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

Finding the right childcare
in Lincoln, California

Lincoln has earned the nickname "Clay City" as the historic home of Gladding, McBean & Co., a pottery manufacturer that began operations here in 1875 and became one of California's "Big Five" potteries, dominating architectural terra cotta production throughout the Far West. The company's white kaolin clay deposits and railroad access made Lincoln a center of ceramic manufacturing, producing materials used in buildings worldwide, and the Gladding McBean factory continues operating in Lincoln today. This industrial heritage, combined with Lincoln's dramatic 282% population growth between 2000 and 2010, makes it one of California's most rapidly transformed communities—a city that has evolved from a 19th-century pottery town into a modern residential hub. Find top-rated, CCLD-licensed child care centers in Lincoln, 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.

7Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
50,000City population
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Lincoln Community Preschool
170 S O St, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedParent Participation Co-opAges 2-6 Play-Based
6.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
8
Mgmt
6
Culture
8
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Licensed parent participation/co-op preschool with strong family-involvement model -- unusually deep parent community connection for Lincoln
  • CCLD license 313622441; capacity 30; serves ages 2-6 with AM and PM classes Mon-Thu, Parent Toddler class Friday
  • Monday-Friday 7:00 am-5:00 pm (full-day option available); co-op structure keeps tuition affordable compared to corporate centers
  • Play-based approach with in-class parent presence -- children benefit from smaller effective adult-to-child ratios
  • Located in downtown Lincoln near historic core -- convenient for families in western Lincoln ZIP 95648

Considerations

  • Co-op model requires mandatory parent participation hours -- not suitable for families with inflexible work schedules
  • Capacity only 30 -- limited slots; contact early for enrollment
  • No confirmed infant program (ages 2+ minimum) -- not suitable for infants or young toddlers
  • Specific CCLD citation history not confirmed in research -- verify full inspection record at ccld.dss.ca.gov
2
The Little School House
801 East Ave, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedVoted Best Preschool 15 of 17 YearsAges 3-5 Only
6.3/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Voted 'Best Preschool' by local Lincoln community 15 of the last 17 years -- strongest sustained local endorsement of any Lincoln preschool researched
  • CCLD-licensed by the California Department of Social Services; longstanding presence in Lincoln 95648
  • Philosophy focuses on problem-solving skills and independent learning -- strong academic-readiness approach
  • Serves ages 3-5 only with kindergarten prep focus -- highly targeted preparation for elementary entry
  • Monday-Thursday 8:45 am-3:45 pm, Friday 8:45 am-12:00 pm; located on East Avenue near downtown Lincoln
  • Yelp listing active (updated August 2025) -- community awareness of facility; before/after school activities and summer camps offered

Considerations

  • Every child must be fully potty-trained -- minimum enrollment age requirement may exclude younger 3-year-olds
  • Hours end at 3:45 pm weekdays -- shorter day than corporate centers; not ideal for full-time working parents
  • Ages 3-5 only -- no infant or toddler care available
3
Sterling Montessori -- Lincoln
821 Sterling Pkwy Suite 200, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedMontessori MethodAges 2-10
6.1/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
4
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
5
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Yelp 19 reviews (updated October 2024) -- largest public review base of any CCLD-licensed Lincoln child care center researched
  • Authentic Montessori method ages 2-10 with before/after school care and drop-in options -- broadest age range in Lincoln 95648
  • CCLD license 313622397; licensed May 2018; capacity 58; Monday-Friday 7:30 am opening
  • American Montessori Society standards; owner holds AMS teaching certification since 2004
  • Infant-to-teacher ratio 4:1 -- strong staffing; one-week free assessment offered to new enrollees
  • Part of Sterling Bambini Montessori campus at 821 Sterling Pkwy -- established presence in Sun City-adjacent Twelve Bridges area

Considerations

  • CCLD license 313622397: complaint investigation reports filed April 2025 and July 2025 -- review full CCLD inspection history at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Bambini (infant) license 313622396 at same address is CLOSED per CCLD -- verify current infant availability before enrolling infants
  • Infant license closure history includes 9 Type A and 11 Type B citations (2021-2023) -- ask management about current practices if enrolling infants
  • Private Montessori pricing -- confirm current tuition rates directly
4
Carlin C. Coppin Elementary State Preschool
150 E 12th St, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed0 Citations on RecordWPUSD State Preschool
6.1/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD license 313620674: zero citations across all 3 inspections (May 2023, August 2024, January 2026) -- perfect regulatory record
  • Western Placer Unified School District-operated state preschool -- strong accountability to WPUSD administration and state standards
  • Licensed since August 2015; capacity 24; Monday-Friday operation
  • State preschool curriculum aligned with California Preschool Learning Foundations -- structured school readiness preparation
  • Located on Coppin Elementary campus -- smooth transition pathway to kindergarten enrollment on same site
  • Phone (530) 745-1380; WPUSD oversight adds layer of institutional accountability beyond CCLD

Considerations

  • State preschool -- income eligibility requirements may apply; verify eligibility criteria before applying
  • Capacity only 24 -- limited slots; enrollment may be highly competitive
  • Shares address 150 E 12th St with Kidzcommunity Head Start -- confirm preschool program enrollment separately
  • No infant or toddler program (preschool-age focus)
5
Kidzcommunity -- Lincoln Head Start
870 J St, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD Licensed0 Citations on RecordHead Start Infant Program
6.1/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
7
K-ready
5
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD license 313614689: zero citations across all 4 inspections (June 2022, June 2023, June 2024, July 2025) -- perfect 4-year regulatory record
  • Infant Center specifically licensed -- one of very few CCLD-licensed infant centers operating in Lincoln 95648
  • KidZCommunity serves Placer and Nevada counties since 2007 -- 18+ year established Head Start provider with strong federal oversight
  • Federally funded Head Start program includes health assessments, dental care coordination, nutrition counseling, transportation, and family support services
  • Capacity 24; licensed since August 2007; Monday-Friday operation

Considerations

  • Head Start program -- income eligibility requirements; not available to all Lincoln families
  • Capacity only 24 -- highly limited infant slots; Head Start enrollment often filled well in advance; contact as early as possible
  • Income qualification process requires proof of income documentation -- administrative burden on applicant families
6
First Street State Preschool -- Lincoln
First and L St, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedWPUSD State PreschoolKindergarten-Readiness Focus
5.9/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • Western Placer Unified School District-operated state preschool on First Street Elementary campus -- WPUSD institutional quality standards
  • CCLD-licensed program for 3-5 year-olds in downtown Lincoln -- accessible location in the historic city core
  • State preschool curriculum aligned with California Preschool Learning Foundations -- targeted kindergarten-readiness preparation
  • Co-located with First Street Elementary -- smooth pathway to kindergarten enrollment on same campus
  • State-funded program -- free or reduced cost for income-eligible families; highest affordability of any Lincoln option researched

Considerations

  • State preschool -- income eligibility requirements may apply; not available to all Lincoln families
  • Specific CCLD license number and citation history not confirmed in public research -- verify at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Part-day preschool schedule typical of state programs -- not suitable for full-time working parents
  • No infant or toddler program
7
Creekside Oaks Elementary Preschool
2030 1st St, Lincoln, CA 95648
Licensed Child Care Center
CCLD LicensedWPUSD District ProgramTwelve Bridges Corridor
5.8/ 10
Safety
5
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
5
Infant care
4
K-ready
6
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
6
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
5

Strengths

  • CCLD-licensed Western Placer Unified School District preschool program on Creekside Oaks Elementary campus -- consistent WPUSD quality standards
  • Located in newer Twelve Bridges residential corridor of fast-growing Lincoln -- most conveniently sited WPUSD preschool for residents of northeast Lincoln developments
  • Co-located with Creekside Oaks Elementary -- direct kindergarten transition pathway on same campus
  • State preschool curriculum aligned with California Preschool Learning Foundations -- structured early literacy and numeracy preparation
  • CCLD Day Care Center licensed; capacity reported; monitored by River City Regional Office

Considerations

  • State preschool -- income eligibility requirements typically apply; not available to all families
  • Specific CCLD license number and complete citation history not confirmed in public research -- verify at ccld.dss.ca.gov before enrollment
  • Part-day preschool schedule typical of state programs -- not suitable for full-time working parents
  • S.T.A.R. Creekside Oaks (school-age program at same address) serves different age group -- verify correct enrollment for preschool-age children
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