Montessori
Palo Alto Montessori School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare centers in Palo Alto, CA
43 licensed programs · median published tuition $1,452 a month · 35 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.
Montessori
Palo Alto Academy Bilingual Montessori
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,150 / mo
Citations on file14 (2 Type A)
Daycare center
Parents Nursery School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Building Kidz of Palo Alto South
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file11 (2 Type A)
Daycare center
Challenger School - Middlefield
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Lilliput Infant and Preschool
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Country Day Little School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Friends Nursery School - Palo Alto
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Building Kidz of Palo Alto
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Montessori
Gani Preschool
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Learning Links Palo Alto
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2 (2 Type A)
Daycare center
Hearts and Hands Preschool at Palo Alto
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Infant Toddler Center (ITC)
AgesInfant to toddler
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Sojourner Truth Child Development Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
Whistle Stop Child Development
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Downtown Children's Center (DCC)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Barron Park Playschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Covenant Children's Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Bright Horizons at Palo Alto + Back-Up Care
AgesInfant to school age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Amigos De Palo Alto
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5
Daycare center
Barron Park Children's Center (BPCC)
AgesPreschool to school age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3 (2 Type A)
Daycare center
Edgewood House Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5
Daycare center
Children's Pre-School Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file8 (4 Type A)
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Childcare in Palo Alto: what to know
How many licensed child care programs are in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto has 74 licensed programs on the California register: 43 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 21 home daycares and 10 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 Palo Alto daycares?
Violations are common and most are paperwork or maintenance items. Across 528 daycare centers in the metro area, the median center has 1 citations on the state file, and 198 centers have none. 121 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 Palo Alto?
19 programs in the metro area publish full-time tuition on their website. The median starting price is $1,452 a month, and $2,752 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 Palo Alto?
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.