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Daycare centers in El Cajon, CA

40 licensed programs · median published tuition $1,300 a month · 26 with Google ratings

A daycare center is a licensed facility that cares for children in age-grouped classrooms, usually from six weeks old until kindergarten, for a full working day. Centers are inspected by the state, must meet staff-to-child ratios for every age group and carry a licensed capacity.

Showing 1 to 24 of 32 · parent reviewsTick "Compare" on up to 3 programs
Academy of Play, El Cajon
Daycare center

Academy of Play

El Cajon · 92021 · 4.9 (36 on Google)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3
  • Play-based
  • Spanish spoken
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I.Newton Education Center, El Cajon
Daycare center

I.Newton Education Center

El Cajon · 92020 · 4.8 (46 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3 (1 Type A)
  • Reggio Emilia
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Daycare center

Montessori Taproot

El Cajon · 92021 · 5.0 (3 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file6 (3 Type A)
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Die Rasselbande Preschool, El Cajon
Daycare center

Die Rasselbande Preschool

El Cajon · 92020 · 4.6 (10 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1 (1 Type A)
  • Play-based
  • German spoken
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Daycare center

Pepper Valley Learning Center

El Cajon · 92021 · 4.3 (22 on Google)
AgesPreschool to school age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
  • Meals included
  • Spanish spoken
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Daycare center

Bostonia Global Charter

El Cajon · 92021 · No Google rating
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
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Childcare in El Cajon: what to know

How many licensed child care programs are in El Cajon?

El Cajon has 311 licensed programs on the California register: 40 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 271 home daycares and 0 before and after school programs.

Who licenses child care in California?

California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division licenses and inspects child care centers, preschools and home daycares in California. Every profile links to the state record. Licence data on this page was synced in September 2026.

How common are inspection violations at El Cajon daycares?

Violations are common and most are paperwork or maintenance items. Across 781 daycare centers in the metro area, the median center has 1 citations on the state file, and 303 centers have none. 172 have at least one rated Type A by the state. California cites a Type A violation for an immediate risk to the health or safety of children, and a Type B violation for a record-keeping or maintenance item. The state file gives counts, dates and regulation numbers, not the inspector's notes.

What does daycare cost in El Cajon?

57 programs in the metro area publish full-time tuition on their website. The median starting price is $1,300 a month, and $1,701 a month for infants. Most programs share tuition only on a tour, so ask for the full fee schedule including registration and supply fees.

Why do home daycares show only a ZIP code?

A licensed home daycare is a private residence, and California withholds the address from its public register. The listing shows the licence, capacity and ZIP code. The provider gives the address to families directly.

When should I join a daycare waitlist in El Cajon?

Infant rooms fill first because the state allows the fewest babies per teacher. Ask each program how long its infant and toddler waitlists run and whether a deposit holds a place. Home daycares often have shorter waits than centers.

Help paying for care

Most states run a child care subsidy for working families under an income limit, funded by the federal Child Care and Development Fund.

Show programs that accept subsidy →

Nearby cities

Source: Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes data downloads, CCLD Transparency site. Last synced September 2026. Ratings and review counts are from Google.