Daycare centers in San Marcos, CA
25 licensed programs · median published tuition $1,300 a month · 22 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
Montessori School of San Marcos
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file6 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
Little Language Ambassadors
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file4
Daycare center
Discovery Isle Preschool (308 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road)
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file9
Daycare center
Center for Children and Families at CSUSM
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file15 (4 Type A)
Daycare center
Vision Trilingual Preschool San Marcos
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file15 (3 Type A)
Daycare center
Big Future Preschool
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3
Daycare center
San Diego Children's Academy
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
San Marcos Lutheran Church Children's Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Palomar Community College District ECE Lab School
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file9
Daycare center
Kiddie Stars Preschool in San Marcos
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Head Start
MAAC - Linda Vista Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Montessori
MONTESSORI LEARNING ACADEMY
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5
Daycare center
Discovery Isle Preschool (1655 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road)
AgesInfant to toddler
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file8
Daycare center
The Little People Preschool Preschool and Daycare
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file8
Daycare center
Mission Hills Church Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file8
Daycare center
Pacific Prep School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file4
Daycare center
Intellichildren Montessori Institute
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file14 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
Easter Seals Child Development Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
MAAC - Gosnell Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file6 (1 Type A)
Head Start
Maac Early Head Start - Westlake
AgesInfant to toddler
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
San Marcos University Preshcool
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Learning Jungle San Marcos
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file13 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
Discovery Isle Preschool (1655 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd #101)
AgesPreschool to school age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file7 (1 Type A)
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Childcare in San Marcos: what to know
How many licensed child care programs are in San Marcos?
San Marcos has 46 licensed programs on the California register: 25 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 21 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 San Marcos 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 San Marcos?
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 San Marcos?
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.