Best Daycares in Santa Monica, CA — Independent Quality Ratings
Of Santa Monica's 72 daycares, 68 (94%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, matching California's statewide rate of 93%. Locally, providers average 5.0 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 4.5 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with California averages of 4.9 on Process and 4.4 on Structural.
The local market includes 70 centers.
Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Santa Monica. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the California methodology page for the full breakdown.
Rating Distribution in Santa Monica
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Santa Monica: 4.6 (Sample of 72).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Santa Monica: 5.0 (Sample of 3).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Santa Monica: 4.5 (Sample of 72).
Search daycares in Santa Monica
Browse by ZIP
Some of the Best Daycares in Santa Monica
Other cities in California
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Santa Monica?
- There are 72 licensed child care providers in Santa Monica.
- What percentage of Santa Monica daycares have high quality ratings?
- 94% of Santa Monica daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 93% statewide in California.
- What types of childcare are available in Santa Monica?
- 70 center-based providers operate in Santa Monica.
- How do Santa Monica daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of California?
- Santa Monica daycares average 5.0 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a California statewide average of 4.9.
- Is there financial help for childcare in California?
- California offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in California
All 72 Daycares in Santa Monica
- Beach Moms Cdc Inc
- Beach Moms Cdc Infant Center
- Beachmoms Child Development Center
- Beth Sholom Temple Nursery School
- Big and Tiny Santa Monica Llc
- Blue Oak Creative Schoolhouse(santa Monica
- Bright Horizons at Ocean Park-Infants
- Bright Horizons at Ocean Park-Preschool
- Bright Horizons at the Water Garden-Infants
- Bright Horizons at the Water Garden-Preschool
- Bright Step, Incorporated Dba Beginnings
- Samohi Infant/toddler Center
- Santa Monica Family Ymca Child Development Center
- Santa Monica Family Ymca Early Learning Center
- Santa Monica Montessori School
- Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/grant H.s./s.p
- Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/lincoln Child Dev/h.s./s.p
- Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/mckinley H.s./s.p.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/rogers H.s./s.p.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Usd/washington West H.s./s.p.
- Smart Start
- St Johns Child Study Center
- St Johns Child Study Center