Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Ottumwa, IA

Compare 11 daycare centers in Ottumwa. Average rating: 4.47/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Ottumwa, Iowa at a glance

Daycares
11
Avg rating
4.47/5
Parent reviews
30
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Ottumwa has 11 licensed daycares with 30 parent reviews averaging 4.47/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 52501 zip code, averaging 4.47 stars across 11 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Ottumwa

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
    First Presbyterian Preschool
    4.51 score
    4.8(9)

    228 W 4th St, Ottumwa, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 40 children

    First Presbyterian Preschool receives consistently positive feedback from parents. The one parent review specific to the preschool highly praises the teachers and staff as 'top notch.' The facility is also recognized for its community involvement and charitable activities.

    top notch teachers and staffcommunity involvementcaring volunteersfriendly people
  2. 2
    Ottumwa Y Discovery Lane
    3.6 score
    3.5(20)

    611 N Hancock, Ottumwa, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 184 children

    Reviews are not actually about the daycare program, but rather about the Ottumwa YMCA facility in general. Reviewers praise the YMCA's gym facilities, staff friendliness, community programs, and family services. No reviews specifically address the daycare/Discovery Lane childcare program.

    Friendly and knowledgeable staffclean and safe facilitydiverse programming for all ages and abilitiesgood fitness equipment and amenities (pool

Rating Distribution

Based on 4 daycares with Google ratings in Ottumwa

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.37avg rating
5 daycares · 3 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
3 daycares

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
2 daycares

Church Daycare

4.8avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Ottumwa zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
5250111
4.47
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Ottumwa (20–184 children)

Small

up to 30 children

2

Medium

31–75 children

4

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Ottumwa based on parent reviews

First Presbyterian Preschool

4.8(9)

228 W 4th St, Ottumwa, IA

First Presbyterian Preschool receives consistently positive feedback from parents. The one parent review specific to the preschool highly praises the teachers and staff as 'top notch.' The facility is also recognized for its community involvement and charitable activities.

top notch teachers and staffcommunity involvementcaring volunteers

American Home Finding Child Care Center

4.6(1)

501 E 2nd St, Ottumwa, IA

Indian Hills Community College Child Dev Center

5

525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA

Ottumwa Y Discovery Lane

3.5(20)

611 N Hancock, Ottumwa, IA

Reviews are not actually about the daycare program, but rather about the Ottumwa YMCA facility in general. Reviewers praise the YMCA's gym facilities, staff friendliness, community programs, and family services. No reviews specifically address the daycare/Discovery Lane childcare program.

Friendly and knowledgeable staffclean and safe facilitydiverse programming for all ages and abilities

Map

Daycare types in Ottumwa

Child Daycare & Preschools 5Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 1Before or After School Daycare 3

Browse by type in Ottumwa

🎨 Preschools 4

Daycare Centers in Ottumwa, Iowa

There are 11 daycare centers in Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa have an average rating of 4.47 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities, with 75% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.8 stars. Our analysis covers 30 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa

Showing 11 results

Indian Hills Community College Child Dev Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 683-5192
First Presbyterian Preschool
Church Daycare
4.8

First Presbyterian Preschool receives consistently positive feedback from parents. The one parent review specific to the preschool highly praises the teachers and staff as 'top notch.' The facility is also recognized for its community involvement and charitable activities.

top notch teachers and staffcommunity involvementcaring volunteers
Address
228 W 4th St, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 684-5465
American Home Finding Child Care Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6
Address
501 E 2nd St, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 683-4444
Ottumwa Y Discovery Lane
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.5

Reviews are not actually about the daycare program, but rather about the Ottumwa YMCA facility in general. Reviewers praise the YMCA's gym facilities, staff friendliness, community programs, and family services. No reviews specifically address the daycare/Discovery Lane childcare program.

Friendly and knowledgeable staffclean and safe facilitydiverse programming for all ages and abilities
Address
611 N Hancock, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 684-6571
Ottumwa Christian School Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
438 Mckinley Ave, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 683-9119
Seton Catholic Preschool And After Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
117 E 4th St, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 682-8826
Prime Time Youth Care-North
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1102 E Fourth St, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 684-5441
Wapello County Head Start-Agassiz Site
Headstart Programs
Address
608 E Williams, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 682-8741
Prime Time Youth Care-South
Before or After School Daycare
Address
50 Traxler Drive, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 682-4502
Ottumwa Community Preschool Wraparound Program
Before or After School Daycare
Address
608 E Williams, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 684-7179
Wapello County Head Start-Wesley Site
Headstart Programs
Address
725 2nd Street West, Ottumwa, IA
Phone
(641) 682-8741

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Frequently asked questions

There are 11 all daycares in Ottumwa, Iowa. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Ottumwa have an average Google rating of 4.47 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities. About 75% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Ottumwa, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • 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
Ottumwa offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 5 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 3 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 Iowa 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 Ottumwa for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Ottumwa must be licensed by Iowa'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.