Best Daycares in Santa Monica

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

84 licensed facilities
0 top rated
100% clean record

Typical tuition

Average monthly cost in Los Angeles County

2022 median
$1,113
/ month
infant
$956
/ month
toddler
$974
/ month
preschool

Median cost at licensed child care centers. Licensed family child care homes typically cost 20-30% less (infant care around $732/month).

Santa Monica offers a solid selection of licensed providers with 84 licensed facilities, including 10 Child Care Centers and 5 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 Santa Monica, Los Angeles County is strong — 100% of the top-ranked facilities have a clean inspection record with no citations. Our top pick, Beach Moms Cdc Infant Center, holds an Excellent facility score.

When it comes to cost, licensed child care centers in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County charge a median of $1,306 per month for infant care and $1,063 for preschool. These are county-level estimates — individual facilities may vary. Family child care homes are typically more affordable, with infant care averaging around $1,136 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 Santa Monica

1

Beach Moms Cdc Infant Center

Excellent

Single Licensed Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 6
2

Bell Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Santa Monica

Capacity: 14
3

Berg and Berg Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Santa Monica

Capacity: 12
4

Beth Sholom Temple Nursery School

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 60
5

Bright Horizons at Ocean Park-infants

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 60
6

Bright Horizons at the Water Garden-infants

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 12
7

Bright Horizons at the Water Garden-preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 42
8

Cassidy Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 84
9

Catholic Charities L.a.inc.s.m.adeste Prog.

Excellent

School Age Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 75
10

Circle of Children Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 40
11

Collier Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Santa Monica

Capacity: 14
12

Couchois Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Santa Monica

Capacity: 14
13

Dreamland Infant Care Center

Excellent

Child Care - Infant Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 29
14

Edison Language Academy Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 24
15

Evergreen Community School

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 56
16

First Presbyterian Chc of Santa Monica Nursery Sc

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 120
17

First School, Ocean Park, the

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 63
18

First United Methodist Church Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 128
19

Furie Family Child Care

Excellent

Family Child Care Home · Santa Monica

Capacity: 14
20

Gan Israel Preschool

Excellent

Child Care Center · Santa Monica

Capacity: 45

Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Santa Monica?
There are 84 licensed daycare facilities in Santa Monica, California, including family child care homes and child care centers.
What types of daycare are available in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica has 1 Single Licensed Child Care Center, 5 Family Child Care Home, 10 Child Care Center, 3 Child Care - Infant Center, 1 School Age Child Care Center. Use the search filters to narrow by type.
How are daycares in Santa Monica rated?
Each facility is rated based on state inspection data, including Type A and Type B citations. 100% of facilities in Santa Monica have no citations on record.
How much does daycare cost in Santa Monica?
Based on typical county pricing data, licensed child care centers in Santa Monica charge approximately $1,306/month for infants, $1,054/month for toddlers, and $1,063/month for preschool-age children. Licensed family child care homes are typically 20–30% less, with infant care around $1,136/month. Exact pricing varies by facility.

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