Best Daycares in El Cajon, CA — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 22 daycares and childcare centers in El Cajon based on licensing, accreditation, parent reviews, and childcare quality.

Top Daycares in El Cajon

  1. #1 — Oak Tree Academy Score: 87%

    Oak Tree Academy is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.oaktreeacademysd.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  2. #2 — Redwood Head Start Score: 86%

    Redwood Head Start is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://www.akaheadstart.org.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  3. #3 — Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Preschool Score: 86%

    Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.fhpc.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  4. #4 — Door To the Future Preschool Score: 86%

    Door To the Future Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.doortothefuturepreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  5. #5 — All Kids Academy Head Start Score: 86%

    All Kids Academy Head Start is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://akaheadstart.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  6. #6 — Academy of Play Score: 86%

    Academy of Play is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://AofPlay.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  7. #7 — Ready Set Grow Learning Center Score: 86%

    Ready Set Grow Learning Center is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://readysetgrowsd.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  8. #8 — El Cajon Wesleyan Preschool Score: 80%

    El Cajon Wesleyan Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.ecwesleyan.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  9. #9 — Chase Ranch Montessori School Score: 80%

    Chase Ranch Montessori School is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, school, home service. Website: http://www.chaseranchmontessori.com.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Home service. View full profile →

  10. #10 — Kindercare Score: 77%

    Kindercare is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.kindercare.com.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  11. #11 — Wisdom Works Christian Preschool Score: 74%

    Wisdom Works Christian Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool. Website: https://www.wisdomworkschristianpreschool.com.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  12. #12 — Garden Canyon Preschool Score: 71%

    Garden Canyon Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, school, day care preschool. Website: http://gardencayonpreschool.com.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  13. #13 — Dayspring Christian Learning Center Score: 71%

    Dayspring Christian Learning Center is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.dayspringlearning.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  14. #14 — St. John's Lutheran Church Summer Camp Score: 71%

    St. John's Lutheran Church Summer Camp is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://stjohnslutheranpreschoolelcajon.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  15. #15 — First Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten Score: 69%

    First Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, elementary school, school. Website: http://www.youhaveaplace.com/flc/Preschool/tabid/55/Default.aspx.

    Programs: Preschool, Elementary school, School. View full profile →

  16. #16 — Miracle Moments Christian Preschool Score: 69%

    Miracle Moments Christian Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: http://www.miraclemoments.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  17. #17 — Die Rasselbande Preschool Score: 69%

    Die Rasselbande Preschool is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.dierasselbande.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  18. #18 — Taproot Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten Score: 69%

    Taproot Montessori Preschool & Kindergarten is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.taprootpreschool.com.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  19. #19 — Montessori Taproot Score: 69%

    Montessori Taproot is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, private school, home service. Website: http://taprootpreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Home service. View full profile →

  20. #20 — CHILDREN'S CHOICE LEARNING CONNECTION Score: 57%

    CHILDREN'S CHOICE LEARNING CONNECTION is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, school, education. Website: http://www.childrenschoicepreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Education. View full profile →

  21. #21 — Children's Choice Learning Center Score: 57%

    Children's Choice Learning Center is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: http://www.childrenschoicepreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  22. #22 — Baby Boop Daycare Score: 49%

    Baby Boop Daycare is a childcare center in El Cajon, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, school.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, School. View full profile →

How We Rank Daycares & Childcare Centers

Our Guide Score percentage combines Google rating (35%), review volume (20%), web and contact presence (20%), profile completeness (15%), accreditation such as NAEYC (5%), press recognition (3%), and years of operation (2%), then normalizes across captured positive categories. Read our full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Who is the #1 daycare in El Cajon?
Oak Tree Academy is currently the #1 ranked daycare in El Cajon based on our Guide Score, which evaluates parent reviews, licensing status, accreditation, and quality signals. See the full ranked list above.
How are daycares ranked in El Cajon?
Our Guide Score percentage combines weighted evidence from Google rating, review volume, web and contact presence, profile completeness, accreditation, press recognition, and years of operation, then normalizes across categories with captured positive evidence. There is no paid placement.
How much does daycare cost in El Cajon?
Childcare costs in El Cajon vary by program type and age group. Full-time infant care commonly ranges from $800–$2,500/month; preschool programs run $600–$1,800/month. Each center's profile page lists contact information for current rates.