Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Carbondale, IL

Compare 12 daycare centers in Carbondale. Average rating: 3.9/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Carbondale, Illinois at a glance

Daycares
12
Avg rating
3.9/5
Parent reviews
14
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Carbondale offers 12 licensed daycares, 6 of which have public ratings averaging 3.9/5.The largest concentration is in 62901 with 11 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Carbondale

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.

  1. 1
    Hannah House Child Development Center
    3.16 score
    2.7(9)

    810 N. Wall, Carbondale, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 105 children

    Hannah House has highly polarized reviews with three 5-star ratings and six 1-star ratings. Positive reviews praise the staff, educational curriculum, and child development outcomes. Negative reviews report understaffing, unprofessional staff behavior, inadequate hydration/nutrition, physical handling concerns, and potential neglect.

    Kind and skilled staffeducational facility with life skills instructionclean facilityhot meals served

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Carbondale

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
0
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
2

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Carbondale, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

3.94avg rating
10 daycares · 5 rated

Headstart Programs

3.7avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Carbondale zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
6290111
3.9
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Carbondale (15–133 children)

Small

up to 30 children

3

Medium

31–75 children

5

Large

76–150 children

4

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Carbondale based on parent reviews

Presbyterian Child Dev. Center Preschool

5(1)

310 S University Ave, Carbondale, IL

One parent describes the Presbyterian Child Development Center as the best play-based learning preschool in Southern Illinois, highlighting its focus on children's personal development. The review praises the curriculum for prioritizing individual growth through play.

play-based learningfocus on personal developmenthighly rated in Southern Illinois

Presbyterian Child Development Ctr Dcc

5(1)

310 South University, Carbondale, IL

One parent describes the program as the best play-based learning preschool in Southern Illinois, noting its focus on children's personal development. The review highlights the play-based curriculum as a key feature of the experience.

play-based curriculumfocus on personal developmentregarded as the best in Southern Illinois

Kids Korner

5(1)

101 North Glenview, Carbondale, IL

One parent describes an engaging and inclusive environment where staff are kind and activities are both fun and educational. The center accepts CCR&R, provides nutritious meals suitable for children with allergies, and offers a summer program with field trips that single parents find highly beneficial. No negative aspects were mentioned in the feedback.

kind and engaging staffeducational and fun activitiesaccepts CCR&R

S.I.U.C. Head Start - Carbond

3.7(1)

1900 North Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL

One parent describes significant safety and supervision failures, including a child arriving barefoot with lost shoes, unexplained bite marks, and a toddler without appropriate underwear. The reviewer states that staff appeared inattentive to these issues and expressed concern about the overall quality of care.

Rainbow'S End

2(1)

650 South State St., Carbondale, IL

One parent reports that while initial care was positive, the center allowed staff to file an unfounded DCFS report against them without prior communication, leading to a loss of trust. The reviewer cites this reckless action and perceived discrimination as the primary reasons for withdrawing their child from enrollment.

initial positive communicationsupportive initial environment

Hannah House Child Development Center

2.7(9)

810 N. Wall, Carbondale, IL

Hannah House has highly polarized reviews with three 5-star ratings and six 1-star ratings. Positive reviews praise the staff, educational curriculum, and child development outcomes. Negative reviews report understaffing, unprofessional staff behavior, inadequate hydration/nutrition, physical handling concerns, and potential neglect.

Kind and skilled staffeducational facility with life skills instructionclean facility

Map

Daycare types in Carbondale

Child Daycare & Preschools 10Headstart Programs 2

Daycare Centers in Carbondale, Illinois

There are 12 daycare centers in Carbondale, Illinois. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Carbondale have an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 3.94 stars. Our analysis covers 14 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Carbondale, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Daycare Centers in Carbondale

Showing 12 results

Presbyterian Child Dev. Center Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes the Presbyterian Child Development Center as the best play-based learning preschool in Southern Illinois, highlighting its focus on children's personal development. The review praises the curriculum for prioritizing individual growth through play.

play-based learningfocus on personal developmenthighly rated in Southern Illinois
Address
310 S University Ave, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 529-1264
Presbyterian Child Development Ctr Dcc
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes the program as the best play-based learning preschool in Southern Illinois, noting its focus on children's personal development. The review highlights the play-based curriculum as a key feature of the experience.

play-based curriculumfocus on personal developmentregarded as the best in Southern Illinois
Address
310 South University, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 529-1551
Kids Korner
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes an engaging and inclusive environment where staff are kind and activities are both fun and educational. The center accepts CCR&R, provides nutritious meals suitable for children with allergies, and offers a summer program with field trips that single parents find highly beneficial. No negative aspects were mentioned in the feedback.

kind and engaging staffeducational and fun activitiesaccepts CCR&R
Address
101 North Glenview, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 457-7356
S.I.U.C. Head Start - Carbond
Headstart Programs
3.7

One parent describes significant safety and supervision failures, including a child arriving barefoot with lost shoes, unexplained bite marks, and a toddler without appropriate underwear. The reviewer states that staff appeared inattentive to these issues and expressed concern about the overall quality of care.

Address
1900 North Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 453-6448
Hannah House Child Development Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
2.7

Hannah House has highly polarized reviews with three 5-star ratings and six 1-star ratings. Positive reviews praise the staff, educational curriculum, and child development outcomes. Negative reviews report understaffing, unprofessional staff behavior, inadequate hydration/nutrition, physical handling concerns, and potential neglect.

Kind and skilled staffeducational facility with life skills instructionclean facility
Address
810 N. Wall, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 457-8801
Rainbow'S End
Child Daycare & Preschools
2

One parent reports that while initial care was positive, the center allowed staff to file an unfounded DCFS report against them without prior communication, leading to a loss of trust. The reviewer cites this reckless action and perceived discrimination as the primary reasons for withdrawing their child from enrollment.

initial positive communicationsupportive initial environment
Address
650 South State St., Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 453-6358
Alice Wright Early Childhood Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2500 W Sunset Dr, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 549-4646
Archway INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1108 W Willow St, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 549-4442
Child Development Laboratori
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
875 S Normal Ave, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 453-4228
Giant City Day Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1062 Boskydell Rd, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 457-5391
S.I.U.C. Head Start - Puka
Headstart Programs
Address
312 S Wall St, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 549-7633
Puka School INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
312 S Wall St, Carbondale, IL
Phone
(618) 549-7633

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Frequently asked questions

There are 12 all daycares in Carbondale, Illinois. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Carbondale have an average Google rating of 3.9 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Carbondale, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Illinois's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Illinois)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Carbondale offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 10 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Illinois typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Carbondale for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Carbondale must be licensed by Illinois's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.