
Compare 69 daycare centers in Waco. Average rating: 4.33/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Waco has 69 licensed daycares with 343 parent reviews averaging 4.33/5.20 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 50% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 76701 (avg 4.81 stars), while 76708 has the largest selection (15 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
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.
1020 Elm St, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 159 children
Doris Miller Family YMCA Child Care in Waco receives consistently high ratings for its clean, well-maintained facilities and helpful staff. Parents praise the variety of amenities including a pool, basketball gym, and meeting rooms, along with community involvement. One reviewer noted a front desk staff member appeared unwelcoming, though other staff were friendly.
1300 Austin Ave, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 96 children
These reviews are for Austin United Methodist Church, not a daycare facility. The reviews praise the church's welcoming atmosphere, biblical teaching, quality music and organ, and community programs including childcare services.
2004 Barnard St, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 59 children
Parents consistently praise Children First Learning Center for its loving, caring staff and nurturing environment. The facility is noted for excellent curriculum, strong teacher-child relationships, and the leadership of Ms. Salina and Mr. Berry. Multiple parents report their children are happy, learning significantly, and thriving in care.
811 Maxfield St, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 85 children
Young Expression Day Care LLC in Waco, Texas has received exclusively positive feedback from parents. Parents consistently praise the welcoming, caring staff and safe environment, with children reportedly transitioning well and enjoying attending. The director and teachers are noted for being responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in the children's well-being and happiness.
900 N Loop 340, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 175 children
NOTE: The reviews provided are for Church of the Open Door, not KIDZ TURN daycare. No actual daycare reviews are available for KIDZ TURN in Waco, Texas.
2525 E Lake Shore Dr, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children
WSGBC Day Care Center in Waco, Texas receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight the caring and dedicated staff, strong academic curriculum, Christian values instruction, and Texas Rising Star certification. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and well-prepared for school.
2716 Robinson Dr, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children
This Little Piggy Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a family-oriented environment with caring, friendly staff and clean, well-organized classrooms. Parents report feeling confident in the safety and quality of care their children receive, with staff members engaging warmly with all families.
1115 Columbus Ave, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 140 children
Note: The reviews provided are for a gym/fitness center, not a daycare facility. Reviews praise the friendly and helpful staff, spacious facilities suitable for events, and reasonable pricing. The facility offers multiple amenities including a heated pool, weight room, basketball courts, and exercise classes.
1300 Columbus Ave, Waco, TX · Church Daycare · Capacity: 189 children
Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco receives consistently positive feedback focused on its welcoming community, quality children's ministry, and strong biblical teaching. Parents appreciate the family-friendly environment across all age groups and the church's active involvement in the community.
1311 Clay Ave, Waco, TX · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
Parents overwhelmingly praise Talitha Koum Nurture Center as an exceptional early childhood facility that combines daycare with educational programming and developmental support. Reviews highlight the caring staff, learning-focused environment, and community impact, though one parent noted eligibility requirements related to Social Security numbers.
Based on 40 daycares with Google ratings in Waco
Top qualities mentioned across 343 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Waco, based on parent reviews
Waco zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76701 | 9 | 4.81 | 7 | |
| 76707 | 6 | 4.8 | 1 | |
| 76708 | 15 | 4.51 | 3 | |
| 76705 | 7 | 4.3 | 3 | |
| 76710 | 12 | 4.14 | 2 | |
| 76706 | 10 | 4.08 | 3 | |
| 76704 | 6 | 4 | 1 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Waco (12–457 children)
Small
up to 30 children
4
Medium
31–75 children
29
Large
76–150 children
24
Very Large
150+ children
11
Highest rated daycares in Waco based on parent reviews
1020 Elm St, Waco, TX
Doris Miller Family YMCA Child Care in Waco receives consistently high ratings for its clean, well-maintained facilities and helpful staff. Parents praise the variety of amenities including a pool, basketball gym, and meeting rooms, along with community involvement. One reviewer noted a front desk staff member appeared unwelcoming, though other staff were friendly.
1300 Austin Ave, Waco, TX
These reviews are for Austin United Methodist Church, not a daycare facility. The reviews praise the church's welcoming atmosphere, biblical teaching, quality music and organ, and community programs including childcare services.
2004 Barnard St, Waco, TX
Parents consistently praise Children First Learning Center for its loving, caring staff and nurturing environment. The facility is noted for excellent curriculum, strong teacher-child relationships, and the leadership of Ms. Salina and Mr. Berry. Multiple parents report their children are happy, learning significantly, and thriving in care.
811 Maxfield St, Waco, TX
Young Expression Day Care LLC in Waco, Texas has received exclusively positive feedback from parents. Parents consistently praise the welcoming, caring staff and safe environment, with children reportedly transitioning well and enjoying attending. The director and teachers are noted for being responsive, professional, and genuinely invested in the children's well-being and happiness.
900 N Loop 340, Waco, TX
NOTE: The reviews provided are for Church of the Open Door, not KIDZ TURN daycare. No actual daycare reviews are available for KIDZ TURN in Waco, Texas.
2525 E Lake Shore Dr, Waco, TX
WSGBC Day Care Center in Waco, Texas receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight the caring and dedicated staff, strong academic curriculum, Christian values instruction, and Texas Rising Star certification. Parents report their children are happy, well-cared-for, and well-prepared for school.
Waco offers 69 daycare centers with a strong emphasis on clean facilities, engaging daily activities, and welcoming environments. The 76701 zip code stands out as a neighborhood where parents consistently find high-quality care, with an average rating of 4.81 stars across nine local options. This directory highlights the diverse mix of facilities available to families in the area.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Waco have an average rating of 4.33 out of 5 across 40 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.7 stars. Our analysis covers 343 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Waco, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 69 results
WACO Family YMCA CCC is highly regarded as a modern, family-friendly facility with excellent childcare services. Parents consistently praise the professional and attentive staff, quality swimming and gymnastics programs, and clean, well-maintained facilities. A few concerns were raised about inconsistent operating hours and front desk staff demeanor.
Central Faith Child Development Center in Waco receives consistently positive feedback from parents, with all recent reviews rating the facility 5/5 stars. Parents praise the warm, caring staff, strong Christian values, excellent communication, balanced nutrition, and nurturing environment that supports children's emotional, social, and academic growth.
Brite Start receives consistently high marks from most parents who praise the friendly staff, appropriate child-to-teacher ratios, comprehensive meal options, and large outdoor play space. However, one parent reported concerns about staff not properly applying their child's prescription eczema cream despite reassurance, with the child's condition improving after switching facilities.
One parent highlights the staff's patience, loving care, and reliability, noting their children enjoy daily activities and remain dry. Conversely, other reviewers allege severe neglect and physical abuse, citing unexplained injuries and an aggressive staff member who allegedly confronted parents.
One parent highlights the staff's patience, loving care, and strong communication, noting high child engagement and trust. Conversely, other reviewers allege severe safety issues, including unexplained injuries to children and aggressive behavior by staff toward parents.
Little Christian Academy III receives highly polarized reviews. The majority of parents praise the affordable pricing, cleanliness, staff care, learning environment, and values-based curriculum. However, a minority of parents report serious concerns including understaffing, unexplained marks on children, questionable health claims, unclear billing practices, and unprofessional director conduct.
First Baptist Preschool Development has highly polarized reviews. Positive reviewers praise the caring staff, clean environment, and welcoming management, with some families attending for 6+ years. However, negative reviewers report serious concerns including alleged discrimination based on race, failure to accommodate autistic children, frequent illness outbreaks, poor management, and inadequate emotional support.
Parents highlight the center's engaging atmosphere and educational value, noting that children learn and laugh throughout the day in a quiet, enjoyable environment. However, one account reports a serious safety concern involving an unexplained injury and a lack of documentation or explanation from staff.
Thurman E Dorsey Head Start has mixed reviews. Most parents praise it as a great learning environment for preschool-age children, particularly for underprivileged families. However, two detailed negative reviews cite staffing instability, inadequate teacher support for children with special needs, poor administrative responsiveness, and unfair treatment of students.
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