Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center
Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center is a licensed child care center in Encinitas, CA, licensed for up to 110 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1993. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 2 times and investigated 2 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 2 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #17 of 20 centers in Encinitas and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on investigation interviews with staff, children and parents, it was determined inappropriate touching between child C1 and C5 occurred at the facility between 5/20/24 - 5/21/24 due to a lack of supervision which posed an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on interview with Director and staff and review of the Staff Handbook. Staff #1 contacted parent for assistance with Child #1's potty accident against school policy/staff handbook. Not knowing or not following school policy is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. 8 will be provided to all staff for signature. Copies of the signed amendments will be provided to Licensing for correction by 1/14/21 as the school will be closed for the holiday break from 12/23/21 thru 1/9/22.
Complaint investigations
Child was not attended to properly after having a potty accident
How often are complaints about daycares in San Diego County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jul 17, 2024, for care and supervision. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center?
California investigated 2 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center compare with other daycares in Encinitas?
It is tied for #17 of 20 centers in Encinitas by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center last inspected?
Jul 1, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Encinitas, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center?
The licensee is Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the administrator listed with the state is D. Carr/K. Perez.
Licensed centers nearby
920 Balour Drive, Encinitas · under 0.1 mi away · 36 spotsAmong the most citedRhoades Preschool
520 Balour Drive, Encinitas · 0.3 mi away · 80 spotsToo few inspections to compareSaint John The Evangelist Preschool
1003 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas · 0.4 mi away · 89 spotsNo citationsLighthouse Christian Preschool
510 South El Camino Real, Encinitas · 0.6 mi away · 60 spotsNo citationsSt. Mark Lutheran Church & Preschool
556 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas · 0.6 mi away · 47 spotsAbout typicalMontessori School Of Encinitas
141 S. El Camino Real, Suite E, Encinitas · 0.6 mi away · 60 spotsAbout typical
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 372006509 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.