Preschool & Childcare in College Area — Top Local Picks (2026)

Preschool & Childcare in College Area — Daycares Near SDSU & Lake Murray

Are there good preschools near SDSU?

College Area has 39 licensed preschools and daycares spread across six sub-communities in 92115, 92119, and 92120 — the densest early-childhood cluster between SDSU and the La Mesa border. The mix includes center-based programs, Montessori schools, faith-based preschools, and more than a dozen licensed family daycares operating out of residential homes.

Healthy Toddlers Care near the SDSU campus runs a structured toddler and preschool program that parents in 92115 return to for second and third children. College Avenue Preschool & Daycare and Kids Ave Enrichment Learning Center are also within walking distance of campus, making morning drop-off manageable for SDSU staff and graduate students.

How much does preschool cost in San Diego?

Full-time preschool in San Diego typically runs $1,200 to $2,200 per month for center-based programs, with licensed family daycares in the College Area often pricing between $900 and $1,400. Rates depend on the child's age, the provider's licensing tier, staff-to-child ratio, and whether the program includes meals.

The College Area's family daycares — providers like Irma's Family Child Care, Little Lambs Daycare, and Dreambig Family Daycare — generally fall at the lower end of the range while maintaining state licensing requirements. Center-based programs with structured curriculum and larger facilities trend higher. Most providers list current tuition on their San Diego Lineup page or will quote rates during a tour.

What preschools are in Allied Gardens?

Sagebrush Children's Center is the top-reviewed preschool in Allied Gardens, running a play-based early-childhood program near the Allied Gardens Recreation Center on Greenbrier Avenue in 92120. The center handles toddlers through pre-K and is a go-to for families in the Patrick Henry High School feeder zone.

Allied Gardens also has Ascension Montessori Children's Center for families wanting a Montessori approach, Creative Hearts Daycare for in-home care, and Bloomers Academy. Several family daycares on the residential streets near Waring Road round out the options, including Vista Del Cerro Day Care and Berthiaume Family Daycare.

What preschools are in San Carlos?

Grow Smart Children's Academy operates a structured preschool and childcare program on Lake Murray Boulevard in 92119, covering ages two through five with a curriculum-based approach. The academy is one of the highest-reviewed early-childhood programs on the San Carlos side of the College Area.

San Carlos UMC Preschool runs out of San Carlos United Methodist Church on Navajo Road, and Silverman Preschool adds another licensed option in the neighborhood. The Bilingual Montessori provides a dual-language immersion track for families interested in bilingual development near Cowles Mountain. Family daycares like Vee's Munchkins and Casamar Christian Day Care fill gaps in the residential blocks between Lake Murray and Jackson Drive.

Is there free preschool in the College Area?

California's Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program is available at no cost through San Diego Unified School District for children turning five between September 2 and June 2 of the school year. TK is offered at several elementary schools within the College Area, including Hardy Elementary and Foster Elementary.

The California State Preschool Program (CSPP) provides free or subsidized preschool for families that meet income eligibility requirements. Priority goes to families at or below 85% of the state median income, foster children, and children with disabilities. Head Start also operates in the broader San Diego area. Neighborhood House Association in College Area may connect families with subsidized early-childhood options.

Are there Montessori preschools in the College Area?

The Nest Montessori School near SDSU in 92115 runs a Montessori-method program for toddlers and preschoolers, and Ascension Montessori Children's Center in Allied Gardens provides a second Montessori option in 92120. The Bilingual Montessori in San Carlos combines Montessori methodology with a dual-language immersion approach.

Montessori programs in San Diego typically cost more than conventional preschools due to smaller class sizes and specialized materials. Families comparing Montessori options across the area should also check La Mesa and Santee listings, which add Montessori programs within a short drive east.

What daycare options are near SDSU?

SDSU's campus in 92115 is surrounded by both center-based daycares and licensed family daycares. Healthy Toddlers Care is the closest well-reviewed center-based option, and Kid Planet Daycare, Ali Kadija Family Daycare, and Play Learn Grow Family Daycare all operate licensed home programs within two miles of campus.

Family daycares in the College Area generally accept children from infancy through age five, with smaller group sizes than centers. Ginette Family Childcare and Randolph Family Childcare are among the options with strong parent reviews closer to the Rolando side. For infant care specifically, calling individual providers is the fastest way to check availability — infant slots fill months ahead of the start date.

When does preschool enrollment open for fall in San Diego?

Most center-based preschools in the College Area begin accepting fall applications between January and March, with enrollment confirmations typically going out by April. Popular programs like Sagebrush Children's Center and Grow Smart Children's Academy recommend touring in the fall before the enrollment window opens.

Family daycares operate on a rolling basis — spots open when a child ages out or a family moves — so there is no fixed enrollment season. For Transitional Kindergarten through San Diego Unified, enrollment follows the district's spring registration timeline. Parents weighing whether a four-year-old should start pre-K or wait for kindergarten should check SDUSD's age cutoff dates, which shifted under California's TK expansion.

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Preschools & Daycares Near SDSU — College Area

All Preschool & Childcare

The Nest Montessori School

Healthy Toddlers Care - NOW ENROLLING

Sagebrush Children's Center

Irma's Family child care

Little Sprouts / Learning Jungle Mission Gorge

San Carlos UMC Preschool

Ascension Montessori Children’s Center

Creative Hearts Daycare

Kid Planet Daycare

Little Lambs Daycare

Vee's Munchkins Daycare

Ali Kadija Family Daycare

Kids Ave Enrichment Learning Center

Dreambig Family Daycare

Silverman Preschool

College Park Preschool

Ginette Family Childcare LLC

Randolph Family Childcare

Berthiaume Family Daycare

Play Learn Grow Family Daycare

Vista Del Cerro Day Care

Grow Smart Children's Academy | Preschool & Child Care

Casamar Christian Day Care

College Avenue Preschool & Daycare

LIAS Family and Childcare and Preschool

Nano's Happy Place

OpenMinds Language Immersion Preschool

Child Development Center

Mission Nazarene Preschool

Mission Nazarene Child Care

Gandarilla Ma. Lourdes Daycare

Medina Learning Center

San Carlos KinderCare

Bloomers Academy

Joyful Cubs

L.O’s Family ChildCare

Little Learners

Neighborhood House Association

The Bilingual Montessori