Best Daycare Centers in Columbia, MO
Compare 80 daycare centers in Columbia. Average rating: 4.29/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Columbia, Missouri at a glance
- Daycares
- 80
- Avg rating
- 4.29/5
- Parent reviews
- 558
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 29
Columbia has 80 licensed daycares with 558 parent reviews averaging 4.29/5.29 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 58% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 65203 zip code, averaging 4.4 stars across 38 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Columbia
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.
- 1Latter House Childcare Center LLC4.79 score5(19)
4914 Prairieridge St, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children
Latter House Childcare Center (also referred to as Destiny Learning Center) receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, compassionate staff and supportive family-like environment. Parents highlight the center's Christ-centered curriculum, individualized attention to children's needs including special needs support, and strong communication with families. Multiple reviewers describe the center as a blessing and village that supports not only the children but the entire family.
Caring and compassionate staffChrist-centered curriculum with character development focusindividualized attention to each child's needsspecial needs accommodation - 2Bright Star Learning Center LLC4.78 score5(18)
4006 W Broadway, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children
Bright Star Learning Center LLC (also called Learning Star Preschool) has perfect 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring, dedicated staff and nurturing environment. Parents highlight the school's focus on child development, creative learning activities, responsive communication, and the strong bonds children form with teachers and peers. Families report children thrive emotionally and academically, with several noting positive long-term impacts into middle and high school years.
Warm and caring teachersresponsive communication with parentscreative activities and learning opportunitiessafe and nurturing environment - 3Rock Bridge Preschool4.67 score5(10)
102 Sieville Ave, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children
Rock Bridge Preschool receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring, family-like environment and strong leadership of owner/director Amanda. Parents highlight the small center's personalized attention, effective curriculum preparation for kindergarten, and excellent communication with families. Staff are described as kind, loving, and genuinely invested in each child's development and well-being.
Caring and loving teachersFamily-like environmentStrong owner/director leadershipSmall intimate setting - 4A Galaxy Of Stars Child Care Center LLC4.64 score4.8(20)
1626 Towne Dr, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children
A Galaxy of Stars Child Care Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the professional, caring staff and welcoming environment. Parents consistently highlight the owner's hands-on involvement, strong curriculum preparation for kindergarten, regular photo/video updates, and family-like treatment of children. The center is noted for its cleanliness, diversity and inclusion focus, reasonable pricing, and community values.
Professional and caring staffowner actively present and accessiblefamily-like treatment of childrencurriculum-focused learning - 5Hawthorne Educational Services INC4.64 score4.8(20)
800 Gray Oak Dr, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 18 children
Hawthorne Educational Services is highly rated for providing assessment tools and intervention resources for students with behavioral and learning challenges. Reviews highlight the effectiveness of their screening assessments, intervention manuals, and educational resources used by teachers, schools, and clinics. Customers consistently praise the quality of materials, ease of ordering, and helpful customer service.
Comprehensive assessment toolsclear and practical intervention strategiesdual school and home versions availablehelpful customer service - 6End Of The Rainbow Cdc4.64 score4.8(20)
2505 Old 63 South, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 159 children
End of the Rainbow CDC in Columbia receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all reviewed parents who praise the welcoming, caring staff and strong developmental focus. Parents consistently highlight the director team (Shane and Nikki) and teachers as invested professionals who create a family-like environment where children thrive academically and socially.
Caring and welcoming staffstrong academic and social developmentclean facilityorganized curriculum with daily updates via app - 7End Of The Rainbow Southwest4.64 score4.8(20)
5855 Scott Blvd, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 92 children
End of the Rainbow Southwest receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the welcoming, caring staff and directors (Shane and Nikki) for creating a family-like environment. Parents consistently report their children are happy, safe, and developing well academically and socially, with many expressing they would never leave if not for relocation.
Caring and welcoming staffstrong leadership (Shane and Nikki)family-like atmosphereorganized and fun curriculum - 8A Good Start INC4.64 score4.8(20)
101 N Grace Ln, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children
A Good Start Inc is a family-owned preschool in Columbia, Missouri with consistently excellent reviews. Parents praise the staff for being loving yet firm, providing strong academic preparation that leaves children ahead for kindergarten, and creating a safe, welcoming environment where children thrive developmentally and socially.
Caring and loving staffstrong academic curriculumexcellent kindergarten readiness preparationclean and well-organized facility - 9Jades Preschool And Daycare LLC4.62 score5(8)
6405 Highway 40 W, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Parents consistently praise Jades Preschool and Daycare for its caring, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and socially. Staff members are described as genuinely loving and attentive to individual children's needs, with strong curriculum, quality nutrition, and enrichment activities like sign language and Spanish instruction.
Caring and attentive stafffamily-like atmospherestrong academic resultsage-appropriate curriculum - 10Ready Set Learn Early Childhood Learning Center LLC4.58 score5(7)
2601 N Stadium Blvd, Columbia, MO · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children
Parents consistently praise Wee Care E.L.C. for its caring, nurturing staff and safe, clean environment that supports children's overall development. The center is commended for strong communication with parents, creative learning activities, and staff dedication to each child's physical, emotional, and academic growth.
caring and nurturing staffsafe environmentclean and well-maintained facilitiesstrong parent communication
Rating Distribution
Based on 50 daycares with Google ratings in Columbia
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 558 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Columbia, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Columbia zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65203 | 38 | 4.4 | 16 | |
| 65202 | 18 | 4.3 | 7 | |
| 65201 | 23 | 4.07 | 6 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Columbia (10–183 children)
Small
up to 30 children
19
Medium
31–75 children
32
Large
76–150 children
27
Very Large
150+ children
2
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Columbia based on parent reviews
Latter House Childcare Center LLC
4914 Prairieridge St, Columbia, MO
Latter House Childcare Center (also referred to as Destiny Learning Center) receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, compassionate staff and supportive family-like environment. Parents highlight the center's Christ-centered curriculum, individualized attention to children's needs including special needs support, and strong communication with families. Multiple reviewers describe the center as a blessing and village that supports not only the children but the entire family.
Bright Star Learning Center LLC
4006 W Broadway, Columbia, MO
Bright Star Learning Center LLC (also called Learning Star Preschool) has perfect 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring, dedicated staff and nurturing environment. Parents highlight the school's focus on child development, creative learning activities, responsive communication, and the strong bonds children form with teachers and peers. Families report children thrive emotionally and academically, with several noting positive long-term impacts into middle and high school years.
Rock Bridge Preschool
102 Sieville Ave, Columbia, MO
Rock Bridge Preschool receives universal 5-star ratings from parents who consistently praise the caring, family-like environment and strong leadership of owner/director Amanda. Parents highlight the small center's personalized attention, effective curriculum preparation for kindergarten, and excellent communication with families. Staff are described as kind, loving, and genuinely invested in each child's development and well-being.
A Galaxy Of Stars Child Care Center LLC
1626 Towne Dr, Columbia, MO
A Galaxy of Stars Child Care Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the professional, caring staff and welcoming environment. Parents consistently highlight the owner's hands-on involvement, strong curriculum preparation for kindergarten, regular photo/video updates, and family-like treatment of children. The center is noted for its cleanliness, diversity and inclusion focus, reasonable pricing, and community values.
Hawthorne Educational Services INC
800 Gray Oak Dr, Columbia, MO
Hawthorne Educational Services is highly rated for providing assessment tools and intervention resources for students with behavioral and learning challenges. Reviews highlight the effectiveness of their screening assessments, intervention manuals, and educational resources used by teachers, schools, and clinics. Customers consistently praise the quality of materials, ease of ordering, and helpful customer service.
End Of The Rainbow Cdc
2505 Old 63 South, Columbia, MO
End of the Rainbow CDC in Columbia receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all reviewed parents who praise the welcoming, caring staff and strong developmental focus. Parents consistently highlight the director team (Shane and Nikki) and teachers as invested professionals who create a family-like environment where children thrive academically and socially.
Map
Daycare types in Columbia
Browse by type in Columbia
Daycare Centers in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia offers a robust selection of 80 childcare facilities, catering to a wide variety of parenting preferences and age groups. Parents consistently highlight clean environments, strong parental communication, and children's enthusiasm for attending as key indicators of quality. The area includes standout neighborhoods like zip code 65203, where the average rating reaches 4.4 stars across 38 locations.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Columbia have an average rating of 4.29 out of 5 across 50 rated facilities, with 58% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.37 stars. Our analysis covers 558 parent reviews. Parents in Columbia most frequently praise daycares for clean facilities, children excited to attend, and good communication with parents.
When choosing a daycare in Columbia, 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 Columbia
Showing 80 results
Green Meadows Preschool receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with 9 out of 10 recent reviews giving 5-star ratings. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive staff, clean facilities, and strong developmental support for children from infants through pre-K. One parent expressed concerns about changes following the center's sale to corporate ownership.
- Address
- 1000 Green Meadows Rd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 449-3359
One parent highlights the center as a caring, faith-based environment where staff treat children like their own, while another expresses concern over the lack of transparency regarding the business's ownership. These conflicting perspectives reflect a small sample of feedback with no established consensus.
- Address
- 600 Wilkes Blvd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 442-8479
Feedback for Walnut Street Dayschool Inc. is sharply divided, with some parents praising the relaxed environment and extensive outdoor facilities, while others report serious allegations of physical abuse and negative behavioral impacts. One parent describes a nightmare experience involving spanking and pinching, claiming their child suffered emotional distress, whereas another highlights the school's large yard and sweet teachers. The few reviews so far present conflicting views on the quality of care and staff conduct.
- Address
- 2505 E Walnut, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 874-4970
Tiger Tots receives consistently high praise from parents who have enrolled multiple children over many years. Parents highlight exceptional teacher care, strong academic preparation, flexible scheduling with before/after-school services, and inclusive support for children with special needs. Families describe feeling their children are treated like family members and report smooth transitions to kindergarten.
- Address
- 1609 Paris Rd, Ste 101, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 441-0919
One parent highlights positive interactions with the director and notes the center's role in supporting youth employment. The review describes the facility as a supportive environment for young people seeking work opportunities.
- Address
- 2401 Thornberry Dr, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 256-1896
Parents highlight enthusiastic enrollment, daily communication, and a supportive, faith-based environment that helps children thrive. However, one reviewer reports a negative experience with staff rudeness during a phone inquiry regarding enrollment.
- Address
- 4470 N Highway 763, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 256-8733
- Address
- 3200 Chapel Hill Rd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 445-5604
Big Steps Early Learning Center receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about staff turnover, safety oversight, and administrative practices. While some parents praise the teachers and their children's experience, others report behavioral changes in their children, inadequate injury reporting, and overall declining quality of care.
- Address
- 3309 N Brown Station Rd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 474-3292
Nanny's Early Learning Center in Columbia, Missouri receives consistently high praise from parents. All 10 reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the caring staff, family-like environment, educational programming, and exceptional support for families. Parents consistently report feeling confident leaving their children in the center's care.
- Address
- 404 Mcbaine Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 441-1293
A World of Discoveries Daycare receives mostly positive reviews praising the caring staff, educational activities, and loving environment, with children eager to attend. However, two one-star reviews raise serious concerns about staff conduct, inadequate supervision, unexplained injuries, and alleged mishandling of parent concerns.
- Address
- 701 Washington Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 442-0243
The Apple School receives mixed reviews. Most parents praise the caring teachers and warm environment, with several families reporting very positive experiences. However, serious concerns have been raised about past disciplinary practices and staff conduct that allegedly caused lasting trauma to young children.
- Address
- 5155 Providence Rd S, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 449-7525
Central Missouri Community Action is a Head Start program in Columbia with mixed reviews. Parents praise the caring staff and respectful interactions, but express significant frustration with unreliable administrative processes, particularly regarding voicemail/fax communication, application handling, and energy assistance services.
- Address
- 403 Park Ave, Ste B, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 449-1575
Central Missouri Community Action is a HEAD START program in Columbia with mixed reviews. Parents praise the caring staff and respectful treatment, but multiple reviewers report serious issues with administrative communication, lost applications, and unresponsive assistance with energy and food aid services.
- Address
- 1402 W Worley St, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 443-1955
Central Missouri Community Action is a Head Start program in Columbia with mixed reviews. Parents praise the caring staff and respectful treatment, but multiple reviewers report serious issues with administrative follow-up, lost applications, and failure to process energy assistance paperwork despite assurances of help.
- Address
- 1400 Elleta Blvd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 489-0092
Note: The reviews provided are for The Neighborhoods by Tiger Place, a senior living/long-term care facility, not a daycare center. The majority of reviews (8 out of 10) are highly positive, praising staff compassion, cleanliness, and quality care. However, two recent reviews cite staffing shortages and inconsistent care quality regarding wound management, laundry, and dietary accommodations.
- Address
- 3003 Falling Leaf Ct, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 814-5134
One parent highlights the facility's long-standing history as a quality preschool, while another reports a negative experience involving an unresponsive director who failed to show for a scheduled tour or follow up.
- Address
- 1112 E Broadway, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 443-7677
One parent highlights the teachers' comforting and attentive care for their child, recommending the center for drop-in services. Conversely, another review warns of a strict 9:30 AM drop-off cutoff with zero exceptions, noting that arriving even a minute late results in denied entry.
- Address
- 505 E Ash, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 449-5981
Reviews are mixed with significant quality concerns reported. While some parents praise the center's cleanliness, staff care, and child development, others report serious issues including unexplained injuries, frequent staff turnover, and alleged inappropriate discipline practices involving food withholding.
- Address
- 301 W Broadway, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 289-2151
Turn the Page Child Development Center receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise caring teachers, child development, and communication, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about staff conduct, supervision, safety incidents, and parental communication.
- Address
- 205 Highview Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 874-6868
Columbia's Finest Child Development Center has highly polarized reviews ranging from 5 stars to 1 star. Positive reviewers praise caring teachers, engaging activities, and convenient extended hours, while negative reviewers report staff rudeness, safety concerns, inconsistent care quality, and alleged cover-ups of incidents between children.
- Address
- 3900 White Tiger Ln, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 499-4466
- Address
- 1201 Jewell Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 424-5485
- Address
- 612 Washington, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 442-3295
- Address
- 1410 Hinkson Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 884-2582
- Address
- 1208 Locust, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 673-2125
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Columbia for warm, attentive teachers who communicate regularly with families and treat children with genuine care. Children show measurable developmental improvements in speech, social skills, and independence while enjoying school daily. The facility is noted as clean, safe, and well-organized with a structured yet nurturing learning environment.
- Address
- 2416 W Ash St, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 445-9488
- Address
- 201 Park De Ville Dr, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 214-3572
- Address
- 111 Parkade Blvd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 886-2410
- Address
- 2600 Battle Ave, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 884-2582
- Address
- 909 Fairview Rd, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 886-2329
- Address
- 3804 Santiago Dr, Columbia, MO
- Phone
- (573) 449-6783
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Missouri's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Missouri)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 70 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 4 facilities
- Church Daycare — 3 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 3 facilities