Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Spencer, IA

Compare 6 daycare centers in Spencer. Average rating: 4.05/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Spencer, Iowa at a glance

Daycares
6
Avg rating
4.05/5
Parent reviews
23
Top rated (4.5+)
0

Spencer has 6 licensed daycares with 23 parent reviews averaging 4.05/5.83% are child daycare & preschools, the dominant program type in Spencer.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Spencer

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
    Spencer Family Ymca Dvergsten Center
    4.24 score
    4.3(20)

    1001 11th Ave West, Spencer, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 212 children

    Spencer Family YMCA Dvergsten Center receives consistently positive feedback with a 4.3/5 rating. Parents and visitors praise the friendly, helpful staff, clean facilities, and affordable daycare options for working families. The center offers extensive amenities including pools, fitness equipment, basketball courts, and wellness classes.

    friendly and helpful staffclean facilitiesaffordable daycare optionsmultiple recreational amenities (pools

Rating Distribution

Based on 2 daycares with Google ratings in Spencer

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.05avg rating
5 daycares · 2 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Spencer zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
513015
4.05
0

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Spencer (25–212 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

1

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Spencer based on parent reviews

Spencer Family Ymca Dvergsten Center

4.3(20)

1001 11th Ave West, Spencer, IA

Spencer Family YMCA Dvergsten Center receives consistently positive feedback with a 4.3/5 rating. Parents and visitors praise the friendly, helpful staff, clean facilities, and affordable daycare options for working families. The center offers extensive amenities including pools, fitness equipment, basketball courts, and wellness classes.

friendly and helpful staffclean facilitiesaffordable daycare options

Spencer Community Preschool

3.8(3)

724 W 9th St, Spencer, IA

One parent highlights the school district's quality and the education provided, while another criticizes the use of standardized testing and the resulting stress on both teachers and students. A third review expresses concern that the current system favors wealthy families over others.

Good educationgood school district

Map

Daycare types in Spencer

Child Daycare & Preschools 5Headstart Programs 1

Browse by type in Spencer

🎨 Preschools 3

Daycare Centers in Spencer, Iowa

There are 6 daycare centers in Spencer, 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 Spencer have an average rating of 4.05 out of 5 across 2 rated facilities, with 0% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.05 stars. Our analysis covers 23 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Spencer, 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 Spencer

Showing 6 results

Spencer Family Ymca Dvergsten Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.3

Spencer Family YMCA Dvergsten Center receives consistently positive feedback with a 4.3/5 rating. Parents and visitors praise the friendly, helpful staff, clean facilities, and affordable daycare options for working families. The center offers extensive amenities including pools, fitness equipment, basketball courts, and wellness classes.

friendly and helpful staffclean facilitiesaffordable daycare options
Address
1001 11th Ave West, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 262-3782
Spencer Community Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.8

One parent highlights the school district's quality and the education provided, while another criticizes the use of standardized testing and the resulting stress on both teachers and students. A third review expresses concern that the current system favors wealthy families over others.

Good educationgood school district
Address
724 W 9th St, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 262-2710
Trinity Preschool & Daycare
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
900 11th Ave West, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 262-8282
Udmo Early Childhood Program-Jefferson School
Headstart Programs
Address
411 E 10th St, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 264-8855
First English Christian Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1311 E 18th St, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 262-3699
Sacred Heart School Pre-K
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1111 4th Ave W, Spencer, IA
Phone
(712) 262-6428

Page 1 of 1· 6 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 6 all daycares in Spencer, Iowa. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Spencer have an average Google rating of 4.05 out of 5 across 2 rated facilities.
When choosing a daycare in Spencer, 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
Spencer offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 5 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 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 Spencer for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Spencer 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.