Daycares in San Marcos, Texas

35 facilitiesAvg score: 62.1

Data Freshness & Provenance

Inspection coverage

32 of 35 tracked providers have inspection history

Active providers

35 providers appear active in this market

Last refreshed

April 3, 2026

Latest inspection

April 1, 2026

Provenance

Texas licensing records, inspections, and DaycareCheck scoring

City Snapshot

San Marcos currently has 35 tracked providers. 32 have inspection history, 35 appear active, and 31% of the market holds an A or B grade. The latest inspection in the dataset is April 1, 2026.

Updated April 3, 2026 from Texas licensing records, inspections, and DaycareCheck scoring.

A

First Steps to Big Dreams

715 W HOPKINS ST UNIT 709

No violationsCapacity: 42Licensed Center
A

Thistle Bee Discovery San Marcos

4766 N STATE HIGHWAY 123 BLDG 100

No violationsCapacity: 39Licensed Center
A

A. Washington Child Development Center

103 HAYS ST

No violationsCapacity: 109Licensed Center
A

Audrey Thornton

2706 POST RD

No violationsCapacity: 12Registered Child-Care Home
A

Blanco Vista EAC YMCA

2951 BLANCO VISTA BLVD

No violationsCapacity: 85Licensed Center
B

Guzman Group Day Care Home

195 VALERO DR

6 violationsCapacity: 12Licensed Child-Care Home
B

SuperStars Enrichment (Skyhawks) @ Travis

1437 POST RD

3 violationsCapacity: 40Licensed Center
B

Short Stuff Daycare

245 ESCONDIDO CIR

3 violationsCapacity: 12Licensed Child-Care Home
B

SuperStars Enrichment (Skyhawks) @ Mendez

1805 PETER GARZA DR

3 violationsCapacity: 40Licensed Center
B

First Step INC

4003 HUNTER RD

9 violationsCapacity: 71Licensed Center
B

SMCISD Child Development Center

540 STAPLES RD

9 violationsCapacity: 62Licensed Center
C

William Crook Child Development Center

1205 DAVIS LN

6 violationsCapacity: 34Licensed Center
C

Presbyterian Parent Cooperative

323 MARY ST

12 violationsCapacity: 16Licensed Center
C

SuperStars Enrichment (Skyhawks) @ Bonham

1225 N STATE HIGHWAY 123

6 violationsCapacity: 40Licensed Center
C

Henry Bush Child Development Center

722 MCKIE ST

12 violationsCapacity: 83Licensed Center
D

Paloma Montessori School

125 W. MCCARTY LN

21 violationsCapacity: 117Licensed Center
D

SuperStars Enrichment (Skyhawks) @ Rodriguez

1481 ESPLANADE PKWY

12 violationsCapacity: 55Licensed Center
D

SuperStars Enrichment (Skyhawks) @ Crockett

1300 GIRARD ST

12 violationsCapacity: 80Licensed Center
F

Maritza Smith

152 SKY MEADOWS CIR

9 violationsCapacity: 3Listed Family Home
F

Texas State Child Development Center

102 LUEDERS CT

18 violationsCapacity: 130Licensed Center

What the daycare market looks like in San Marcos

San Marcos currently has 35 daycares in our directory. 31% of the market earns an A or B safety grade. Use this page to compare inspection history, provider mix, and local cost context before you start touring.

31%

A or B safety grades

26

Center-based providers

0

Accredited or Head Start providers

$1,225/mo

Typical state cost in Texas

Market Notes

The current top-scoring provider in this city is Audrey Thornton with a A grade and a 100.0 score.

Common provider types in San Marcos include Licensed Center, Licensed Child-Care Home, Listed Family Home.

The average provider in this market has 14.9 recorded violations, while 8 providers currently show none in the data we track.

Local cost and care context

County-level childcare cost data is limited here, so use the state benchmark as a directional guide and verify quotes with providers directly.

Infant Center

$1,225/mo

Preschool Center

N/A

Toddler Home Daycare

N/A

Texas regulation snapshot

Inspection frequency

Licensed centers receive at least one unannounced inspection per year. Newly licensed operations are inspected more frequently during their first year. Complaint-based inspections occur at any time and are always unannounced.

Background checks

All owners, directors, caregivers, and employees must pass a name-based criminal history check through the Texas Department of Public Safety and an FBI fingerprint check. A search of the Texas sex offender registry and the central abuse and neglect registry (DFPS) is also required before employment.

Parent rights

Texas law guarantees parents the right to enter and observe their child's childcare operation at any time during hours of operation without prior notice. Inspection and investigation reports are publicly available through the HHSC search tool.

How to use this page

Safety grades are derived from official state inspection records, not reviews or sponsored placement.

Repeated and severe violations weigh more heavily than isolated paperwork issues.

Filters are best used after you understand the full city baseline on the default ranking view.

Read the full scoring methodology

Frequently asked questions about daycare in San Marcos

How does DaycareCheck rank daycares in San Marcos?

We rank providers in San Marcos using official state inspection records. Health, safety, staffing, and compliance findings are converted into a composite score, and severe or repeated violations hurt more than isolated minor issues.

What should parents compare first when choosing daycare in San Marcos?

11 of the 35 providers in this market currently hold an A or B safety grade, but grade alone is not enough. Start with higher-scoring providers, then compare the full inspection timeline, repeated violations, staffing patterns, and whether the program type actually fits your child and schedule.

Are there home daycare or Head Start options in San Marcos?

San Marcos currently shows 9 home-based providers and 0 Head Start sites in the directory. Texas rules still apply: Licensed centers receive at least one unannounced inspection per year. Newly licensed operations are inspected more frequently during their first year. Complaint-based inspections occur at any time and are always unannounced.