Best Daycare Centers in Ames, IA
Compare 21 daycare centers in Ames. Average rating: 4.65/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Ames, Iowa at a glance
- Daycares
- 21
- Avg rating
- 4.65/5
- Parent reviews
- 74
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 8
Ames has 21 licensed daycares with 74 parent reviews averaging 4.65/5.8 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 62% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 50010 zip code, averaging 4.64 stars across 17 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Ames
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.
- 1Acpc-St Cecilia4.64 score4.8(20)
2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 22 children
Reviews praise ACPC-ST CECILIA as an excellent Catholic community institution with a strong elementary school program. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, compassionate staff, and priest, along with beautiful facilities and diverse programming including Spanish-language services.
Welcoming and compassionate environmentexcellent elementary schoolbeautiful church and chapelSpanish Mass available - 2University Community Childcare INC4.55 score5(6)
2623 Bruner Dr/100 University Village, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 112 children
Parents consistently praise UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE INC for its caring, dedicated staff who go above and beyond their duties. The facility is noted for being clean and well-equipped despite affordable tuition rates, with engaging activities including special guests and field trips. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment and staff's attentiveness to individual needs like food allergies.
Caring and professional staffclean and well-equipped classroomsaffordable tuition ratesnon-profit organization - 3Prairie Flower Children'S Center4.5 score5(5)
2807 Duff Ave, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children
Parents praise Prairie Flower Children's Center for its nature-based outdoor learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and confidence. The center is noted for its caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and emphasis on unstructured outdoor play as an alternative to digital-focused activities. All reviewers highly recommend the facility.
outdoor learning opportunitiesnature-based curriculumstaff kindness and caringwelcoming environment - 4Formative Years Growing And Learning Center4.16 score4.3(6)
4510 Todd Dr, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 128 children
Formative Years receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising caring teachers, individual attention, and enriching activities like field trips. However, a few parents reported serious concerns about supervision, safety issues with mixed age groups, facility size, and food quality.
caring and attentive teachersindividual attention to childrenfun field trips and activitieschildren enjoy attending - 5Acpc-Main Center4.12 score4.2(7)
920 Carroll Ave, Ames, IA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 150 children
ACPC-MAIN CENTER receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring staff, safe environment, structured curriculum, and positive impact on children's development and behavior. Parents highlight improvements in their children's confidence, happiness, and social skills. Cost is a concern for some families.
caring and kind staffsafe environmentsmall class sizes1:1 attention - 6Play And Learn Children'S Center4.07 score4.1(13)
301 Alexander Ave, Ste A, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 94 children
Play and Learn Children's Center receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the attentive and caring staff, clean facility, and strong developmental support for children. The new ownership is credited with improvements to the center. One negative review describes a serious incident involving inadequate supervision of an aggressive toddler in the infant room.
Clean facilityattentive and friendly staffstaff know children by namegood communication with parents
Rating Distribution
Based on 13 daycares with Google ratings in Ames
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Ames, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Ames zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50010 | 17 | 4.64 | 6 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Ames (20–150 children)
Small
up to 30 children
5
Medium
31–75 children
7
Large
76–150 children
9
Very Large
150+ children
0
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Ames based on parent reviews
Acpc-St Cecilia
2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA
Reviews praise ACPC-ST CECILIA as an excellent Catholic community institution with a strong elementary school program. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, compassionate staff, and priest, along with beautiful facilities and diverse programming including Spanish-language services.
University Community Childcare INC
2623 Bruner Dr/100 University Village, Ames, IA
Parents consistently praise UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE INC for its caring, dedicated staff who go above and beyond their duties. The facility is noted for being clean and well-equipped despite affordable tuition rates, with engaging activities including special guests and field trips. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment and staff's attentiveness to individual needs like food allergies.
Prairie Flower Children'S Center
2807 Duff Ave, Ames, IA
Parents praise Prairie Flower Children's Center for its nature-based outdoor learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and confidence. The center is noted for its caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and emphasis on unstructured outdoor play as an alternative to digital-focused activities. All reviewers highly recommend the facility.
Eagle'S Loft Early Learning Center
2715 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA
Parents describe Eagle's Loft Early Learning Center as a safe, calm, and happy environment where staff are kind and patient. Reviewers appreciate the balance of play and discovery that fosters enjoyment and growth without being overly restrictive. The center is noted for providing good activities and maintaining a positive atmosphere for children.
St Paul Lutheran Preschool
610 15th St, Ames, IA
Adventures Preschool
2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
Map
Daycare types in Ames
Browse by type in Ames
Daycare Centers in Ames, Iowa
There are 21 daycare centers in Ames, Iowa. 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 Ames have an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities, with 62% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.67 stars. Our analysis covers 74 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Ames, 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 Ames
Showing 21 results
Parents consistently praise UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE INC for its caring, dedicated staff who go above and beyond their duties. The facility is noted for being clean and well-equipped despite affordable tuition rates, with engaging activities including special guests and field trips. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment and staff's attentiveness to individual needs like food allergies.
- Address
- 2623 Bruner Dr/100 University Village, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 294-9838
One parent describes a highly positive experience, highlighting the child's daily growth and the effective curriculum. The review specifically praises the strong communication between teachers and parents, as well as the overall quality of the staff and directors.
- Address
- 3500 University Blvd, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 520-8844
- Address
- 610 15th St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-1914
Parents describe Eagle's Loft Early Learning Center as a safe, calm, and happy environment where staff are kind and patient. Reviewers appreciate the balance of play and discovery that fosters enjoyment and growth without being overly restrictive. The center is noted for providing good activities and maintaining a positive atmosphere for children.
- Address
- 2715 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 232-8299
Parents praise Prairie Flower Children's Center for its nature-based outdoor learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and confidence. The center is noted for its caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and emphasis on unstructured outdoor play as an alternative to digital-focused activities. All reviewers highly recommend the facility.
- Address
- 2807 Duff Ave, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 292-4312
Reviews praise ACPC-ST CECILIA as an excellent Catholic community institution with a strong elementary school program. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, compassionate staff, and priest, along with beautiful facilities and diverse programming including Spanish-language services.
- Address
- 2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 460-3116
- Address
- 1520 Christensen Dr, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 294-2273
- Address
- 2622 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 292-1736
Parents describe the staff as kind, respectful, and helpful. One reviewer expresses love for the church environment, while another notes a positive overall experience.
- Address
- 1416 20th St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 232-8850
Formative Years receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising caring teachers, individual attention, and enriching activities like field trips. However, a few parents reported serious concerns about supervision, safety issues with mixed age groups, facility size, and food quality.
- Address
- 4510 Todd Dr, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 292-3609
ACPC-MAIN CENTER receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring staff, safe environment, structured curriculum, and positive impact on children's development and behavior. Parents highlight improvements in their children's confidence, happiness, and social skills. Cost is a concern for some families.
- Address
- 920 Carroll Ave, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-2901
One parent praises the Ames location for its caring staff and effective support for special needs children, contrasting it favorably with another branch. However, a separate review highlights concerns regarding bite incidents involving peers and significant limitations on outdoor play due to ongoing playground renovations.
- Address
- 1915 Philadelphia St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 817-2236
Play and Learn Children's Center receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the attentive and caring staff, clean facility, and strong developmental support for children. The new ownership is credited with improvements to the center. One negative review describes a serious incident involving inadequate supervision of an aggressive toddler in the infant room.
- Address
- 301 Alexander Ave, Ste A, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-4431
- Address
- 4316 Ontario St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 460-1228
- Address
- 1235 20th St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 460-1433
- Address
- 2222 Osborn Dr, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 294-7478
- Address
- 820 Miller St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-2901
- Address
- 300 20th St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 460-0700
- Address
- 925 S 16th St, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-0110
- Address
- 3521 Jewel Drive, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 233-2901
- Address
- 1500 Gateway Hills Park Dr, Ames, IA
- Phone
- (515) 239-5366
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Iowa's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Iowa)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 13 facilities
- Church Daycare — 2 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 6 facilities