We Pulled Every CDSS Inspection Record in Napa County: Here's What We Found
OpenPHR analyzed public California Department of Social Services (CDSS) licensing and inspection records for all 111 child care facilities in Napa County (57 commercial centers and 54 family child care homes across Napa, American Canyon, St. Helena, Calistoga, Yountville).
Where Licensed Child Care Slots Are Located in Napa County
| Municipality | Licensed Centers | Authorized Center Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Napa | 39 | 1,559 slots |
| St. Helena | 7 | 235 slots |
| American Canyon | 4 | 185 slots |
| Calistoga | 2 | 78 slots |
| Angwin | 2 | 34 slots |
| Rutherford | 1 | 30 slots |
| St Helena | 1 | 26 slots |
| Saint Helena | 1 | 12 slots |
We audited every licensed child care center and 54 family child care homes across Napa County: infant and toddler capacity in Napa and American Canyon is among the tightest in Northern California, making early waitlist verification and ratio checks essential for working families.
Methodology: How We Audited 111 Napa County Records
This investigation synthesizes official public filings from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) and the California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Open Data Portal covering the trailing 36-month inspection window (October 2023 – October 2026).
Napa County Top Audited Daycare Centers (2026 Ranking Table)
Direct links to verified Tier 1 facility inspection records in Napa County, sorted by OpenPHR Staff Stability Score.
| Rank | Facility & Inspection Record | City | Capacity | 36-Mo Citations | Stability Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ncoe - Napa Preschool Program — inspection recordCDSS License #283006886 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 136 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #2 | Head Start - Menlo Center Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #280111518 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 68 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #3 | Napa Valley College Child & Family P/s By Ncoe — inspection recordCDSS License #283009825 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 68 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #4 | Child Start Inc./vineyard Crossings Head Start American Canyon — inspection recordCDSS License #283006798 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | American Canyon | 36 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #5 | Napa Valley College Child & Family-Infant By Ncoe — inspection recordCDSS License #283009824 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 34 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #6 | Head Start - Fuller Park Center Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #280102626 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 20 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #7 | Head Start - Mayacamas Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283000395 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 20 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #8 | Head Start - Westwood Center Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283000925 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 20 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #9 | Ncoe - Dos Mundos Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283008677 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 16 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #10 | Ncoe - Shearer Preschool Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283008678 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 16 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #11 | Napa County Therapeutic Child Care Cntr-Inf/todlr — inspection recordCDSS License #283009390 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 16 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #12 | Napa County Therapeutic Child Care Cntr-Preschool — inspection recordCDSS License #283009389 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 12 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #13 | Head Start - New Beginnings Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283010477 • Tier 1 Verified Photos | Napa | 10 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #14 | Le Petit Elephant Preschool Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283009161 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 92 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #15 | St. Helena Montessori School — inspection recordCDSS License #283008671 • Tier 2 Record | St. Helena | 90 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #16 | Noah's Ark Christian School And Day Care American Canyon — inspection recordCDSS License #280100572 • Tier 2 Record | American Canyon | 80 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #17 | Veritas Christian Academy Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283009699 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 75 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #18 | Canv Kids Development & Family Program Aka Los Nin Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #280108344 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 60 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #19 | St. John's Lutheran Church Pre-School Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #280102497 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 60 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #20 | Sunrise Montessori Of Napa Valley, Inc. — inspection recordCDSS License #283010054 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 60 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #21 | Wine Country Day Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #280110742 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 60 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #22 | A Place Of My Own Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283008506 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 52 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #23 | Little Ivy Preschool Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283009663 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 52 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #24 | Children's Cottage - Preschool Napa — inspection recordCDSS License #283005477 • Tier 2 Record | Napa | 50 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
| #25 | Little Backpacks Preschool St. Helena — inspection recordCDSS License #283009438 • Tier 2 Record | St. Helena | 50 | 0 citations | 88 / 100 |
What This Means for Parents in Napa County
1. A 5-star online review does not equal a clean CDSS inspection docket: Several of the highest-priced centers in Napa County ($1,900 to $2,550/month) carry Type A citations for exceeded teacher-to-child ratios during morning drop-off or late afternoon pick-up windows. Always check the facility's 9-digit CDSS license history before placing a non-refundable waitlist deposit.
2. Distinguish between Type A hazards and Type B paperwork notices: A Type A citation means a state evaluator observed an immediate risk to child health, safety, or personal rights (such as an unmonitored nap room or an understaffed classroom). A Type B citation is typically an administrative or maintenance gap (such as an overdue quarterly fire drill log or playground wood fiber needing topping off).
3. Ask to see the last 36 months of Form LIC 809 on your tour: Under California Title 22 § 101217, every licensed daycare in Napa County is legally required to keep its past 3 years of facility evaluation reports available at the front desk for parents to review.
Frequently Asked Questions (Napa County CDSS Records)
How many licensed daycare facilities operate in Napa County?
According to California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and CHHS licensing records (updated October 20, 2026), Napa County has 111 licensed facilities: 57 commercial child care centers (2,159 licensed slots) and 54 licensed family child care homes.
Which CDSS regional office inspects Napa County daycares?
All licensed child care centers and family child care homes in Napa County are inspected by the California CDSS Community Care Licensing Division Rohnert Park Regional Office (#18), which conducts unannounced Title 22 compliance evaluations and complaint investigations.
How can parents check a Napa County daycare's inspection record?
Parents can review plain-English translations of every Napa County center's 36-month inspection docket, Type A and Type B citations, and Staff Stability Score on OpenPHR's Napa County Safety Hub, or verify the 9-digit license number directly on the state CCLD portal.
Get citation alerts when a Napa daycare receives a new CDSS citation
California State Social Services (CDSS) conducts unannounced annual and complaint inspections. We continuously scan the state licensing docket and email you immediately if a new Type A hazard or staffing ratio citation is posted.