Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Fort Dodge, IA

Compare 6 child daycare & preschools in Fort Dodge. Average rating: 4.21/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Fort Dodge, Iowa at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.21/5
Parent reviews
21
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Fort Dodge has 6 licensed child daycare & preschools with 21 parent reviews averaging 4.21/5.The largest concentration is in 50501 with 13 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Fort Dodge

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
    Little Lambs Preschool-Gslc
    4.37 score
    4.6(8)

    1436 21st Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 19 children

    Little Lambs Preschool-GSLC is a religious facility in Fort Dodge, Iowa with an average rating of 4.6/5. Parents consistently praise the welcoming community atmosphere and well-organized events, particularly highlighting their free Halloween activities including pumpkin carving, trunk-or-treating, and family-friendly festivities.

    Welcoming and friendly communitywell-organized eventsfree activities for familiesgood facilities

Rating Distribution

Based on 7 daycares with Google ratings in Fort Dodge

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

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Fort Dodge, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

3.9avg rating
6 daycares · 4 rated

Before or After School Daycare

4.3avg rating
4 daycares · 1 rated

Church Daycare

4.8avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Fort Dodge zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
5050113
4.21
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Fort Dodge (19–281 children)

Small

up to 30 children

3

Medium

31–75 children

3

Large

76–150 children

4

Very Large

150+ children

3

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Fort Dodge based on parent reviews

Calvary Family Center Day Care

5(1)

1318 10th Ave Sw, Fort Dodge, IA

One parent describes the staff as wonderful and highlights the great care provided at Calvary Family Center Day Care.

wonderful peoplegreat care

Childcare Discovery Center

3.9(4)

2329 1st Ave S, Fort Dodge, IA

Several parents highlight the center's warm, family-like atmosphere and excellent staff, noting that children arrive excited and leave happy and calm. However, a single review reports severe supervision failures involving unexplained injuries to a child.

warm and safe environmentstaff treated like familychildren are excited to attend

Community Early Childhood Center

3.7(2)

1315 S 24th St, Fort Dodge, IA

Tracey'S Tots Daycare Co - Fort Dodge

3(4)

109 S 8th St, Fort Dodge, IA

While some parents express strong satisfaction with the center, noting that their children love attending since infancy, other reviewers report severe concerns regarding cleanliness and management. Specific complaints include allegations of cockroach infestations in the kitchen and cribs, as well as general statements that the facility is not clean.

children love attendinglong-term satisfactionsuitable for newborns

Map

Daycare types in Fort Dodge

Child Daycare & Preschools 6Headstart Programs 1Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 4

Browse by type in Fort Dodge

🎨 Preschools 4

Child Daycare & Preschools in Fort Dodge, Iowa

There are 6 child daycare & preschools in Fort Dodge, Iowa, making up 46% of the 13 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 Fort Dodge have an average rating of 4.21 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities, with 43% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.8 stars. Our analysis covers 21 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Fort Dodge, 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 Fort Dodge

Showing 6 results

Calvary Family Center Day Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent describes the staff as wonderful and highlights the great care provided at Calvary Family Center Day Care.

wonderful peoplegreat care
Address
1318 10th Ave Sw, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(209) 585-9738
Childcare Discovery Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.9

Several parents highlight the center's warm, family-like atmosphere and excellent staff, noting that children arrive excited and leave happy and calm. However, a single review reports severe supervision failures involving unexplained injuries to a child.

warm and safe environmentstaff treated like familychildren are excited to attend
Address
2329 1st Ave S, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(515) 576-6771
Community Early Childhood Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7
Address
1315 S 24th St, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(515) 573-5461
Tracey'S Tots Daycare Co - Fort Dodge
Child Daycare & Preschools
3

While some parents express strong satisfaction with the center, noting that their children love attending since infancy, other reviewers report severe concerns regarding cleanliness and management. Specific complaints include allegations of cockroach infestations in the kitchen and cribs, as well as general statements that the facility is not clean.

children love attendinglong-term satisfactionsuitable for newborns
Address
109 S 8th St, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(515) 576-5437
Kidzone Christian Daycare Center & Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1111 5th Ave N, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(515) 955-3618
Dodger Academy
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
945 S 18th St, Fort Dodge, IA
Phone
(515) 574-5863

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 child daycare & preschools daycares in Fort Dodge, Iowa, out of 13 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 Fort Dodge have an average Google rating of 4.21 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities. About 43% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Fort Dodge, 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
Fort Dodge offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 6 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 4 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 Fort Dodge for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Fort Dodge 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.