Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Texas

Find the right daycare in Texas in under 5 minutes. 15,142 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation. Free, no signup.

15,142
Licensed Centers
$1,100/mo
Avg Infant Care
$780/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 15,142 Texas centers Estimate your monthly cost

Texas Childcare Licensing

In Texas, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:9 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:15 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation

What's distinctive about Texas: Texas has loose ratios (1:6 infants in some categories, 1:15 preschool) and rapid metro growth straining supply. Verify ratios in your child's specific room — center averages mask actual practice.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:9
Preschool ratio
1:15
Avg infant cost
$1,100/mo
Avg preschool cost
$780/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Texas

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Houston
1,681 centers
San Antonio
796 centers
Austin
652 centers
Dallas
507 centers
Fort Worth
491 centers
El Paso
393 centers
Katy
318 centers
Arlington
223 centers
Spring
211 centers
Plano
188 centers
Lubbock
184 centers
Frisco
168 centers
Financial help

Texas Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Texas families can apply for Texas Workforce Commission CCS (Child Care Services) based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (800) 252-9240

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Texas & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Texas
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Texas

Licensed Center
9,683 centers
Registered Child Care Home
1,865 centers
Licensed Child Care Home
1,581 centers
Listed Family Home
1,415 centers
General Residential Operation
376 centers
Child Placing Agency
218 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 15,142 →
R Licensed Center Licensed

Rhonda Ludlam

Whitesboro

Infants & Toddlers Cap 11
T Licensed Center Licensed

Tiger Cubs Learning Academy

Troup

Infants & Toddlers Cap 70
R Licensed Center Licensed

Rhonda Sue Banks

Nacogdoches

2 years - 12 years Cap 12
G Licensed Center

GETCAP Head Start and Early Head Start at HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville

2 years - 12 years Cap 144
K Licensed Center Licensed

Kinderland Daycare

Houston

Infants & Toddlers Cap 64
U Licensed Center

UMOS MSHS Mercedes Center

Mercedes

Infants & Toddlers Cap 60
T Licensed Center

Trinity Home of Faith 1, Inc.

2 years - 12 years Cap 16
H Licensed Center

Healthcare Solutions Unlimited

2 years - 12 years Cap 10
A Licensed Center

AISD Padron Apple Blossom

Austin

2 years - 12 years Cap 34
K Licensed Center

Kendrick YMCA of Central Texas

Waco

2 years - 12 years Cap 60
Y Licensed Center

YMCA Afterschool @ Shafer Elementary

Katy

2 years - 12 years Cap 60
E Licensed Center Licensed

Elfida P Chavez

El Paso

2 years - 12 years Cap 35

Daycare in Texas — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Texas is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/child-care/search-child-care.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Texas?
State minimums in Texas are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:9 toddlers, and 1:15 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Texas?
Full-time infant care averages about $1100/month; preschool runs around $780/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Texas trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Texas?
Yes. The primary state program is Texas Workforce Commission CCS (Child Care Services), reachable at (800) 252-9240. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Texas daycare?
File a complaint with the Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 15,142 Licensed Texas Centers

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