Daycare center
First United Methodist Church Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare centers in Santa Monica, CA
55 licensed programs · median published tuition $1,183 a month · 38 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
Palisades Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file2
Daycare center
Circle of Children Pre-School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
Growing Place At Marine Park
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,625 / mo
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Evergreen Community School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Montessori
Piper Preschool - Santa Monica
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,125 / mo
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
The Children's Place Preschool
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
The Playgroup House
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Maple Tree Academy
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,600 / mo
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,625 / mo
Citations on file1 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
First School, Ocean Park, the
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1
Daycare center
First School, the
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/Grant H.S./S.P
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on fileNone on record
Daycare center
Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/McKinley H.S./S.P.
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file1 (1 Type A)
Daycare center
St Johns Child Study Center
AgesInfant to preschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition fromNot listed
Citations on file5 (4 Type A)
Daycare center
The First School
AgesPreschool
HoursNot listed
Tuition from$2,500 / mo
Citations on fileNone on record
0 selected to compare.
Childcare in Santa Monica: what to know
How many licensed child care programs are in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica has 73 licensed programs on the California register: 55 daycare centers, 0 licensed preschools, 18 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica?
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 Santa Monica?
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.