Best Daycares in La Mesa, CA — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 13 daycares and childcare centers in La Mesa based on licensing, accreditation, parent reviews, and childcare quality.

Top Daycares in La Mesa

  1. #1 — Foothills Preschool Score: 86%

    Foothills Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.foothillsumc.org/what-we-do/faithacademy/.

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

  2. #2 — BunnyBears Preschool Score: 86%

    BunnyBears Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.bunnybears.net/.

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

  3. #3 — BunnyBears Preschool La Mesa Score: 83%

    Early Childhood Education

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  4. #4 — Lake Murray Christian Preschool Score: 80%

    Lake Murray Christian Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, elementary school. Website: https://www.lakemurraycommunitychurch.org/preschool.

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

  5. #5 — Warren-Walker La Mesa Preschool Score: 80%

    Warren-Walker La Mesa Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool. Website: https://www.warren-walker.com/academics/preschool-junior-kindergarten-la-mesa-campus.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  6. #6 — ABC Barn Children's Place Preschool Score: 80%

    ABC Barn Children's Place Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.svlc.org/abcbarn.html.

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

  7. #7 — Cozy Cubs Preschool Score: 69%

    Cozy Cubs Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.lisasliltikes.com.

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

  8. #8 — The Grey Rabbit Pre-School Score: 69%

    The Grey Rabbit Pre-School is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education, food. Website: http://www.thegreyrabbitpreschool.com/.

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

  9. #9 — Taproot Montessori Score: 69%

    Taproot Montessori is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, school, home service. Website: http://www.taprootpreschool.com.

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

  10. #10 — Rancho San Diego KinderCare Score: 66%

    Rancho San Diego KinderCare is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/la-mesa/ca/000646?utm_campaign=kc-lg&utm_source=yext&utm_medium=pro&utm_content=fb&y_source=1_NTA2OTA1LT…

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

  11. #11 — AKA La Mesa Head Start Score: 63%

    AKA La Mesa Head Start is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool. Website: https://akaheadstart.org/la-mesa.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  12. #12 — La Mesa Tiny Tots Score: 49%

    La Mesa Tiny Tots is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool.

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

  13. #13 — The Woods Montessori Preschool Score: 49%

    The Woods Montessori Preschool is a childcare center in La Mesa, CA. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. 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 →

Browse La Mesa daycares by program

Frequently asked questions

Who is the #1 daycare in La Mesa?
Foothills Preschool is currently the #1 ranked daycare in La Mesa 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 La Mesa?
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 La Mesa?
Childcare costs in La Mesa 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.