Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Forest City, IA

Compare 4 child daycare & preschools in Forest City. Average rating: 4.1/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Forest City, Iowa at a glance

Programs
4
Avg rating
4.1/5
Parent reviews
11
Top rated (4.5+)
0

Forest City offers 4 licensed child daycare & preschools, 1 of which has public ratings averaging 4.1/5.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Forest City

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
    Forest City Ymca
    4.07 score
    4.1(11)

    916 West I St, Forest City, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children

    Forest City YMCA receives mostly positive reviews praising its clean, well-maintained facilities and friendly staff in a small-town setting. However, some members report concerns about accessibility accommodations, staff demeanor, and facility policies.

    Clean and well-maintained facilitiesquality gym equipmenthelpful staff including program manager Bruce Mielkepool and hot tub

Rating Distribution

Based on 1 daycares with Google ratings in Forest City

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

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Forest City, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.1avg rating
4 daycares · 1 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Forest City zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
504365
4.1
0

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Forest City (20–129 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Forest City based on parent reviews

Forest City Ymca

4.1(11)

916 West I St, Forest City, IA

Forest City YMCA receives mostly positive reviews praising its clean, well-maintained facilities and friendly staff in a small-town setting. However, some members report concerns about accessibility accommodations, staff demeanor, and facility policies.

Clean and well-maintained facilitiesquality gym equipmenthelpful staff including program manager Bruce Mielke

Map

Daycare types in Forest City

Child Daycare & Preschools 4Headstart Programs 1

Child Daycare & Preschools in Forest City, Iowa

There are 4 child daycare & preschools in Forest City, Iowa, making up 80% of the 5 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 Forest City have an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 across 1 rated facilities, with 0% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.1 stars. Our analysis covers 11 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Forest City, 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 Forest City

Showing 4 results

Forest City Ymca
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.1

Forest City YMCA receives mostly positive reviews praising its clean, well-maintained facilities and friendly staff in a small-town setting. However, some members report concerns about accessibility accommodations, staff demeanor, and facility policies.

Clean and well-maintained facilitiesquality gym equipmenthelpful staff including program manager Bruce Mielke
Address
916 West I St, Forest City, IA
Phone
(641) 585-5220
Ymca Preschool Plus Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1405 W I St, Forest City, IA
Phone
(641) 585-5187
Forest City Christian School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
305 Walnut St, Forest City, IA
Phone
(641) 585-3233
Hanson Family Life Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
306 S 6th St, Forest City, IA
Phone
(641) 585-5187

Page 1 of 1· 4 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 4 child daycare & preschools daycares in Forest City, Iowa, out of 5 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 Forest City have an average Google rating of 4.1 out of 5 across 1 rated facilities.
When choosing a daycare in Forest City, 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
Forest City offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 4 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 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 Forest City for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Forest City 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.