Children at daycare

Best Daycare Centers in Darlington, SC

Compare 9 daycare centers in Darlington. Average rating: 4.23/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Darlington, South Carolina at a glance

Daycares
9
Avg rating
4.23/5
Parent reviews
15
Top rated (4.5+)
2

Darlington offers 9 licensed daycares, 3 of which have public ratings averaging 4.23/5.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Darlington

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
    Merry Land Daycare
    3.24 score
    2.9(11)

    203 S. Dargan Street, Darlington, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Merry Land Daycare has highly polarized reviews with strong praise from some parents and severe complaints from others. Positive reviewers commend the owner Ms. Dawn and staff for care, educational development, and creating a family-like environment. However, multiple negative reviews allege serious concerns including child neglect, improper discipline practices, and unprofessional staff behavior.

    Owner Ms. Dawn praised for dedicationeducational advancement of chil

Rating Distribution

Based on 3 daycares with Google ratings in Darlington

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

3.85avg rating
4 daycares · 2 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
3 daycares

Church Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Headstart Programs

5avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Darlington zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
295327
3.85
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Darlington (– 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 Darlington based on parent reviews

Kid Stop

4.8(3)

111 Harper Street, Darlington, SC

One parent reports that their children have thrived in the preschool program, making friends and learning significantly under the care of friendly staff. Another reviewer highlights the facility's cleanliness, orderliness, and strict safety protocols regarding access and health precautions. A third parent provided minimal feedback, noting only the routine of dropping off and picking up their children.

friendly staffstrong preschool programgood socialization for children

M.G. Burno Head Start Center

5(1)

223 Law Plantation Road, Darlington, SC

Merry Land Daycare

2.9(11)

203 S. Dargan Street, Darlington, SC

Merry Land Daycare has highly polarized reviews with strong praise from some parents and severe complaints from others. Positive reviewers commend the owner Ms. Dawn and staff for care, educational development, and creating a family-like environment. However, multiple negative reviews allege serious concerns including child neglect, improper discipline practices, and unprofessional staff behavior.

Owner Ms. Dawn praised for dedicationeducational advancement of chil

Map

Daycare types in Darlington

Child Daycare & Preschools 4Headstart Programs 1Church Daycare 1Before or After School Daycare 3

Daycare Centers in Darlington, South Carolina

There are 9 daycare centers in Darlington, South Carolina. 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 Darlington have an average rating of 4.23 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities, with 67% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 15 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Darlington, 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 Darlington

Showing 9 results

M.G. Burno Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
5
Address
223 Law Plantation Road, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 395-2662
Kid Stop
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.8

One parent reports that their children have thrived in the preschool program, making friends and learning significantly under the care of friendly staff. Another reviewer highlights the facility's cleanliness, orderliness, and strict safety protocols regarding access and health precautions. A third parent provided minimal feedback, noting only the routine of dropping off and picking up their children.

friendly staffstrong preschool programgood socialization for children
Address
111 Harper Street, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 395-2128
Merry Land Daycare
Child Daycare & Preschools
2.9

Merry Land Daycare has highly polarized reviews with strong praise from some parents and severe complaints from others. Positive reviewers commend the owner Ms. Dawn and staff for care, educational development, and creating a family-like environment. However, multiple negative reviews allege serious concerns including child neglect, improper discipline practices, and unprofessional staff behavior.

Owner Ms. Dawn praised for dedicationeducational advancement of chil
Address
203 S. Dargan Street, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 395-6001
St. John'S Elementary
Before or After School Daycare
Address
140 Parkstreet, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 398-5130
Nancy H. Gainey Child Day Care INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
707 Spring Street, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 393-5589
Temple Christian Academy
Church Daycare
Address
1660 N. Governor Williams Hwy., Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 393-6000
Skys The Limit Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
204 E. Avenue, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 944-5123
Cain Elementary School Cdepp
Before or After School Daycare
Address
607 First Street, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 398-5020
Pate Elementary School Cdepp
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1010 Indian Branch Road, Darlington, SC
Phone
(843) 398-2400

Page 1 of 1· 9 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 9 all daycares in Darlington, South Carolina. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Darlington have an average Google rating of 4.23 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities. About 67% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Darlington, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with South Carolina's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in South Carolina)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Darlington offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 4 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 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 South Carolina 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 Darlington for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Darlington must be licensed by South Carolina'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.