
Compare 39 daycare centers in Ankeny. Average rating: 4.3/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Ankeny has 39 licensed daycares with 289 parent reviews averaging 4.3/5.13 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 54% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 50021 (avg 4.44 stars), while 50023 has the largest selection (24 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.
225 E 1st St, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 110 children
Cadence Academy Ankeny receives consistently high praise from parents who emphasize the center's well-trained and caring staff, clean facility, and strong communication. Parents highlight the personal relationships built with teachers, developmental learning activities, and the sense of security they feel leaving their children in this environment.
1102 Nw Weigel Dr, Ankeny, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 20 children
St. Luke's Childcare is a religious facility in Ankeny, Iowa with a Catholic school on campus. Reviews highlight the welcoming community, beautiful facility, and family-oriented atmosphere with a younger generation of parishioners.
3004 Nw 18th St, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 213 children
Parents consistently praise My Learning Safari (referred to as New Creations in reviews) for its caring and kind staff, strong communication through app updates and daily photos, and faith-based curriculum. Children show measurable developmental progress, and families appreciate the clean facility, structured activities, and welcoming environment.
110 Sw Maple St, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 80 children
Parents consistently praise Tender Years Daycare (Yellow Brick Road - Maple) in Ankeny as a warm, family-oriented environment with excellent communication and dedicated staff. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, developmental programming, and flexibility in accommodating individual child needs. All reviews reflect high satisfaction with the quality of care and genuine staff engagement with children.
1620 Sw White Birch Cir, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 152 children
Tender Years Daycare 2 receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents praising the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and consistent curriculum. Parents highlight feeling comfortable leaving their children in a family-like environment with excellent communication and developmental progress.
1100 Se Sharon Dr, Ankeny, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 36 children
St. Paul Lutheran Preschool receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the family-like atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and Christ-centered learning approach. Parents report their children made significant developmental progress, formed lasting friendships, and developed enthusiasm for learning and school.
510 E 1st St, Ankeny, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 50 children
Our Lady's Little Learners Preschool in Ankeny receives consistently high praise from parents for its nurturing environment, dedicated teachers, and well-rounded curriculum that balances academics, social-emotional development, and faith-based learning. Parents report that children are well-prepared for elementary school and enjoy their daily experiences. The facility is described as welcoming, safe, and supportive of individual learning levels.
515 N Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Ankeny Dance and Performing Arts Academy receives mostly positive reviews praising the passionate staff, variety of dance styles, and ability to make children feel special. However, some parents expressed concerns about rushed recital preparation, sloppy performances, and scheduling conflicts with holidays like Father's Day.
517 Sw Des Moines St, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 38 children
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with parents praising the welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The facility is described as a very happy place where people feel at home. Staff and volunteers are noted as kind, considerate, and accepting.
2202 Se Creekview Dr, Ankeny, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children
TRIAD Learning Center in Ankeny receives outstanding feedback from parents across its preschool, gymnastics, and enrichment programs. Parents consistently praise the caring, patient staff, inclusive environment, and positive impact on children's development—particularly for children with speech delays or autism. Families appreciate the affordability and variety of programs offered for all age groups.
Based on 24 daycares with Google ratings in Ankeny
Top qualities mentioned across 289 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Ankeny, based on parent reviews
Ankeny zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50021 | 15 | 4.44 | 5 | |
| 50023 | 24 | 4.21 | 8 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Ankeny (20–244 children)
Small
up to 30 children
1
Medium
31–75 children
9
Large
76–150 children
18
Very Large
150+ children
9
Highest rated daycares in Ankeny based on parent reviews
225 E 1st St, Ankeny, IA
Cadence Academy Ankeny receives consistently high praise from parents who emphasize the center's well-trained and caring staff, clean facility, and strong communication. Parents highlight the personal relationships built with teachers, developmental learning activities, and the sense of security they feel leaving their children in this environment.
1102 Nw Weigel Dr, Ankeny, IA
St. Luke's Childcare is a religious facility in Ankeny, Iowa with a Catholic school on campus. Reviews highlight the welcoming community, beautiful facility, and family-oriented atmosphere with a younger generation of parishioners.
3004 Nw 18th St, Ankeny, IA
Parents consistently praise My Learning Safari (referred to as New Creations in reviews) for its caring and kind staff, strong communication through app updates and daily photos, and faith-based curriculum. Children show measurable developmental progress, and families appreciate the clean facility, structured activities, and welcoming environment.
110 Sw Maple St, Ankeny, IA
Parents consistently praise Tender Years Daycare (Yellow Brick Road - Maple) in Ankeny as a warm, family-oriented environment with excellent communication and dedicated staff. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, developmental programming, and flexibility in accommodating individual child needs. All reviews reflect high satisfaction with the quality of care and genuine staff engagement with children.
1620 Sw White Birch Cir, Ankeny, IA
Tender Years Daycare 2 receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents praising the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and consistent curriculum. Parents highlight feeling comfortable leaving their children in a family-like environment with excellent communication and developmental progress.
1100 Se Sharon Dr, Ankeny, IA
St. Paul Lutheran Preschool receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the family-like atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and Christ-centered learning approach. Parents report their children made significant developmental progress, formed lasting friendships, and developed enthusiasm for learning and school.
There are 39 daycare centers in Ankeny, 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 Ankeny have an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 across 24 rated facilities, with 54% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.31 stars. Our analysis covers 289 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Ankeny, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 39 results
Parents of multiple children highlight the caring and patient staff, noting their kids were well-prepared for kindergarten. Reviewers also appreciate the director's experience and upcoming curriculum improvements, including earlier drop-off times and Spanish instruction.
St. Luke's Childcare is a religious facility in Ankeny, Iowa with a Catholic school on campus. Reviews highlight the welcoming community, beautiful facility, and family-oriented atmosphere with a younger generation of parishioners.
St. Paul Lutheran Preschool receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the family-like atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and Christ-centered learning approach. Parents report their children made significant developmental progress, formed lasting friendships, and developed enthusiasm for learning and school.
Our Lady's Little Learners Preschool in Ankeny receives consistently high praise from parents for its nurturing environment, dedicated teachers, and well-rounded curriculum that balances academics, social-emotional development, and faith-based learning. Parents report that children are well-prepared for elementary school and enjoy their daily experiences. The facility is described as welcoming, safe, and supportive of individual learning levels.
One parent highlights the facility's cleanliness, friendly staff, and effective communication with teachers and management, noting that the location's proximity to their apartment was not an issue. Another review expresses that their daughter loves her teachers and the family is very happy with the service, while a third describes the program as dependable and helpful in emergencies.
Parents consistently praise My Learning Safari (referred to as New Creations in reviews) for its caring and kind staff, strong communication through app updates and daily photos, and faith-based curriculum. Children show measurable developmental progress, and families appreciate the clean facility, structured activities, and welcoming environment.
Parents consistently praise Tender Years Daycare (Yellow Brick Road - Maple) in Ankeny as a warm, family-oriented environment with excellent communication and dedicated staff. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, developmental programming, and flexibility in accommodating individual child needs. All reviews reflect high satisfaction with the quality of care and genuine staff engagement with children.
Cadence Academy Ankeny receives consistently high praise from parents who emphasize the center's well-trained and caring staff, clean facility, and strong communication. Parents highlight the personal relationships built with teachers, developmental learning activities, and the sense of security they feel leaving their children in this environment.
Tender Years Daycare 2 receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents praising the caring staff, strong teacher-child relationships, and consistent curriculum. Parents highlight feeling comfortable leaving their children in a family-like environment with excellent communication and developmental progress.
Ankeny Dance and Performing Arts Academy receives mostly positive reviews praising the passionate staff, variety of dance styles, and ability to make children feel special. However, some parents expressed concerns about rushed recital preparation, sloppy performances, and scheduling conflicts with holidays like Father's Day.
Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with parents praising the welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The facility is described as a very happy place where people feel at home. Staff and volunteers are noted as kind, considerate, and accepting.
TRIAD Learning Center in Ankeny receives outstanding feedback from parents across its preschool, gymnastics, and enrichment programs. Parents consistently praise the caring, patient staff, inclusive environment, and positive impact on children's development—particularly for children with speech delays or autism. Families appreciate the affordability and variety of programs offered for all age groups.
One parent highlights the staff's quality and notes their children's happiness over a four-year period, while another reports being abruptly hung up on when inquiring about availability with no subsequent callback.
Parents consistently praise Ankeny Lil' Tots for exceptional care, communication, and staff warmth across multiple age groups. Families report feeling confident leaving their children in a family-oriented environment where kids thrive developmentally and emotionally. Many have enrolled multiple children over several years, indicating high satisfaction and trust.
Little Endeavors in Ankeny is highly regarded by parents with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the caring, dedicated teachers and director Sara for creating a nurturing, educational environment where children thrive. The center is commended for strong communication, age-appropriate curriculum, creative activities, and professional management.
One parent highlights the school's excellent staff, safety measures, and engaging educational programming, while another describes the environment as kind and respectful. However, a third review warns that the facility is not an accredited Montessori school, noting it is a preschool using Montessori methods, and a fourth review raises concerns about the lack of a website and unwelcoming behavior in the parking lot.
Parents overwhelmingly praise Ankeny Christian Childcare for its caring, family-oriented environment and flexible operations. They highlight the staff's individual attention to children, balance of structured and imaginative play, and diverse enrichment activities. Multiple long-term families report their children thrive academically and socially while feeling safe and happy.
Parents consistently praise Creative Kids Learning Center for its caring, warm staff and strong leadership under the new owner/director. Children enjoy attending and parents appreciate the communication tools, reasonable pricing, and responsive management. Multiple families have been enrolled for years, indicating high satisfaction and stability.
Parents highlight a caring staff and strong academic and social growth for children, with one noting exceptional support during emergencies. However, a single review cites an uncomfortable experience regarding private feeding accommodations.
A few parents highlight the center's stability, noting consistent staff and a director who cares deeply, while others report positive experiences with flexibility during disruptions. However, one review details a distressing incident where staff directed a nursing mother to use a bathroom stall for feeding her infant.
The Clubhouse Learning Center receives extremely polarized reviews. Five parents praise the staff's dedication, care, communication, and professionalism, while five others report unprofessional behavior, inadequate child supervision, disrespect toward parents, and concerns serious enough to warrant DHS involvement.
One parent highlights the loving, faith-based environment and dedicated teachers, noting their daughter had a great year. However, another parent criticizes the leadership for abruptly rescinding all teacher contracts during the school year, citing mistreatment of staff and a lack of transparency despite claims of openness.
Page 1 of 2· 39 results