Rialto, CA · San Bernardino County · Based on public reviews & parent communities
Finding the right childcare in Rialto, California
Once a thriving hub of California's 'Orange Empire,' Rialto was dotted with Washington navel orange groves and seven packing houses in the late 1800s, a legacy now honored through heritage citrus plantings in the district's schools. The city sits along the historic U.S. Route 66, home to the iconic Wigwam Motel with its distinctive teepee-style cottages that have welcomed travelers since 1947. Named after Venice's famous Rialto Bridge—a fitting tribute to a 'crossing place' where railroads and America's most legendary highway converged. Rialto is a mid-size Inland Empire city located between Fontana and San Bernardino. The licensed childcare landscape here is anchored by Calvary Chapel Rialto's faith-based preschool, La Petite Academy (a national chain), Volunteers of America's large state preschool, a Catholic preschool at St. Catherine of Siena, and two Preschool Services Department Head Start centers. All centers are California CCLD-licensed. 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.
CCLD license #364800283; capacity 105 children; Day Care Center active since October 1994 — over 30 years of Head Start operation in west Rialto
Federal Head Start program — comprehensive services include early education, health, nutrition, dental, vision, and family social services at no cost to qualifying families
CCLD most recent October 2025 inspection shows No Citations — clean recent compliance record
Serves children with special needs as part of inclusive programming — inclusive enrollment per Head Start federal mandate
One positive parent review on childcarecenter.us (2015) praising the program — limited but affirming public feedback
Located on West Foothill Boulevard — west Rialto 92376 corridor, accessible to families near the Fontana/Rialto border
Considerations
Income eligibility requirements limit access — federal Head Start income guidelines apply; not open to all families
No infant/toddler program — Head Start serves ages 3–5 only; families needing care under age 3 must look elsewhere
Limited public review volume — most program information comes from federal Head Start descriptions rather than independent parent accounts
Hours and enrollment logistics are governed by federal program rules — less flexibility than commercial centers for schedule variations
CCLD license #364813098; capacity 120 children; Day Care Center active since May 2003 — over 20 years of Head Start operation in north Rialto
Federal Head Start and California State Preschool program — dual funding streams providing comprehensive early childhood services for qualifying families
Large capacity of 120 — one of the largest Head Start centers in Rialto, accommodating a significant portion of the city's eligible population
Part of San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department — 39 countywide locations with federal and state funding providing quality oversight
Located on N. Eucalyptus Avenue in north Rialto — serves families in the 92376 corridor north of the 10 Freeway
Considerations
CCLD records show 1 Type B citation (code 101220(a)) in recent inspection cycle — verify current status at ccld.dss.ca.gov
Income eligibility requirements limit access — federal and state income guidelines apply; not open to all Rialto families
CCLD license 364830600 with capacity of 190 children — one of the largest licensed centers in Rialto
Operated by Volunteers of America Southwest — a credentialed nonprofit with decades of early childhood services across San Bernardino County
Cares for children ages 2–5; peanut and tree-nut free environment — reduces allergy risk for young children
Teachers hold at minimum an Associate's degree — exceeds California's minimum qualification standards for childcare staff
Subsidized care accepted; bilingual English and Spanish services — accessible to Rialto's large Spanish-speaking family population
Licensed since September 2009 — over 15 years of continuous service in central Rialto
Considerations
Two community reviews on ChildcareCenter include a parent reporting their child was bitten repeatedly with no action taken — a supervision concern worth discussing with the director directly
Type A and Type B citations in CCLD inspection history; most recent inspection August 2025 — review full records before enrolling
Large center size (190 children) requires especially diligent monitoring of ratios and classroom management
No infant care for children under age 2; limited publicly documented curriculum specifics
Licensed since 1988 (CCLD license 360908633); the facility has been serving Rialto since 1965 — over 60 years, making it one of the longest-operating childcare providers in the city
A parent review describes the staff as treating children 'like their own' and going 'the extra mile to make sure kids and parents are comfortable'
Serves ages 2 through 13 — one of the few Rialto centers offering school-age before/after-school care alongside preschool under the same roof
Small center (capacity 18) — highly individualized care with very low child-to-staff ratios
Located on Lilac Ave in central Rialto — easily accessible from the residential neighborhoods of 92376
Considerations
1 Type A and 7 Type B citations in recent CCLD inspections (2023–2026) — a significant number; review full inspection reports carefully before enrolling
Very small capacity (18 children) — limited availability; spots likely fill with returning or referred families
No website found in public records — limited online presence makes independent pre-enrollment research difficult
No centers match this filter.
Share
🔍 Rialto CA childcare — all 6 centers ranked across safety, curriculum, teacher quality & more. Independent, honest, based on real parent reviews. #Rialto #SanBernardinoCounty