Best Daycares in San Rafael

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

94 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in Marin County

2022 median
$2,374
/ month
infant
$1,705
/ month
toddler
$1,876
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $1,026/month).

San Rafael offers a solid selection of licensed providers with 94 licensed facilities, including 7 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 San Rafael, Marin County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, Abbey Montessori Children's Center - Infant, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in San Rafael, Marin County charge a median of $2,085 per month for infant care and $1,624 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $1,564 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 San Rafael

1

Abbey Montessori Children's Center - Infant

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 12
2

Abbey Montessori Children's Center - Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 30
3

Acqua Montessori School

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 24
4

Alcira Alvarez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 10
5

Ana Aracely Torres

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 14
6

Aura Marina Guedez

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 14
7

Bright Horizons at Marin Commons - Infant

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 40
8

Bright Horizons at Marin Commons-preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 102
9

Bright Stars Children's Center Inc.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 19
10

C.a.m. (cfs) -canal Child Care Center (ps)

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 44
11

C.a.m. (cfs) De Colores (inf)

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 24
12

C.a.m. (cfs) San Pedro (ps)

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 40
13

C.a.m. Short School

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 40
14

Camila R. De Oliveira

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 14
15

City of San Rafael - Pickleweed P/s

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 44
16

Claudia Diaz

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 14
17

Claudia K. Rauda

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 14
18

Creart Early Education & Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 24
19

Creart Early Education & Preschool-infant Program

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · San Rafael

Capacity: 18
20

Cristiane D. Ferreira

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · San Rafael

Capacity: 12

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in San Rafael?
There are 94 licensed daycare facilities in San Rafael, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in San Rafael?
San Rafael has 4 Child Care - Infant Center, 7 Child Care Center, 7 Family Child Care Home, 1 School Age Child Care Center, 1 Single Licensed Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in San Rafael rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in San Rafael have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in San Rafael?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in San Rafael charge approximately $2,085/month for infants, $1,538/month for toddlers, and $1,624/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,564/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

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