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Best Daycares in Carlsbad

Top 20 licensed childcare facilities ranked by compliance record, parent reviews, and capacity.

64 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in San Diego County

2022 median
$1,642
/ month
infant
$1,166
/ month
toddler
$1,051
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $739/month).

Carlsbad offers a solid selection of licensed providers with 64 licensed facilities, including 9 School Age Child Care Centers and 5 Child Care Centers. We ranked the top 20 based on their official compliance record and parent reviews to help you find the best fit for your family.

The daycare landscape in Carlsbad, San Diego County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, Aspirations School of Learning, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in Carlsbad, San Diego County charge a median of $1,550 per month for infant care and $1,070 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $1,017 per month.

Each facility listed below links to a detailed profile page where you can review inspection history, complaint records, capacity, and contact information. We update our rankings regularly as new licensing data becomes available.

Top 20 Daycares in Carlsbad

1

Aspirations School of Learning

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 156
2

Aspirations School of Learning - Infant

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 16
3

Big Future Preschool

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 108
4

Brenda Hudgins Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Carlsbad

Capacity: 14
5

Carlene Parkhurst Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Carlsbad

Capacity: 14
6

Carlsbad Educational Foundation - Calavera Hills

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 140
7

Carlsbad Educational Foundation - Hope Elementary

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 140
8

Carlsbad Educational Foundation - Jefferson Elem.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 250
9

Carlsbad Educational Foundation - Magnolia Elem.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 140
10

Carlsbad Educational Foundation - Poinsettia

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 140
11

Carlsbad Educational Foundation-aviara Oaks Elem.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 250
12

Carlsbad Educational Foundation-buena Vista Elem.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 140
13

Carlsbad Educational Foundation-pacific Rim Elem.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 250
14

Casa Montessori De Carlsbad

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 49
15

Children's Paradise Inc. - Carlsbad

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 194
16

Christ Presbyterian Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 56
17

Coastal Sage Montessori

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 28
18

Everbrook Academy Dba Prestige Preschool Academy

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 24
19

Everbrook Academy Dba Prestige Preschool Academy

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 28
20

Highland Academy

Excellent

Child Care Center · Carlsbad

Capacity: 48
View all 64 facilities in Carlsbad

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Carlsbad?
There are 64 licensed daycare facilities in Carlsbad, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in Carlsbad?
Carlsbad has 5 Child Care Center, 2 Child Care - Infant Center, 2 Single Licensed Child Care Center, 2 Family Child Care Home, 9 School Age Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in Carlsbad rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in Carlsbad have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in Carlsbad?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Carlsbad charge approximately $1,550/month for infants, $1,127/month for toddlers, and $1,070/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,017/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

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