Daycares and preschools in Santa Cruz, CA
57 licensed programs · 23 with Google ratings
Before and after school
Champions at Brook Knoll Elementary School
AgesSchool age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file15 (1 Type A)
Before and after school
Ckc Santa Cruz Gardens
AgesSchool age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Del Mar State Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Downtown Children's Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3
Daycare center
Early Education Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Green Acres State Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
Happy Days Children's Learning Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Holy Cross Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Montessori
Little Acorns Montessori
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Live Oak Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5
Daycare center
Midtown Discovery Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Rosebud Playgarden
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file3
Daycare center
Ckc Children's Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file7 (3 Type A)
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Licensed home daycares in Santa Cruz
Home daycares are private residences, so the register entry is shown with the ZIP code only (California withholds home addresses). Many are licensed under the provider's own name. A home daycare with a public business profile has its own page above.
| Licensed name | ZIP | Licence | Capacity | Ages | Citations on file | Subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguirre, Irene Family Day Care Home | 95062 | 444407145 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 1 | |
| Allen, Jaime Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444416524 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 1 | |
| Arreola-Flores, Mariana Family Day Care Home | 95062 | 444411913 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 8 | |
| Balla, Gustavo and Sara Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444416379 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | None on record | |
| Bare, Laura Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444411533 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 1 | |
| Bonilla, Irene Family Day Care Home | 95065 | 444409932 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | None on record | |
| Castillo, Adriana Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444409492 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | None on record | |
| Coughlin, Wendi Family Day Care Home | 95065 | 444411266 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 3 | |
| George, Ashley Family Day Care Home | 95062 | 444415698 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 5 | |
| Goldman Lisa Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444415854 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 3 | |
| Hutson, Jenny Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444406001 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 2 | |
| Lopez, Eva Family Day Care Home | 95065 | 444407087 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 2 | |
| Pineda, Griselda Family Day Care Home | 95062 | 444415704 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 12 | |
| Quinn, Marie Family Day Care Home | 95062 | 444413069 | 12 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 3 | |
| Rinaldi, Tammy Loree Family Day Care Home | 95065 | 444413761 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 1 | |
| Schettler-Susskind, Jill Family Day Care Home | 95060 | 444414569 | 14 | infant, toddler, preschool and school age | 2 |
Before and after school programs in Santa Cruz
These programs hold a school-age child care licence and run inside an elementary school or community site. Enrolment is usually through the operator or the school.
| Licensed name | ZIP | Licence | Capacity | Ages | Citations on file | Subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sprouts Sc School Age Day Care Center | 95062 | 444417001 | 30 | school age | 2 | |
| Sprouts Sc Happy Valley School Age Day Care Center | 95065 | 444417094 | 50 | school age | None on record | |
| Sprouts Sc Tierra Pacifica School Age Day Care Center | 95062 | 444417043 | 50 | school age | 1 |
Childcare in Santa Cruz: what to know
How many licensed child care programs are in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 57 licensed programs on the California register: 32 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 17 home daycares and 8 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 Santa Cruz daycares?
Violations are common and most are paperwork or maintenance items. Across 66 daycare centers in the Santa Cruz area, the median center has 1 citations on the state file, and 28 centers have none. 10 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.
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 Santa Cruz?
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.
Browse Santa Cruz by type
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.