About us

For over 40 years, El Rio Daycare has been a trusted pillar of the Tucson community, proudly serving children and families at our historic location inside the El Rio Neighborhood Center. Conveniently located just off Speedway Boulevard and I-10, our center gives families easy access to major routes—making drop-offs and pick-ups simple and stress-free.

Since opening our doors, we have welcomed children from all backgrounds: working professionals, healthcare workers, educators, politicians, and families from every sector of the community. We are especially proud to serve the most vulnerable—families in need who deserve a safe, nurturing, and affordable place for their children.

Our strength lies in our people. Many of our teachers, directors, and staff have been with El Rio Daycare since the beginning, offering decades of experience in early childhood care. We are honored to be a generational daycare—where grown children who once attended now bring their own kids, often cared for by the very same familiar faces.

El Rio Daycare is part of Nosotros, Inc., a nonprofit organization, which means our mission is rooted in service, not profit. We are widely known for having the most affordable rates in Pima County, offering daily and half-day options, accepting DCS support, and even providing scholarships for families in need when available.

Children who go through our program are well-prepared to thrive in school and beyond. And to further support our families, we proudly provide free meals and snacks every day.

At El Rio Daycare, we believe that a strong start leads to a bright future. That’s why we focus on the building blocks of learning, like early literacy and math, giving every child the tools they need to succeed in school and in life.

We also believe that learning is about more than letters and numbers—it’s about learning to be a good friend. We help children learn how to share, communicate, and build healthy relationships so they can grow into confident, caring young people.

We value college and career readiness, and we know it starts in early childhood. Our program helps set children on a path toward success by supporting their curiosity, confidence, and love of learning from the very beginning.

We proudly celebrate our Hispanic barrio roots and the beauty of Tucson’s historic westside. We embrace every child’s culture and identity and teach them to be proud of who they are.

Above all, we believe in creating a safe, welcoming place where every child feels respected, valued, and like they truly belong. At El Rio, children grow with a sense of confidence and agency—ready to take on the world, one step at a time.