Best Daycare Centers in Dekalb, IL
Compare 13 daycare centers in Dekalb. Average rating: 4.56/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Dekalb, Illinois at a glance
- Daycares
- 13
- Avg rating
- 4.56/5
- Parent reviews
- 109
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 6
Dekalb has 13 licensed daycares with 109 parent reviews averaging 4.56/5.6 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 60% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 60115 zip code, averaging 4.56 stars across 13 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Dekalb
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.
- 1Little Lambs Preschool Of Immanuel Luthe4.58 score5(7)
511 Russell Rd, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Little Lambs Preschool receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the center's high-quality education, play-based learning approach, and strong student-teacher ratios. Parents consistently report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent preparation for kindergarten. The staff is described as competent, caring, and experienced, with involvement from leadership including the pastor.
small class sizesexcellent student-to-teacher ratio (9-10 students with 2 teachers)play-based learninghigh educational standards - 2Growing Place - Founder'S Site4.51 score4.8(9)
821 S 7th St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children
Growing Place - Founder's Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight exceptional staff and directors who genuinely care for children, clean facilities, and healthy food options. The facility is frequently described as the best childcare option in DeKalb, though pricing is a point of contention among some families.
caring and loving staffclean facilitiessafe environmenthealthy food - 3The Growing Place - First Congregational4.51 score4.8(9)
615 N 1st St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children
The Growing Place receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight excellent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in a safe, nurturing environment with caring teachers and strong leadership. There is a notable waitlist due to the center's popularity.
caring and loving staffclean facilitiessafe environmenthealthy food - 4Growing Place Main Site4.51 score4.8(9)
909 S 4th St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 146 children
Growing Place Main Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with reviewers highlighting the caring and competent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in this environment and describe it as the best daycare option in DeKalb, though there is a notable waitlist.
Caring and loving staffclean facilitysafe environmenthealthy food - 5Childrens Learning Center Littlejohn4.18 score4.3(8)
1121 School St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 36 children
Children's Learning Center Littlejohn receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the warm, nurturing staff and caring environment. Multiple parents report strong communication with teachers and positive developmental outcomes for their children. One negative review alleges mistreatment and neglect, contrasting sharply with the other accounts.
Warm and nurturing staffstrong parent-teacher communicationsafe environmentengaging curriculum - 6Childrens Learning Center Lincoln4.18 score4.3(8)
220 E Sunset Pl, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
Children's Learning Center Lincoln receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, who praise the caring and nurturing staff, strong communication, and enriching curriculum. However, one review raises serious concerns about alleged mistreatment and neglect of a child. The majority of reviews highlight the center's safe environment and genuine care from teachers and leadership.
Warm and nurturing staffDirect communication with parentsRich curriculum and engaging activitiesSafe environment - 7Childrens Learning Center Main Center4.18 score4.3(8)
905 S 4th St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 146 children
Children's Learning Center Main receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the warm, caring staff and nurturing environment. The majority of reviews highlight strong communication, engaging curriculum, and genuine care for children's development. One negative review alleges mistreatment and neglect, contrasting sharply with the predominantly positive experiences reported.
Warm and nurturing staffstrong teacher-parent communicationsafe environmentengaging learning activities - 8Creative Kids Connection INC.3.44 score3.3(20)
530 Charter St, Dekalb, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Creative Kids Connection is highly rated by parents for its caring, attentive staff and engaging educational activities including sensory learning and daily art. Parents consistently praise the facility's cleanliness, spacious layout, staff stability, and affordable pricing, with many noting their children form lasting friendships and show enthusiasm about attending.
Caring and attentive stafflow teacher turnoverconsistent staff-child relationshipssensory and activity-based learning
Rating Distribution
Based on 10 daycares with Google ratings in Dekalb
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 109 reviews, analyzed by AI
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Dekalb zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60115 | 13 | 4.56 | 6 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Dekalb (28–177 children)
Small
up to 30 children
3
Medium
31–75 children
6
Large
76–150 children
3
Very Large
150+ children
1
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Dekalb based on parent reviews
Little Lambs Preschool Of Immanuel Luthe
511 Russell Rd, Dekalb, IL
Little Lambs Preschool receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the center's high-quality education, play-based learning approach, and strong student-teacher ratios. Parents consistently report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent preparation for kindergarten. The staff is described as competent, caring, and experienced, with involvement from leadership including the pastor.
Growing Place - Founder'S Site
821 S 7th St, Dekalb, IL
Growing Place - Founder's Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight exceptional staff and directors who genuinely care for children, clean facilities, and healthy food options. The facility is frequently described as the best childcare option in DeKalb, though pricing is a point of contention among some families.
The Growing Place - First Congregational
615 N 1st St, Dekalb, IL
The Growing Place receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight excellent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in a safe, nurturing environment with caring teachers and strong leadership. There is a notable waitlist due to the center's popularity.
Growing Place Main Site
909 S 4th St, Dekalb, IL
Growing Place Main Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with reviewers highlighting the caring and competent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in this environment and describe it as the best daycare option in DeKalb, though there is a notable waitlist.
Fcns Child Development Laboratory At Niu
169 Gabel Hall, Dekalb, IL
One reviewer highlights a deep emotional connection to the facility, specifically citing memorable playground features and positive early childhood experiences. Another parent expresses gratitude for the center's ability to make learning and activities enjoyable, noting that the service provides them with peace of mind while working.
Niu Campus Child Care
Campus Child Care Center, Dekalb, IL
One reviewer highlights the playground's hill as a source of cherished childhood memories, while another appreciates the peaceful environment and engaging activities that provide comfort while they work. These accounts suggest a strong emotional connection and reliable support for working parents.
Map
Daycare Centers in Dekalb, Illinois
There are 13 daycare centers in Dekalb, 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 Dekalb have an average rating of 4.56 out of 5 across 10 rated facilities, with 60% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.56 stars. Our analysis covers 109 parent reviews. Parents in Dekalb most frequently praise daycares for safe environment, warm and nurturing staff, and caring and loving staff.
When choosing a daycare in Dekalb, 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 Dekalb
Showing 13 results
Little Lambs Preschool receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the center's high-quality education, play-based learning approach, and strong student-teacher ratios. Parents consistently report that their children thrive socially and academically, with excellent preparation for kindergarten. The staff is described as competent, caring, and experienced, with involvement from leadership including the pastor.
- Address
- 511 Russell Rd, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-6669
One reviewer highlights a deep emotional connection to the facility, specifically citing memorable playground features and positive early childhood experiences. Another parent expresses gratitude for the center's ability to make learning and activities enjoyable, noting that the service provides them with peace of mind while working.
- Address
- 169 Gabel Hall, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 753-1150
One reviewer highlights the playground's hill as a source of cherished childhood memories, while another appreciates the peaceful environment and engaging activities that provide comfort while they work. These accounts suggest a strong emotional connection and reliable support for working parents.
- Address
- Campus Child Care Center, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 753-0125
Growing Place - Founder's Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight exceptional staff and directors who genuinely care for children, clean facilities, and healthy food options. The facility is frequently described as the best childcare option in DeKalb, though pricing is a point of contention among some families.
- Address
- 821 S 7th St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-5744
The Growing Place receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight excellent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in a safe, nurturing environment with caring teachers and strong leadership. There is a notable waitlist due to the center's popularity.
- Address
- 615 N 1st St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-5744
Growing Place Main Site receives consistently high praise from parents, with reviewers highlighting the caring and competent staff, clean facilities, and quality care. Parents report their children thrive in this environment and describe it as the best daycare option in DeKalb, though there is a notable waitlist.
- Address
- 909 S 4th St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-5744
Children's Learning Center Littlejohn receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the warm, nurturing staff and caring environment. Multiple parents report strong communication with teachers and positive developmental outcomes for their children. One negative review alleges mistreatment and neglect, contrasting sharply with the other accounts.
- Address
- 1121 School St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-3506
Children's Learning Center Lincoln receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, who praise the caring and nurturing staff, strong communication, and enriching curriculum. However, one review raises serious concerns about alleged mistreatment and neglect of a child. The majority of reviews highlight the center's safe environment and genuine care from teachers and leadership.
- Address
- 220 E Sunset Pl, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-3506
Children's Learning Center Main receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the warm, caring staff and nurturing environment. The majority of reviews highlight strong communication, engaging curriculum, and genuine care for children's development. One negative review alleges mistreatment and neglect, contrasting sharply with the predominantly positive experiences reported.
- Address
- 905 S 4th St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-3506
Creative Kids Connection is highly rated by parents for its caring, attentive staff and engaging educational activities including sensory learning and daily art. Parents consistently praise the facility's cleanliness, spacious layout, staff stability, and affordable pricing, with many noting their children form lasting friendships and show enthusiasm about attending.
- Address
- 530 Charter St, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 901-0376
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Learning Center in DeKalb for its caring, attentive staff and strong educational programming. Children reportedly thrive academically and emotionally, with teachers forming meaningful bonds with students. One parent noted difficulty getting off the waitlist.
- Address
- 207 E Hillcrest Dr, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 758-1541
- Address
- 2179 Sycamore Rd, # 103, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (779) 777-7152
This daycare center has no Google reviews. The available reviews appear to be for Salvation Army's food pantry and social services rather than the child care facility, making it impossible to assess the daycare's actual performance.
- Address
- 830 Grove Street, Dekalb, IL
- Phone
- (815) 756-7470
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Frequently asked questions
- 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