Licensed Before & After School in San Francisco, CA

Before & After School in San Francisco

As of August 2026

Centers outnumber family child care homes in San Francisco's licensing data, 404 to 280, out of 684 providers total — a reversal of the home-heavy pattern seen in several nearby cities. Total licensed capacity reaches 24,302 children, averaging 36 per provider, the highest average among the Bay Area cities in this batch. The California Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division licenses every provider on the list, from small home-based settings to larger centers. CloverMap organizes San Francisco's full roster so parents can filter by type, capacity, and ages served.

What to know about childcare in San Francisco

San Francisco's 684 providers break down into 404 centers and 280 family child care homes, putting centers ahead at about 59% of the roster. That's a different balance than many California cities, where homes typically outnumber centers. Centers generally offer a structured, multi-classroom environment with dedicated staff for each age group; family child care homes operate from a provider's residence, usually with fewer children and more flexibility around scheduling. San Francisco parents searching broadly are somewhat more likely to encounter a center-based option than a home-based one, simply given the local mix.

Licensed capacity across San Francisco's roster totals 24,302 slots, an average of 36 per provider — the largest average per-provider capacity among the cities covered here, consistent with a roster weighted toward centers. That average is a citywide figure rather than a guarantee for any individual provider; capacity varies widely between a small home-based operation and a large center, so it's worth checking a specific provider's licensed size directly.

On age coverage, 345 providers report serving infants, 345 report toddlers, 575 report preschool-age children, and 301 report school-age children. Preschool coverage is the strongest at about 84% of the roster. Infant and toddler coverage sits at 50% — providers serving these youngest age groups face the tightest staffing ratios, so coverage naturally runs lower than for preschool. School-age coverage lands at 44%, a factor for families weighing wraparound care.

Licensing for every provider here runs through the California Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division, which holds centers and family child care homes to distinct but related standards on staffing ratios, health and safety, and the physical facility. A current license means CCLD reviewed the operator before enrollment could begin; it isn't a measure of day-to-day quality, and the roster data itself is limited to licensing status.

Because centers make up the majority of San Francisco's roster, families here may find it easier to locate a center-based option than in home-heavy cities elsewhere in the state — though 280 family child care homes still represent a substantial share of the total. A listing like ABC PRE-SCHOOL reflects the kind of center-based provider that's common in this roster. Filtering by age range served is a practical first step given how evenly coverage splits between infant/toddler and preschool-age care.