Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Schenectady, NY

Compare 39 daycare centers in Schenectady. Average rating: 3.81/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Schenectady, New York at a glance

Daycares
39
Avg rating
3.81/5
Parent reviews
254
Top rated (4.5+)
7

Schenectady has 39 licensed daycares with 254 parent reviews averaging 3.81/5.The largest concentration is in 12304 with 11 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Schenectady

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
    Schenectady Day Nursery
    4.37 score
    4.6(8)

    25 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Schenectady Day Nursery receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the caring, professional staff and loving environment. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and feel safe. One parent expressed dissatisfaction with the cost and curriculum approach.

    caring and professional staffclean facilitygood communicationchildren are happy and loved
  2. 2
    Schenectady Day Nursery
    4.37 score
    4.6(8)

    78 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Schenectady Day Nursery receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, professional staff and warm learning environment. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and loved. One parent expressed dissatisfaction with the cost and academic curriculum.

    caring and compassionate staffchildren are happy and lovedclean facilitygood communication
  3. 3

    1136 N. Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Crossroads Center for Children receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the dedicated and caring staff, particularly for speech and developmental improvements in their children. The classroom structure and nurturing environment are frequently highlighted as reasons for enrollment satisfaction. One parent reported a negative interaction with a teacher regarding physical contact.

    dedicated and caring staffspeech and language developmentdevelopmental progressfun and nurturing environment
  4. 4
    Parsons Early Head Start
    4.3 score
    4.4(16)

    125 Bigelow Avenue, Schenectady, NY · Headstart Programs · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise Parsons Early Head Start for its caring and patient staff who actively engage with children's development. Families highlight the program's supportive approach to both children and families, with one long-term parent noting significant improvements compared to local school districts. The safe, welcoming environment and staff dedication are recurring themes across all reviews.

    caring and patient staffchild-centered teachingfamily support servicessafe and friendly environment
  5. 5

    100 Bigelow Avenue, Schenectady, NY · Headstart Programs · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise Schenectady Community Action Program HEAD START for its caring and patient staff, quality instruction, and supportive family services. Multiple reviewers highlight positive experiences across multiple program locations over many years. The program is described as superior to local school districts with a safe, friendly learning environment.

    Caring and involved staffpatient with childrenquality instructionmultiple convenient locations
  6. 6

    2739 Hamburg Street, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise Maple Leaf Childcare Center for its caring, attentive staff and safe, healthy environment. Director Angela and teachers are noted for knowing children and families by name and providing excellent communication. Multiple families report long-term satisfaction across multiple age groups from infants through school age.

    Caring and attentive staffsafe and healthy environmentexcellent communication with managementteachers greet children positively by name
  7. 7

    2000 Broadway, Schenectady, NY · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents praise the staff for compassion, friendliness, and community involvement. The facility is described as clean and well-run. One reviewer left a minimal rating without substantive feedback.

    Compassionate and friendly staffcommunity involvementclean facilityhelpful environment
  8. 8

    2450 Van Vranken Avenue, Schenectady, NY · Headstart Programs · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents praise the staff for being kind, helpful, and going above and beyond to assist families. The organization is compared favorably to other programs and is noted for its community support initiatives. One reviewer expressed concerns about accountability and monitoring of program participants.

    Kind and caring staffresponsive customer servicestaff members go extra milehelpful with assistance programs
  9. 9

    2565 Balltown Rd, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents praise the Schenectady Jewish Community Center Day Care for its inclusive policies, friendly staff, and well-maintained facilities. The center received strong marks for its COVID-19 safety protocols and comprehensive member benefits including daycare, fitness center, pool, and classes. Families appreciate the welcoming community atmosphere and quality programming for children.

    Inclusive membership policyfriendly and personable staffclean facilitiesstrong COVID-19 safety measures
  10. 10

    2566 Balltown Rd Craig School, Schenectady, NY · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise the Jewish Community Center of Schenectady for its inclusive, welcoming community and quality programming. The facility is noted for excellent staff, clean facilities, diverse classes, and strong safety protocols, particularly during COVID-19. Families appreciate the value of membership and diverse offerings including summer camp, daycare, pool access, and fitness classes.

    Inclusive and welcoming communityfriendly and caring staffclean facilitiesquality daycare and summer camp programs

Rating Distribution

Based on 23 daycares with Google ratings in Schenectady

4.5 - 5.0
7
4.0 - 4.4
7
3.0 - 3.9
6
Below 3
3

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 254 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Clean facility
5
2Safe environment
3

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Schenectady zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
1230411
4.23
2
123065
3.97
1
123085
3.77
2
123039
3.4
0

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Schenectady (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Schenectady based on parent reviews

Little Ones Nursery & Day Care

5(4)

1184 Rugby Road, Schenectady, NY

Parents highlight the school's transition to a Montessori program and attribute their child's growth to caring, low-turnover staff and a supportive director. Reviewers note a strong sense of community and the owner's personal involvement in ensuring diverse needs are met. One parent mentions the new director is the owner's daughter, continuing the established values.

Montessori curriculumlow teacher turnovercaring and passionate staff

Little Ones Too Nursery & Montessori School

5(4)

1098 Parkwood Blvd, Schenectady, NY

Parents highlight the school's transformation into a Montessori program, noting low teacher turnover and strong bonds between staff and children. Reviewers appreciate the communicative director and the environment's focus on independence, life skills, and community for both toddlers and young children.

Montessori teaching methodlow teacher turnoverstrong teacher-child bonding

Schenectady Day Nursery

4.6(8)

25 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, NY

Schenectady Day Nursery receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the caring, professional staff and loving environment. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and feel safe. One parent expressed dissatisfaction with the cost and curriculum approach.

caring and professional staffclean facilitygood communication

Schenectady Day Nursery

4.6(8)

78 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY

Schenectady Day Nursery receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, professional staff and warm learning environment. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and loved. One parent expressed dissatisfaction with the cost and academic curriculum.

caring and compassionate staffchildren are happy and lovedclean facility

Crossroads Center For Children

4.6(6)

1136 N. Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY

Crossroads Center for Children receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the dedicated and caring staff, particularly for speech and developmental improvements in their children. The classroom structure and nurturing environment are frequently highlighted as reasons for enrollment satisfaction. One parent reported a negative interaction with a teacher regarding physical contact.

dedicated and caring staffspeech and language developmentdevelopmental progress

Parsons Early Head Start

4.4(16)

125 Bigelow Avenue, Schenectady, NY

Parents consistently praise Parsons Early Head Start for its caring and patient staff who actively engage with children's development. Families highlight the program's supportive approach to both children and families, with one long-term parent noting significant improvements compared to local school districts. The safe, welcoming environment and staff dedication are recurring themes across all reviews.

caring and patient staffchild-centered teachingfamily support services

Map

Daycare Centers in Schenectady, New York

There are 39 daycare centers in Schenectady, New York. 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 Schenectady have an average rating of 3.81 out of 5 across 23 rated facilities, with 30% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.3 stars. Our analysis covers 254 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Schenectady, 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 Schenectady

Showing 39 results

Cdy-Guilderland @ Pinebush Elementary
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
3437 Carman Road, Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 378-6792
Early Childhood Education Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
517 Bradt St., Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 357-0095
Boys And Girls Clubs Of Schenectady@ Keane Elem Aasp
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1252 Albany St., Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 374-4714
T-Time Adventures INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
943 Palmer Ave., Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 368-6534
Victory Child Care, INC - Pine Bush Elementary
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
3437 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 431-4338
Capital District Ymca @ Jefferson Elementary
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
100 Princetown Road, Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 374-9136
Capital District Ymca @ Woodlawn Elementary
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
3311 Wells Ave., Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 374-9136
Kindercare Learning Center-#1664
Child Daycare & Preschools

Parents consistently praise KinderCare Learning Center #1664 in Schenectady for its warm, caring staff and family-like atmosphere. Children show significant developmental progress in academics, speech, and social skills. Parents report feeling confident and at ease with their children's safety and care.

Attentive and caring staffreal-time app updatestransparency about incidents
Address
1440 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 344-5340
Boys And Girls Club Of Schenectady @ Yates Village
Child Daycare & Preschools

One parent highlights the after-school program as offering fun activities for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, while another praises the staff for being reliable and attentive. A third review describes a new system implemented this year as a positive change.

fun activities for K-12great staffstaff is reliable
Address
E-37 Van Vranken, Schenectady, NY
Phone
(518) 372-3583

Page 2 of 2· 39 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 39 all daycares in Schenectady, New York. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Schenectady have an average Google rating of 3.81 out of 5 across 23 rated facilities. About 30% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Schenectady, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New York's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New York)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Schenectady offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 33 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 2 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 New York 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 Schenectady for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Schenectady must be licensed by New York'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.