Dina's Daycare and Preschool is a CCLD-licensed day care center (license #243808840) located at 220 S Canal St in south-central Merced, serving children from early childhood through school age. Operating since 2014 with extended hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the center offers before and after-school programs and transportation, making it a practical option for working families. Bilingual staff and family-style meals reflect Merced's diverse community, while a hands-on, play-based curriculum emphasizes learning across multiple subject areas. Parent reviews on NurtureList show an 88% recommendation rate, indicating strong satisfaction. With a capacity of 28 children, availability may be limited and early enrollment is advisable; an August 2025 CCLD inspection citation warrants a conversation with the center about remediation.
Safety5.0
Curriculum6.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality6.0
Compassion7.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
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Top 3 in Merced
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 3 in Merced</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Merced across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.</span>
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Most Compassionate
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Most Compassionate</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest compassion score in Merced. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
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Best Management
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Management</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest management score in Merced. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
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Best Culture
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Culture</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Merced. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span>
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Updated · July 2026
This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.
