Best Daycares in Encinitas

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

39 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).

Encinitas offers a solid selection of licensed providers with 39 licensed facilities, including 9 Child Care Centers and 7 Family Child Care Homes. 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 Encinitas, San Diego County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, A Children's Garden - Leucadia, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in Encinitas, 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 Encinitas

1

A Children's Garden - Leucadia

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 44
2

Andrea Witzmann Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
3

Beatriz Mondragon Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
4

Blooming House Montessori Schools

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 42
5

Bridget Richards Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 12
6

Bright Horizons at Encinitas

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 130
7

Central Montessori School

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 78
8

Central Montessori School

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 141
9

Chaya Eilfort Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
10

Cheryl Burns Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
11

Easter Seals Child Development Center

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 94
12

Elisangela Watral Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
13

Kathleen Kenshur Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Encinitas

Capacity: 14
14

Kids by the Sea

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 36
15

Kids by the Sea Olivehain

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 60
16

Leucadia Children's School

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 44
17

Lighthouse Christian Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 60
18

Lingua Natal & Jardin International Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 60
19

Magdalena Ecke Family Ymca - Flora Vista Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 26
20

Magdalena Ecke Family Ymca - School-age (farm Lab)

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Encinitas

Capacity: 151

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Encinitas?
There are 39 licensed daycare facilities in Encinitas, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in Encinitas?
Encinitas has 9 Child Care Center, 7 Family Child Care Home, 3 Single Licensed Child Care Center, 1 School Age Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in Encinitas rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in Encinitas have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in Encinitas?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Encinitas 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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