Preschool Index

Daycare centers in Gardena, CA

19 licensed programs · median published tuition $1,183 a month · 17 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 19 of 19 · parent reviewsTick "Compare" on up to 3 programs
Daycare center

Rising Stars Academy

Gardena · 90247 · 4.5 (29 on Google)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3 (2 Type A)
  • Meals included
  • Academic
Van Ness Preschool, Gardena
Daycare center

Van Ness Preschool

Gardena · 90249 · 4.5 (10 on Google)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
  • Meals included
  • Play-based
  • Korean spoken
Daycare center

Kid Geniuses Preschool

Gardena · 90247 · 5.0 (1 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1 (1 Type A)
Daycare center

Gardena Buddhist Church

Gardena · 90247 · 4.5 (2 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
  • Language immersion
  • Japanese spoken
Twinkle Tots Preschool, Gardena
Daycare center

Twinkle Tots Preschool

Gardena · 90248 · 4.3 (6 on Google)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
  • Reggio Emilia
Daycare center

St Anthony's Day Nursery

Gardena · 90247 · 3.7 (7 on Google)
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2 (1 Type A)
  • Faith-based
Daycare center

Pace - First Steps

Gardena · 90249 · No Google rating
AgesInfant to toddler
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
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Childcare in Gardena: what to know

How many licensed child care programs are in Gardena?

Gardena has 81 licensed programs on the California register: 19 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 61 home daycares and 1 before and after school program.

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 Gardena daycares?

Violations are common and most are paperwork or maintenance items. Across 2,550 daycare centers in the metro area, the median center has 1 citations on the state file, and 1,011 centers have none. 507 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 Gardena?

167 programs in the metro area publish full-time tuition on their website. The median starting price is $1,183 a month, and $1,348 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 Gardena?

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 →

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.