Auburn, CA · Placer County · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Auburn, California

Auburn sits at the heart of California's Gold Rush legacy, with miners first striking gold in the Auburn Ravine in 1848 and establishing the settlement that would become Placer County's county seat just three years later. Unlike many Gold Country boomtowns that faded after the rush, Auburn endured and preserved its heritage—today its Old Town district retains authentic 1850s buildings, the restored Placer County Courthouse (1894-1898), and mining-era institutions like the original fire station and post office. Visitors and locals alike walk streets that miners forged 175 years ago, making Auburn one of Northern California's most intact windows into the Gold Rush era. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Auburn, CA, the Placer County seat. 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.

6Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
14,000City population
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Loving Start Learning Center -- Auburn
1273 High St, Auburn, CA 95603
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedEst. 2001 First Green School Placer CountyMontessori + Waldorf Blend
6.5/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
7
Infant care
5
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
7

Strengths

  • Yelp 20 reviews (updated April 2026) -- largest Yelp review base of any currently open CCLD-licensed center in Auburn 95603
  • Founded 2001 by a mother with a parent's perspective -- 24+ year Auburn community institution with proven stability
  • First Eco-Friendly (Green) preschool in Placer County -- environmentally sustainable campus
  • Blends Montessori, Waldorf, Academic, Developmental, and Play approaches -- uniquely multifaceted curriculum
  • Spanish introduction for all students plus monthly Monart-style art classes -- enriched programming beyond state minimums
  • CCLD license 313621208; capacity 130 children; most recent inspection August 2024; Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:30 pm

Considerations

  • CCLD license 313621208: 1 Type B citation (code 101239.2(a)) across inspections -- verify at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Yelp-specific star rating not confirmed in research -- visit Yelp directly to assess current rating
  • Located on Gold Country Fairgrounds with entry off Auburn-Folsom Road -- access and parking may vary during fairground events
  • Hours end at 5:30 pm -- shorter than some corporate competitors; verify fit with work schedule
2
Bell's Preschool & Childcare
10810 Atwood Rd, Auburn, CA 95603
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedOldest Preschool in AuburnBest of Best Auburn Winner
6.2/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Auburn Journal 'Best of the Best' award winner multiple times -- strongest local newspaper community endorsement of any Auburn center researched
  • Oldest continuously operating preschool in Auburn -- deep community roots and generational trust among local families
  • CCLD preschool license 313624816 (new) and school-age license 313624817 -- updated active licenses confirming current operational status
  • Rural setting at 10810 Atwood Road -- spacious, traditional hands-on learning environment with natural surroundings
  • Monday-Friday 6:00 am-6:00 pm -- full working-parent hours; phone (530) 823-9860
  • Traditional values + teamwork philosophy; parents describe staff as attentive, informative, and caring

Considerations

  • Prior CCLD license 310313160 shows CLOSED status -- the new licenses 313624816/313624817 represent a relicensing; confirm continuity of operations and management directly with the center
  • Yelp listing shows limited reviews -- visit Yelp directly to assess current rating before enrolling
  • Rural Atwood Road location outside Auburn city center -- longer commute for families in downtown Auburn or Highway 49 corridor
  • No confirmed infant program under current licenses -- verify minimum enrollment age directly
3
Tutor Totter
220 Christian Valley Rd, Auburn, CA 95602
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedParent Co-op Est. 19935:1 Student-Adult Ratio
5.9/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Warm family-friendly parent cooperative preschool -- one of two co-op options in Auburn, offering strong family engagement model
  • 5:1 student-to-adult ratio -- superior individualized attention compared to state-minimum ratios
  • CCLD license 310300728; licensed since August 1993 -- 30+ year Auburn community institution
  • Play-based curriculum with focus on social, emotional, and cognitive development -- research-supported early childhood approach
  • Capacity 29 in ZIP 95602; Monday-Friday 9:00 am-1:00 pm; serves ages 2-5 years

Considerations

  • CCLD license 310300728: 1 Type A citation on record (October 2024 inspection) -- Type A citations indicate immediate health or safety risk; review full citation details at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Hours 9:00 am-1:00 pm only -- part-day program; not suitable for full-time working parents
  • Co-op model requires mandatory parent participation hours -- not suitable for all family schedules
4
Lily Pad Early Learning Center
1388 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedInfant Through Pre-KOpened 2020
5.8/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
6
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Infant and toddler care available -- one of few CCLD-licensed infant centers in Auburn 95603; accepts ages 0 through Pre-K
  • CCLD licenses 313623319 (day care) and 313623318 (infant) -- dual licensing confirms legitimate infant program
  • Parents describe staff as 'patient, kind, and easy to work with' with good family communication
  • Described as 'an awesome little school' that is 'very hands on and back to basics'
  • Monday-Friday 6:00 am-6:00 pm -- full working-parent hours in Lincoln Way corridor
  • Licensed since January 2020; most recent inspection January 2025; capacity 19 (day care) plus 33 (infant center)

Considerations

  • CCLD license 313623319: 3 Type B citations (codes 101415(c), 1596.7995(a)(1), 1596.8662(b)(1)) across 2022-2025 inspections -- verify current corrective actions at ccld.dss.ca.gov
  • CCLD infant license 313623318: 1 Type B citation (December 2021) and 2 of 6 complaints substantiated -- review infant center record separately
  • Small capacity (19 day care, 33 infant center) -- limited slots; waitlist likely for popular age groups
  • Opened 2020 -- shorter operational history than established Auburn competitors; less community review data available
5
Kidzcommunity -- Auburn Early Learning Center
1166 High St, Auburn, CA 95603
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedHead Start ProgramPlacer County Non-Profit
5.6/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • KidZCommunity established Placer and Nevada Counties Head Start provider since 1996 -- long-standing federally-funded non-profit with strong accountability framework
  • Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy emphasizing 'self-discovery, extraordinary environments, and healthy enjoyable experiences'
  • Comprehensive Head Start services include health assessments, dental care coordination, nutrition counseling, prenatal support, and family referrals
  • CCLD license 313602274; licensed since August 1997; centrally located at 1166 High Street in Auburn
  • Income-based enrollment -- free or subsidized care for qualifying families; most accessible Auburn option for low-income households

Considerations

  • CCLD status showed CLOSED in earlier childcarecenter.us listing -- enrollment inquiry required to confirm current operational status of this specific license
  • Head Start program -- income eligibility requirements; not available to all Auburn families
  • Capacity 23 on CCLD record -- very limited slots for a high-demand program; contact enrollment line 530-886-4122 well in advance
  • Rock Creek location (3050 Bell Rd) and other KidZCommunity sites exist in Auburn area -- confirm correct location before visiting
6
Hugs-N-Smiles Preschool & Daycare
1273 High St, Auburn, CA 95603
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedSpanish ImmersionLicensed Since 2003
5.5/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
6
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Spanish immersion program -- bilingual development for ages 2-5 with early second-language advantage
  • CCLD license 313608538; licensed since 2003 -- 21+ year community presence in Auburn 95603
  • Capacity 30; year-round program; Monday-Friday 7:00 am-6:00 pm -- full working-parent hours
  • Subsidized child care program participant -- most financially accessible option in Auburn for income-qualifying families
  • Located on High Street in central Auburn -- convenient access for families in Auburn's main commercial corridor

Considerations

  • CCLD license 313608538: 3 Type B citations (codes 101223(a)(3), 1596.8662(b)(1), 1596.7995(a)(1)) across 2022-2025 inspections plus September 2022 complaint investigation -- review full details at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Shares High Street address with Loving Start -- confirm correct center name and entrance before visiting
  • No confirmed infant program (preschool-age 2-5 focus) -- not suitable for infants
  • Citation count (3 Type B) slightly exceeds Placer County average -- review specific codes before enrolling
No centers match this filter.

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