Best Daycares in Merced

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

101 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in Merced County

2022 median
$1,059
/ month
infant
$863
/ month
toddler
$715
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $563/month).

Merced offers a wide range of daycare options for families with 101 licensed facilities, including 12 Family Child Care Homes 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 Merced, Merced County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, Ada Givens Preschool, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in Merced, Merced County charge a median of $960 per month for infant care and $748 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $918 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 Merced

1

Ada Givens Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 22
2

Alicia Haro Lopez Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
3

Alicia Reyes Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 45
4

Araceli Soto Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
5

Bright Beginnings Family Day Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
6

Buhach Preschool - Merced

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Merced

Capacity: 11
7

Carlos Lopez Contreras & Diana Alcazar Fcc

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
8

Carmelina Venegas Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
9

Cccds John O Banion Cdc

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Merced

Capacity: 15
10

Charles Wright School

Excellent

Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 21
11

Claudia & Jesus Barragan Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
12

Claudia Sparkman Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
13

Cynthia Cervantes Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
14

Cynthia Zarate Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
15

Danielson Head Start

Excellent

Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 55
16

Dina's Daycare Before and After School

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 19
17

Donna Marquez Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
18

Erika Itzel Prado Fcc

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14
19

Farmdale Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Merced

Capacity: 24
20

Fatima Islam Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Merced

Capacity: 14

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Merced?
There are 101 licensed daycare facilities in Merced, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in Merced?
Merced has 5 Child Care Center, 12 Family Child Care Home, 2 Child Care - Infant Center, 1 Single Licensed Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in Merced rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in Merced have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in Merced?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Merced charge approximately $960/month for infants, $822/month for toddlers, and $748/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $918/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

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