Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Carthage, MS

Compare 8 daycare centers in Carthage. Average rating: 4.48/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Carthage, Mississippi at a glance

Daycares
8
Avg rating
4.48/5
Parent reviews
14
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Carthage offers 8 licensed daycares, 6 of which have public ratings averaging 4.48/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 39051 zip code, averaging 4.48 stars across 8 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Carthage

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
    Lighthouse Learning Center Of Carthage
    4.05 score
    4.1(6)

    211 E Main St, Carthage, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 76 children

    Lighthouse Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with five 5-star reviews praising the caring staff, focus on child development and safety, and strong parent communication. One 1-star review provided no specific details. Parents report their children are happy, learning well, and thriving at the facility.

    friendly and caring stafffocus on child development and educationstrong parent communicationsafe environment

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Carthage

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
2
3.0 - 3.9
1
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.45avg rating
5 daycares · 4 rated

Headstart Programs

5avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Church Daycare

4.1avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Carthage zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
390518
4.48
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Carthage (22–189 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

4

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Carthage based on parent reviews

Red Water Early Childhood Headstart

5(1)

1931 N Pearl St, Carthage, MS

One parent describes the staff as sweet. The single review provided offers only positive feedback regarding the demeanor of the caregivers.

staff is sweet

Gingerbread After Care Facility

5(1)

706 Williams St, Carthage, MS

One parent describes the center as being great with kids.

Great with kids

Gingerbread Daycare/Learning Center

5(1)

302 Boyd St, Carthage, MS

One parent describes the center as being great with kids. The single review provided offers a positive assessment of the staff's interaction with children.

Great with kids

Lighthouse Learning Center Of Carthage

4.1(6)

211 E Main St, Carthage, MS

Lighthouse Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with five 5-star reviews praising the caring staff, focus on child development and safety, and strong parent communication. One 1-star review provided no specific details. Parents report their children are happy, learning well, and thriving at the facility.

friendly and caring stafffocus on child development and educationstrong parent communication

First Baptist Kindergarten And Day Care

4.1(3)

402 N Van Buren St, Carthage, MS

One parent describes the staff as family-like and helpful, specifically highlighting Brother Steven, while another notes the welcoming atmosphere with many smiling faces. A third reviewer characterizes it as a nice church that goes above and beyond to assist visitors, though one parent mentions an inability to attend as frequently as desired due to work commitments.

supportive and family-like staffhelpful communitywelcoming environment

Bright Beginnings Educational Center

3.7(2)

800 Martin Luther King Dr, Carthage, MS

One parent highlights the center's affordable pricing, caring staff, and educational program, while another reports severe neglect regarding basic hygiene needs. The latter reviewer stated that their child was returned daily in a soaked pull-up despite the parent's prior complaints.

affordable pricingcaring staffeducational program

Map

Daycare types in Carthage

Child Daycare & Preschools 5Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 1

Daycare Centers in Carthage, Mississippi

There are 8 daycare centers in Carthage, Mississippi. 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 Carthage have an average rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 14 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Carthage, 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 Carthage

Showing 8 results

Red Water Early Childhood Headstart
Headstart Programs
5

One parent describes the staff as sweet. The single review provided offers only positive feedback regarding the demeanor of the caregivers.

staff is sweet
Address
1931 N Pearl St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 298-9282
Gingerbread After Care Facility
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes the center as being great with kids.

Great with kids
Address
706 Williams St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-0633
Gingerbread Daycare/Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes the center as being great with kids. The single review provided offers a positive assessment of the staff's interaction with children.

Great with kids
Address
302 Boyd St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-0600
First Baptist Kindergarten And Day Care
Church Daycare
4.1

One parent describes the staff as family-like and helpful, specifically highlighting Brother Steven, while another notes the welcoming atmosphere with many smiling faces. A third reviewer characterizes it as a nice church that goes above and beyond to assist visitors, though one parent mentions an inability to attend as frequently as desired due to work commitments.

supportive and family-like staffhelpful communitywelcoming environment
Address
402 N Van Buren St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-7379
Lighthouse Learning Center Of Carthage
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.1

Lighthouse Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with five 5-star reviews praising the caring staff, focus on child development and safety, and strong parent communication. One 1-star review provided no specific details. Parents report their children are happy, learning well, and thriving at the facility.

friendly and caring stafffocus on child development and educationstrong parent communication
Address
211 E Main St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-7676
Bright Beginnings Educational Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

One parent highlights the center's affordable pricing, caring staff, and educational program, while another reports severe neglect regarding basic hygiene needs. The latter reviewer stated that their child was returned daily in a soaked pull-up despite the parent's prior complaints.

affordable pricingcaring staffeducational program
Address
800 Martin Luther King Dr, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-6604
Bubbling Babbies
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
106 E Main St, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-6373
Winson And Dovie Hudson Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
Address
1305 Highway 16 W, Carthage, MS
Phone
(601) 267-4205

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Frequently asked questions

There are 8 all daycares in Carthage, Mississippi. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Carthage have an average Google rating of 4.48 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Carthage, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Mississippi's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Mississippi)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Carthage offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 5 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 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 Mississippi 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 Carthage for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Carthage must be licensed by Mississippi'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.