Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Alton, IL

Compare 7 child daycare & preschools in Alton. Average rating: 4.25/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Alton, Illinois at a glance

Programs
7
Avg rating
4.25/5
Parent reviews
70
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Alton has 7 licensed child daycare & preschools with 70 parent reviews averaging 4.25/5.The largest concentration is in 62002 with 8 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Alton

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
    Ywca Of Alton'S Child Enrichment Program
    4.4 score
    4.5(20)

    304 E 3rd St, Alton, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Reviews praise the YWCA facility for its beautiful historic architecture, well-maintained amenities including a gym and pool, and friendly staff. The center hosts various community events and programs. Most reviewers highlight the welcoming atmosphere and quality of classes and services offered.

    Beautiful historic buildingfriendly staffyoga classesgym and pool facilities
  2. 2
    St. Francis Day Care Center
    4.4 score
    4.5(20)

    710 College Avenue, Alton, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 150 children

    St. Francis Day Care Center in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents who value the caring, family-oriented atmosphere and strong staff-child relationships. Parents highlight excellent communication, developmental growth, and a sense of safety and trust in the facility. Many note the center has a long wait list and express strong loyalty, with some families returning across generations.

    Caring and attentive staffstrong family atmosphereexcellent communication with daily updates and photosconsistent caregivers
  3. 3
    Step By Step
    4 score
    4(6)

    2400 Locust Street, Alton, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 71 children

    Step by Step in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents, with staff being highlighted as caring, communicative, and effective at child development. The center is particularly noted for its pre-K program that prepares children well for kindergarten. One reviewer mentioned limited positive feedback beyond location and hours convenience.

    Excellent and friendly staffstrong communicationeffective pre-K programgood kindergarten preparation
  4. 4
    Maxines Daycare INC
    3.46 score
    3.3(17)

    739 Silver St, Alton, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children

    Parents consistently praise Maxine's Daycare for its caring, loving staff and child development progress. Multiple reviewers emphasize that teachers treat children like family and provide engaging activities. The facility receives universal 5-star ratings from recent reviews.

    Caring and loving staffstrong child development and academic focusengaging activitiestreats children like family

Rating Distribution

Based on 6 daycares with Google ratings in Alton

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 Alton, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.26avg rating
7 daycares · 5 rated

Headstart Programs

4.2avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Alton zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
620028
4.25
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Alton (23–169 children)

Small

up to 30 children

2

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

2

Very Large

150+ children

2

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Alton based on parent reviews

Ywca Of Alton'S Child Enrichment Program

4.5(20)

304 E 3rd St, Alton, IL

Reviews praise the YWCA facility for its beautiful historic architecture, well-maintained amenities including a gym and pool, and friendly staff. The center hosts various community events and programs. Most reviewers highlight the welcoming atmosphere and quality of classes and services offered.

Beautiful historic buildingfriendly staffyoga classes

St. Francis Day Care Center

4.5(20)

710 College Avenue, Alton, IL

St. Francis Day Care Center in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents who value the caring, family-oriented atmosphere and strong staff-child relationships. Parents highlight excellent communication, developmental growth, and a sense of safety and trust in the facility. Many note the center has a long wait list and express strong loyalty, with some families returning across generations.

Caring and attentive staffstrong family atmosphereexcellent communication with daily updates and photos

Step By Step

4(6)

2400 Locust Street, Alton, IL

Step by Step in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents, with staff being highlighted as caring, communicative, and effective at child development. The center is particularly noted for its pre-K program that prepares children well for kindergarten. One reviewer mentioned limited positive feedback beyond location and hours convenience.

Excellent and friendly staffstrong communicationeffective pre-K program

Marcia'S Child Care

5

1053 College Ave, Alton, IL

Maxines Daycare INC

3.3(17)

739 Silver St, Alton, IL

Parents consistently praise Maxine's Daycare for its caring, loving staff and child development progress. Multiple reviewers emphasize that teachers treat children like family and provide engaging activities. The facility receives universal 5-star ratings from recent reviews.

Caring and loving staffstrong child development and academic focusengaging activities

Map

Daycare types in Alton

Child Daycare & Preschools 7Headstart Programs 1

Child Daycare & Preschools in Alton, Illinois

There are 7 child daycare & preschools in Alton, Illinois, making up 88% of the 8 total childcare facilities in the city. 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 Alton have an average rating of 4.25 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.26 stars. Our analysis covers 70 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Alton, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Child Daycare & Preschools in Alton

Showing 7 results

Marcia'S Child Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
1053 College Ave, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 462-6211
Ywca Of Alton'S Child Enrichment Program
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.5

Reviews praise the YWCA facility for its beautiful historic architecture, well-maintained amenities including a gym and pool, and friendly staff. The center hosts various community events and programs. Most reviewers highlight the welcoming atmosphere and quality of classes and services offered.

Beautiful historic buildingfriendly staffyoga classes
Address
304 E 3rd St, Alton, IL
Phone
(619) 465-7774
St. Francis Day Care Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.5

St. Francis Day Care Center in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents who value the caring, family-oriented atmosphere and strong staff-child relationships. Parents highlight excellent communication, developmental growth, and a sense of safety and trust in the facility. Many note the center has a long wait list and express strong loyalty, with some families returning across generations.

Caring and attentive staffstrong family atmosphereexcellent communication with daily updates and photos
Address
710 College Avenue, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 463-2766
Step By Step
Child Daycare & Preschools
4

Step by Step in Alton receives consistently high praise from parents, with staff being highlighted as caring, communicative, and effective at child development. The center is particularly noted for its pre-K program that prepares children well for kindergarten. One reviewer mentioned limited positive feedback beyond location and hours convenience.

Excellent and friendly staffstrong communicationeffective pre-K program
Address
2400 Locust Street, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 463-0640
Maxines Daycare INC
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.3

Parents consistently praise Maxine's Daycare for its caring, loving staff and child development progress. Multiple reviewers emphasize that teachers treat children like family and provide engaging activities. The facility receives universal 5-star ratings from recent reviews.

Caring and loving staffstrong child development and academic focusengaging activities
Address
739 Silver St, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 463-0078
Toddle Towne Alton Learning Center II
Child Daycare & Preschools

Parents highlight the center's safety, strong value, and engaging curriculum that fosters happiness and learning. Former students and current families also note the respectful, friendly staff and positive social environment.

safetyhappinesslearning outcomes
Address
3839 Humbert Rd, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 462-8852
Alton Daycare
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
121 W Elm St, Alton, IL
Phone
(618) 467-0630

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Frequently asked questions

There are 7 child daycare & preschools daycares in Alton, Illinois, out of 8 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Alton have an average Google rating of 4.25 out of 5 across 6 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Alton, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Illinois's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Illinois)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Alton offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 7 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 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 Illinois 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 Alton for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Alton must be licensed by Illinois'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.