How many child daycare & preschools daycares are in Ames, Iowa?

There are 13 child daycare & preschools daycares in Ames, Iowa, out of 21 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.

What is the average rating of daycares in Ames?

Based on parent reviews, daycares in Ames have an average Google rating of 4.65 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities. About 62% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.

How do I choose the right daycare in Ames?

When choosing a daycare in Ames, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: Licensing status with Iowa's regulatory agency Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Iowa) Safety measures and cleanliness Daily routines and educational curriculum Parent reviews and ratings Location and hours that fit your schedule

What types of daycare are available in Ames?

Ames offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 13 facilities Church Daycare — 2 facilities Before or After School Daycare — 6 facilities Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

What is the average cost of daycare in Iowa?

Daycare costs in Iowa 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 Ames for current pricing.

Are daycares in Ames licensed and regulated?

Yes, daycare centers in Ames must be licensed by Iowa'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.

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Ames, IA — Compare 13+

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Ames

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
Acpc-St Cecilia
4.64 score
4.8(20)
2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 22 children
Reviews praise ACPC-ST CECILIA as an excellent Catholic community institution with a strong elementary school program. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere, compassionate staff, and priest, along with beautiful facilities and diverse programming including Spanish-language services.
Welcoming and compassionate environmentexcellent elementary schoolbeautiful church and chapelSpanish Mass available
2
University Community Childcare INC
4.55 score
5(6)
2623 Bruner Dr/100 University Village, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 112 children
Parents consistently praise UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE INC for its caring, dedicated staff who go above and beyond their duties. The facility is noted for being clean and well-equipped despite affordable tuition rates, with engaging activities including special guests and field trips. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment and staff's attentiveness to individual needs like food allergies.
Caring and professional staffclean and well-equipped classroomsaffordable tuition ratesnon-profit organization
3
Prairie Flower Children'S Center
4.5 score
5(5)
2807 Duff Ave, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children
Parents praise Prairie Flower Children's Center for its nature-based outdoor learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and confidence. The center is noted for its caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and emphasis on unstructured outdoor play as an alternative to digital-focused activities. All reviewers highly recommend the facility.
outdoor learning opportunitiesnature-based curriculumstaff kindness and caringwelcoming environment
4
Formative Years Growing And Learning Center
4.16 score
4.3(6)
4510 Todd Dr, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 128 children
Formative Years receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising caring teachers, individual attention, and enriching activities like field trips. However, a few parents reported serious concerns about supervision, safety issues with mixed age groups, facility size, and food quality.
caring and attentive teachersindividual attention to childrenfun field trips and activitieschildren enjoy attending
5
Acpc-Main Center
4.12 score
4.2(7)
920 Carroll Ave, Ames, IA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 150 children
ACPC-MAIN CENTER receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring staff, safe environment, structured curriculum, and positive impact on children's development and behavior. Parents highlight improvements in their children's confidence, happiness, and social skills. Cost is a concern for some families.
caring and kind staffsafe environmentsmall class sizes1:1 attention
6
Play And Learn Children'S Center
4.07 score
4.1(13)
301 Alexander Ave, Ste A, Ames, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 94 children
Play and Learn Children's Center receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the attentive and caring staff, clean facility, and strong developmental support for children. The new ownership is credited with improvements to the center. One negative review describes a serious incident involving inadequate supervision of an aggressive toddler in the infant room.
Clean facilityattentive and friendly staffstaff know children by namegood communication with parents

Rating Distribution

Based on 13 daycares with Google ratings in Ames

4.5 - 5.0

8

4.0 - 4.4

5

3.0 - 3.9

0

Below 3

0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.67avg rating

13 daycares · 8 rated

Before or After School Daycare

Church Daycare

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Ames zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip Code	Daycares	Avg. Rating	Top Rated
50010	17	4.64	6

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Ames (20–150 children)

Small

up to 30 children

5

Medium

31–75 children

7

Large

76–150 children

9

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Ames based on parent reviews

University Community Childcare INC

5(6)

2623 Bruner Dr/100 University Village, Ames, IA

Parents consistently praise UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE INC for its caring, dedicated staff who go above and beyond their duties. The facility is noted for being clean and well-equipped despite affordable tuition rates, with engaging activities including special guests and field trips. Parents appreciate the welcoming environment and staff's attentiveness to individual needs like food allergies.

Caring and professional staffclean and well-equipped classroomsaffordable tuition rates

Prairie Flower Children'S Center

5(5)

2807 Duff Ave, Ames, IA

Parents praise Prairie Flower Children's Center for its nature-based outdoor learning environment that fosters children's curiosity and confidence. The center is noted for its caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and emphasis on unstructured outdoor play as an alternative to digital-focused activities. All reviewers highly recommend the facility.

outdoor learning opportunitiesnature-based curriculumstaff kindness and caring

Eagle'S Loft Early Learning Center

5(3)

2715 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA

Parents describe Eagle's Loft Early Learning Center as a safe, calm, and happy environment where staff are kind and patient. Reviewers appreciate the balance of play and discovery that fosters enjoyment and growth without being overly restrictive. The center is noted for providing good activities and maintaining a positive atmosphere for children.

Calm and relaxed environmentkind and patient staffsafe and loving atmosphere

Lilypad Learning Center, Ames Research Park

5(1)

3500 University Blvd, Ames, IA

One parent describes a highly positive experience, highlighting the child's daily growth and the effective curriculum. The review specifically praises the strong communication between teachers and parents, as well as the overall quality of the staff and directors.

curriculumcommunication between parents and teachersstaff quality

Formative Years Growing And Learning Center

4.3(6)

4510 Todd Dr, Ames, IA

Formative Years receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising caring teachers, individual attention, and enriching activities like field trips. However, a few parents reported serious concerns about supervision, safety issues with mixed age groups, facility size, and food quality.

caring and attentive teachersindividual attention to childrenfun field trips and activities

Vet Med Child Care Center

4.8(1)

1520 Christensen Dr, Ames, IA

Map

Child Daycare & Preschools in Ames, Iowa

There are 13 child daycare & preschools in Ames, Iowa, making up 62% of the 21 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 Ames have an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 across 13 rated facilities, with 62% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.67 stars. Our analysis covers 74 parent reviews.

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

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Ames, IA

Ames, Iowa at a glance