
Compare 355 daycare centers in Washington. Average rating: 4.24/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Washington has 355 licensed daycares with 2,043 parent reviews averaging 4.24/5.117 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 57% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 20004 (avg 5 stars), while 20016 has the largest selection (15 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
330 -332 Kennedy St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 76 children
Love and Care CDC receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. They consistently praise the caring, attentive staff who create a warm, safe environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight strong developmental progress, excellent communication, and genuine care from teachers who treat children as their own.
114 Kennedy St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 62 children
Loving Care Day Nursery receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring and attentive staff. Parents report their children are happy, comfortable, and making strong developmental progress in a well-organized, nurturing environment. The facility is noted for flexible hours, excellent communication, and treating children with genuine care.
1700 G St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 74 children
Small Savers CDC is a highly-regarded Montessori-based daycare in Washington, DC with perfect 5/5 ratings across all reviews. Parents consistently praise the experienced and loving teachers, child-centered curriculum that fosters independence and confidence, and clean, well-equipped facility. The center is noted as reasonably priced for DC and maintains strong communication with families.
900 Massachusetts Ave Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 54 children
Bambini Play & Learn receives universally positive reviews from parents whose children attended from infancy through pre-K. Parents consistently praise the loving, nurturing teachers, Spanish language immersion program, nutritious meals, enrichment activities, and warm community atmosphere that made children eager to attend daily.
3400 International Dr Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 85 children
Parents consistently praise BCDC for its caring, experienced staff with notably low turnover, beautiful facilities, and strong community atmosphere. The center is commended for developmentally appropriate activities, enrichment programs, and individualized attention to each child's needs. Families report feeling fortunate and grateful for their experience across multiple years of enrollment.
1250 24th St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Capital Kids II receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who praise the warm, nurturing environment and exceptional staff. Parents highlight significant developmental growth in their children, noting the teachers' genuine care, flexibility, and commitment to each child's individual needs. The facility is described as a special community where children thrive academically and emotionally.
474 Ridge St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Early Learner Academy receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the center's caring, patient staff and nurturing environment. Parents consistently highlight director Ms. Chakera's commitment to child development, communication, and creating a family-like atmosphere. Children reportedly show significant growth in learning and development while enjoying their time at the center.
127 Kennedy St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 24 children
Happy Feet LLC receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. They consistently praise the caring, dedicated staff led by director Laura Gallego, the clean and organized facility with outdoor space, and the affordable pricing for the DC area. Parents report their children are happy, engaged, and well-prepared for school transitions.
3133 Dumbarton St Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 27 children
Parents consistently praise The Children's House of Washington (CHOW) as an exceptional Montessori preschool with highly experienced, caring teachers who foster academic excellence and individual child development. Multiple families report their children thriving academically and socially in a warm, intimate community setting with strong long-term outcomes.
1300 Pennsylvania Ave Nw, Washington, DC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children
Triangle Tots receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the caring, knowledgeable staff and well-rounded curriculum combining academics, STEM, and creative activities. Parents consistently highlight strong teacher-child bonds, excellent communication through daily photos and updates, and a secure facility with convenient location near Metro. Families report their children thriving across all age groups from infants through pre-K, with particular appreciation for the center's responsiveness and professional approach.
Based on 205 daycares with Google ratings in Washington
Top qualities mentioned across 2,043 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Washington, based on parent reviews
Washington zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20004 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| 20015 | 8 | 4.92 | 6 | |
| 20003 | 14 | 4.8 | 5 | |
| 20037 | 7 | 4.72 | 3 | |
| 20016 | 15 | 4.71 | 10 | |
| 20008 | 8 | 4.7 | 5 | |
| 20007 | 14 | 4.7 | 5 | |
| 20010 | 11 | 4.43 | 6 | |
| 20018 | 14 | 4.37 | 2 | |
| 20036 | 5 | 4.33 | 1 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Washington (6–500 children)
Small
up to 30 children
88
Medium
31–75 children
141
Large
76–150 children
93
Very Large
150+ children
33
Highest rated daycares in Washington based on parent reviews
330 -332 Kennedy St Nw, Washington, DC
Love and Care CDC receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. They consistently praise the caring, attentive staff who create a warm, safe environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight strong developmental progress, excellent communication, and genuine care from teachers who treat children as their own.
114 Kennedy St Nw, Washington, DC
Loving Care Day Nursery receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring and attentive staff. Parents report their children are happy, comfortable, and making strong developmental progress in a well-organized, nurturing environment. The facility is noted for flexible hours, excellent communication, and treating children with genuine care.
1700 G St Nw, Washington, DC
Small Savers CDC is a highly-regarded Montessori-based daycare in Washington, DC with perfect 5/5 ratings across all reviews. Parents consistently praise the experienced and loving teachers, child-centered curriculum that fosters independence and confidence, and clean, well-equipped facility. The center is noted as reasonably priced for DC and maintains strong communication with families.
900 Massachusetts Ave Nw, Washington, DC
Bambini Play & Learn receives universally positive reviews from parents whose children attended from infancy through pre-K. Parents consistently praise the loving, nurturing teachers, Spanish language immersion program, nutritious meals, enrichment activities, and warm community atmosphere that made children eager to attend daily.
3400 International Dr Nw, Washington, DC
Parents consistently praise BCDC for its caring, experienced staff with notably low turnover, beautiful facilities, and strong community atmosphere. The center is commended for developmentally appropriate activities, enrichment programs, and individualized attention to each child's needs. Families report feeling fortunate and grateful for their experience across multiple years of enrollment.
1250 24th St Nw, Washington, DC
Capital Kids II receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who praise the warm, nurturing environment and exceptional staff. Parents highlight significant developmental growth in their children, noting the teachers' genuine care, flexibility, and commitment to each child's individual needs. The facility is described as a special community where children thrive academically and emotionally.
Washington, District of Columbia offers a robust selection of 355 childcare facilities, ranging from small community-based programs to larger academies. Parents frequently highlight clean, safe, and welcoming environments as the defining characteristics of these centers. The directory highlights standout options in neighborhoods like 20005, where facilities maintain exceptional average ratings.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Washington have an average rating of 4.24 out of 5 across 205 rated facilities, with 57% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.24 stars. Our analysis covers 2,043 parent reviews. Parents in Washington most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, safe environment, and welcoming environment.
When choosing a daycare in Washington, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 355 results
Feedback for KIDS COME FIRST in Washington, DC, is sharply divided, with one parent praising the comfortable atmosphere and welcoming staff, while others report severe hygiene issues and unprofessional conduct. Critics allege the center is unsanitary with pest infestations, resulting in frequent illnesses for children, and describe the environment as chaotic and unsafe.
One parent highlights the comfortable environment and welcoming staff, while others report severe issues including unsanitary conditions with visible pests, staff unprofessionalism, and inadequate supervision leading to child injuries and illness. Several reviewers also note favoritism among staff and a disconnect between advertised and actual classroom conditions.
One parent highlights a comfortable environment and welcoming staff, while two others report severe issues including unsanitary conditions with roaches, unprofessional staff behavior, favoritism, and safety concerns such as insect bites and frequent illnesses. The few reviews so far mention both positive atmosphere and significant health and safety failures.
Reviews focus primarily on the Tyler House residential complex rather than the daycare itself. Parents express serious concerns about safety, maintenance, and building conditions, with only a few positive comments about spacious apartments and 24-hour security.
One parent highlights a comfortable environment and welcoming staff, while others report serious concerns regarding unsanitary conditions, unprofessional behavior, and inadequate supervision. Reviewers mention issues such as pest infestations, staff dress code violations, favoritism, and children falling ill or sustaining injuries.
Note: These reviews appear to be for a residential apartment complex, not a daycare center. The reviews indicate significant maintenance issues, pest problems, poor management responsiveness, and safety concerns at the property.
Children First Inc. is a pediatric practice (not a daycare) with highly praised doctors, particularly Dr. Satuyi, but severe administrative and operational issues. Parents consistently report poor phone communication, long wait times, disorganization, missed follow-ups on lab results and medical records, and unprofessional staff behavior across multiple locations.
Little Angels Child Care Center receives mixed reviews with highly polarized experiences. Positive reviewers praise the educational curriculum, structured environment, and child development outcomes, while negative reviewers cite serious concerns about staff professionalism, administrative inflexibility, and alleged inappropriate child handling practices.
One parent reports that the center failed to remove their son from the billing system after withdrawal and charged for canceled summer field trips, while another describes hearing staff arguing and cursing in front of children.
One parent describes a highly unprofessional interaction with the center's director, citing discriminatory behavior toward disabled individuals and inappropriate remarks regarding staff qualifications.
Tucker's Day Care Center has highly polarized reviews. One long-term parent praised academic excellence and student advancement, but multiple recent parents reported serious safety concerns including staff hitting children, unexplained injuries, poor communication policies, and unprofessional management. Most reviewers advise against enrolling.
Tucker's Day Care Center II has one highly positive long-term review praising academic advancement and care, but six recent reviews report serious concerns including staff physically hitting children, poor management communication, inadequate injury documentation, unsanitary conditions, and disrespectful treatment of families.
One parent reports serious safety concerns, alleging that staff failed to secure a child's belongings and suggesting the absence of cameras enables theft. Another reviewer describes an unprofessional admission process, noting that staff were rude and distasteful during a phone inquiry about infant availability.
Creative Korner Early Learning Center has highly polarized reviews. Two parents praise the director, staff, cleanliness, learning activities, and responsiveness to feedback. However, eight parents report serious concerns including meal denial, missing supplies, understaffing, unprofessional staff, poor hygiene, and alleged child abuse by an employee.
One parent highlights positive interactions with specific staff members, while three others report severe operational issues including unprofessional conduct, arbitrary exclusion of children via sick policies, and alleged misuse of personal belongings. Another reviewer alleges retaliation and a refusal to readmit their child following a negative review, citing staff hostility and inconsistent health enforcement.
Experiences at this center are sharply divided, with one parent reporting a safe and loved environment while others cite significant issues including high staff turnover, poor communication, and unprofessional behavior. Additional complaints highlight inconsistent classroom transitions and a disconnected contact number, leading some families to withdraw their children due to declining care quality.
Feedback for Goldies Child Development Center is sharply divided, with one parent describing a safe, clean, and friendly environment while others report significant operational failures. Critics cite high teacher turnover, poor communication, and unprofessional staff behavior as major drawbacks to the program.
One parent highlights the low student-to-staff ratios and nurturing environment, while two others report severe issues including alleged staff violence, hygiene failures, and deceptive billing practices. These conflicting experiences range from praise for the family-friendly atmosphere to urgent warnings about safety and financial transparency.
One parent highlights the low student-to-staff ratios and nurturing environment, while others report serious concerns regarding hygiene, safety, and billing practices. A few reviewers allege that staff members hit children, dispose of dirty diapers improperly, and fail to change soiled clothing or handle drop-off logistics adequately. Despite positive remarks about the family-friendly atmosphere, these critical complaints regarding care quality and staff conduct dominate the negative feedback.
One parent highlights low student-to-staff ratios and a nurturing, family-friendly environment, while two others report severe issues including alleged physical abuse, hygiene failures, and deceptive billing practices. These conflicting experiences suggest a significant divide between the center's operational standards and the expectations of some families.
Bennett Babies LL has received mixed to severely negative feedback from parents. While a few early reviews praised the friendly staff and welcoming environment, the majority of recent reviews report serious concerns including inadequate supervision, staff yelling at children, poor hygiene, lack of communication with parents, and documented incidents of child injury.
Parents report widely conflicting experiences, with one parent praising the teachers for being nice and generous, while others allege severe misconduct including physical contact with a child and general abuse. These negative accounts describe staff as rude and horrible, urging caution regarding the safety of the children.
Feedback for SHINING STAR 2 EARLY LEARNING CENTER is sharply divided, with one parent reporting positive experiences regarding staff kindness while others allege severe misconduct. Critics describe the staff as rude and abusive, with specific complaints about teachers making inappropriate physical contact with children and ignoring such incidents.
The Happy Kids Learning Center has overwhelmingly negative reviews with one exception. Parents report serious concerns about staff professionalism, inadequate child care, lost belongings, poor communication, and unresolved refund issues. One parent praised academic outcomes and staff friendliness, but this is vastly outweighed by complaints.
One parent describes severe issues including unprofessional management, poor hygiene, and neglectful supervision, while another simply advises avoiding the facility. The reviews highlight significant concerns regarding staff conduct, health safety, and administrative practices.
The reviews provided are for Foundry United Methodist Church, not its daycare program. Reviews praise the church's welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, progressive theology, and community support services. Parents appreciate the staff's kindness and the facility's accessibility accommodations.
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