Montessori
Midtown Montessori Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file9 (1 Type A)
Daycare centers in Santa Cruz, CA
32 licensed programs · 23 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.
Daycare center
Santa Cruz Toddler Care Center
AgesInfant to toddler
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Montessori
L'Academy Language Immersion Preschool & Infant Daycare Santa Cruz
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file33 (2 Type A)
Daycare center
Discovery West Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Natural Bridges Children's Center - Voted best preschool in Santa Cruz!
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Happy Days Children's Learning
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
LifeSpring Preschool
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Childrens Preschool Santa Cruz
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Kinder Cottage
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Coastal Community Preschool
AgesPreschool to school age
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Family Network Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file4
Daycare center
ACR Academy
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Bayside Baptist Christian Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Lil' Charmer's Learning Academy
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Messiah Lutheran Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Neighborhood Childcare Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file4
Daycare center
Nuevo Dia Early Education Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Sycamore Street Early Education Center
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Bonny Doon Community Pre-School
AgesPreschool
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
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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.
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.