Tulare, CA · Tulare County · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Tulare, California

Tulare sits at the heart of California's agricultural powerhouse—Tulare County leads the nation in farm output, producing over 10 billion pounds of milk annually from more than 335 dairies that collectively make it the most valuable agricultural county in the United States. The city's agricultural legacy stretches back to 1912, when Tagus Ranch, once the world's largest fruit ranch at 7,000 acres, earned worldwide fame for its peaches served in America's finest restaurants. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Tulare, CA. We scored each California-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.

9Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Grandma's House Preschool
226 S Blackstone Street, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
6.6/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
0
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543808961; capacity 25 children; recognized as a 5-STAR program by Tulare County Office of Education Early Stars Quality Rating Improvement System (2018)
  • Curriculum based on California State Preschool Foundations and Frameworks with twice-yearly DRDP developmental assessments
  • Parent review: 'They are very educational with their programs and very patient and caring. I just like the whole environment there!'
  • Part of Grandma's House — A Vision of Hope nonprofit providing wraparound family resource support alongside preschool programming
  • Open 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Mon–Fri; serves children ages 2.5–6

Considerations

  • No confirmed Google Maps rating found in public sources
  • Very small capacity (25) means limited enrollment availability — waitlist likely
  • Limited public review volume beyond one attributed parent testimonial
  • No infant care confirmed
2
Children's House Montessori School
2117 E Sunset Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
6.4/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
5
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543801822; capacity 45 children; serving Tulare since 1995 — celebrating 30 years of educational excellence
  • Tulare's only Montessori school; has graduated over 1,500 students since founding
  • Serves ages 18 months through kindergarten with Montessori-trained teachers who guide rather than direct
  • Thoughtfully prepared environment fostering independence, creativity, and whole-child development (social, emotional, academic, practical life skills)
  • 5.0 rating from 22 reviews on nears.me; strong community reputation as a unique alternative to conventional preschools
  • Open 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Mon–Fri

Considerations

  • No confirmed Google Maps rating found in public sources
  • 6 Type B citations total on CCLD record — above Tulare County average of 1.3 citations per facility; most recent inspection October 2024
  • Citations include inadequate teacher-to-child ratios (2022), missing sign-in records (2022), and staff lacking required ECE credentials (2021)
  • Higher tuition (~$8,100/year) typical of Montessori programs; no subsidized care confirmed
3
Little Me Preschool & Enrichment Center
469 N Cherry Street, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
6.2/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
7
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center and School Age license #540403064; capacity 100 children; ministry of Tulare First Baptist Church since 1988
  • One of Tulare's longest-running childcare providers; serves children from 4 weeks through 6 years old — full infant program
  • Non-profit Christian facility; curriculum focused on independence, creativity, and social development with science, pre-reading, and motor skills
  • Facebook: 100% recommend rate from 5 reviews; active community presence
  • Open 7:00 AM–5:30 PM Mon–Fri; large capacity serves many Tulare families

Considerations

  • No confirmed Google Maps rating found in public sources
  • 2 Type B citations and a complaint investigation (April 2025) on CCLD record
  • Faith-based Christian context may not suit all families
  • Limited detailed public reviews beyond Facebook recommend rate
4
Sundale Foundation Learning Center
13990 Avenue 240, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.9/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
7
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543808758; capacity 96 children; part of the Sundale Foundation — a nonprofit committed to moral integrity, academic excellence, and development of self-worth
  • Serves children 18 months through 5 years; curriculum addresses small and large motor skills, shape/number/letter recognition, kindergarten readiness
  • Breakfast snack, daily hot lunch, and afternoon snack included — full nutrition support
  • Open 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Mon–Fri; large campus on the south side of Tulare
  • Most recent inspection: October 30, 2024

Considerations

  • 1 Type B citation on record (2021–2024 inspection history)
  • Campus address (Avenue 240) on outskirts of Tulare — may be inconvenient for families in central Tulare
  • Nonprofit school-loop website is minimal; contact required for full program details
5
Clinite Child Development Center
1073 W Sonora Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.8/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #540407542; capacity 90 children; part of TCOE's 34-center Head Start network since 1998
  • Operates under federal Head Start Performance Standards: education, health, nutrition, parent involvement, social services, and special needs support
  • Zero citations across 2022, 2023, and 2026 inspections — clean compliance record
  • Free full-day and part-day programs for income-eligible families; culturally diverse and developmentally inclusive
  • Open 7:30 AM–4:00 PM Mon–Fri; large capacity (90) serves significant community need

Considerations

  • Income eligibility requirements limit access to qualifying families only
  • Shorter hours (to 4:00 PM) may not accommodate full working-day schedules
6
Maple Child Development Center
501 W Maple Street, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.8/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543801072; capacity 99 children; part of TCOE Head Start countywide network
  • Operates under federal Head Start Performance Standards with comprehensive health, nutrition, parent involvement, and special needs services
  • Large capacity (99) — one of the highest-capacity Head Start centers in Tulare
  • Free program for income-eligible families; open 7:30 AM–4:30 PM Mon–Fri
  • Most recent CCLD inspection: January 12, 2026

Considerations

  • 1 Type B citation on record (inspection history 2021–2026)
  • Income eligibility requirements limit access
  • Shorter hours (to 4:30 PM) may not suit full working-day needs
7
Liberty Preschool
1771 E Pacific Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.8/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
0
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543808792; capacity 49 children; licensed since July 2013
  • Zero citations across all inspections from 2021 to 2024 — cleaner than Tulare County average of 1.3 citations per facility
  • Mission: 'foster academic excellence and self-esteem by maintaining an exciting, supportive environment for staff and students'
  • Open 7:00 AM–6:00 PM Mon–Fri — among Tulare's latest closing times; convenient for working parents
  • Most recent CCLD inspection: June 13, 2024

Considerations

  • No infant care; minimum age 2 years
  • Limited online presence — program details require direct contact
  • Does not participate in subsidized child care programs
8
C.A.T. Child Care Center
136 N O Street, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.8/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
0
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543810029; capacity 25 children; serves children ages 2–6 with faith-based curriculum
  • 5 reviews on childcarecenter.us; multiple reviews highlight 'love and compassion for children, their education, and wellbeing'
  • Director (Pastor Jose) and his wife Lourdes described in reviews as 'wonderful people with compassion and love for the children'
  • Small capacity (25) provides warm, family-oriented atmosphere with high individual attention
  • Open Mon–Fri; located in central Tulare near downtown

Considerations

  • No confirmed Google Maps rating found in public sources
  • One older review (2017) cited concerns about management professionalism and staff turnover
  • CCLD citations recorded in 2022–2025 inspections — families should review inspection details
  • Does not participate in subsidized child care programs
  • No infant care; ages 2 and up only
9
St. John's Children's Learning Center
1701 E Prosperity Avenue, Tulare, CA 93274
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed
5.7/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
0
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD Day Care Center license #543808669; capacity 30 children; located on the campus of St. John's Episcopal Church
  • Two classrooms for ages 3–5 with 1:7 teacher-to-child ratio; teachers hold minimum Child Development Associate degree
  • Includes children with special needs; full-time and part-time options
  • Open 7:00 AM–5:30 PM Mon–Fri — one of Tulare's longer operating windows
  • Faith-based Episcopal setting with welcoming, community-centered environment

Considerations

  • ReadyRule.com notes 6 citations on CCLD record — above county average; families should review inspection history
  • No infant care; ages 3–5 only
  • Faith-based Episcopal context may not suit all families
No centers match this filter.

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