

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 before or after school daycares in Merced, California, out of 36 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 Merced have an average Google rating of 4.46 out of 5 across 16 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Merced, 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
Merced offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 26 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 6 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 Merced for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Merced 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.