Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Hiawatha, IA

Compare 4 child daycare & preschools in Hiawatha. Average rating: 4.57/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Hiawatha, Iowa at a glance

Programs
4
Avg rating
4.57/5
Parent reviews
31
Top rated (4.5+)
2

Hiawatha has 4 licensed child daycare & preschools with 31 parent reviews averaging 4.57/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 52233 zip code, averaging 4.57 stars across 7 programs.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Hiawatha

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
    Mother Goose Learning Center
    4.4 score
    4.6(10)

    1355 Boyson Loop, Hiawatha, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 130 children

    Mother Goose Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with nearly all reviewers praising the caring and organized staff, strong educational curriculum, and child development progress. Parents consistently highlight the friendly atmosphere, creative activities, and professionalism of the facility and its owner Pamela. One negative review was submitted without specific details.

    caring and patient stafforganized and professionalstrong educational curriculumcreative activities and hands-on learning
  2. 2
    The Hiawatha Day School
    4.07 score
    4.1(15)

    1771 Boyson Square Dr, Hiawatha, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 135 children

    Parents consistently praise The Hiawatha Day School for its caring, attentive staff, structured educational curriculum, and family-like atmosphere with low staff turnover. The facility is noted for cleanliness, security, homemade meals, and enriching activities including music programs, field trips, and community engagement. While more expensive than competitors, parents feel the quality of care and education justifies the cost.

    Caring and attentive staffstrong communicationlow staff turnoverfamily-like atmosphere with personal touches

Rating Distribution

Based on 3 daycares with Google ratings in Hiawatha

4.5 - 5.0
2
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.35avg rating
4 daycares · 2 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
2 daycares

Church Daycare

5avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Hiawatha zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
522337
4.57
2

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Hiawatha (20–135 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

4

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Hiawatha based on parent reviews

Mother Goose Learning Center

4.6(10)

1355 Boyson Loop, Hiawatha, IA

Mother Goose Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with nearly all reviewers praising the caring and organized staff, strong educational curriculum, and child development progress. Parents consistently highlight the friendly atmosphere, creative activities, and professionalism of the facility and its owner Pamela. One negative review was submitted without specific details.

caring and patient stafforganized and professionalstrong educational curriculum

The Hiawatha Day School

4.1(15)

1771 Boyson Square Dr, Hiawatha, IA

Parents consistently praise The Hiawatha Day School for its caring, attentive staff, structured educational curriculum, and family-like atmosphere with low staff turnover. The facility is noted for cleanliness, security, homemade meals, and enriching activities including music programs, field trips, and community engagement. While more expensive than competitors, parents feel the quality of care and education justifies the cost.

Caring and attentive staffstrong communicationlow staff turnover

Map

Daycare types in Hiawatha

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

Child Daycare & Preschools in Hiawatha, Iowa

There are 4 child daycare & preschools in Hiawatha, Iowa, making up 57% of the 7 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 Hiawatha have an average rating of 4.57 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities, with 67% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 31 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha

Showing 4 results

Mother Goose Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6

Mother Goose Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with nearly all reviewers praising the caring and organized staff, strong educational curriculum, and child development progress. Parents consistently highlight the friendly atmosphere, creative activities, and professionalism of the facility and its owner Pamela. One negative review was submitted without specific details.

caring and patient stafforganized and professionalstrong educational curriculum
Address
1355 Boyson Loop, Hiawatha, IA
Phone
(319) 832-1247
The Hiawatha Day School
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.1

Parents consistently praise The Hiawatha Day School for its caring, attentive staff, structured educational curriculum, and family-like atmosphere with low staff turnover. The facility is noted for cleanliness, security, homemade meals, and enriching activities including music programs, field trips, and community engagement. While more expensive than competitors, parents feel the quality of care and education justifies the cost.

Caring and attentive staffstrong communicationlow staff turnover
Address
1771 Boyson Square Dr, Hiawatha, IA
Phone
(319) 832-1402
Hand In Hand-Hiawatha
Child Daycare & Preschools

Reviews for Hand in Hand-Hiaawatha present sharply conflicting experiences, with one parent praising the facility's security and communication tools while multiple others report severe issues including staff aggression, neglect of physical abuse, and excessive billing errors. Despite the high rating from a single satisfied customer, other parents describe the management as rude and money-driven, citing unauthorized fees and a hostile environment that caused children distress.

secure check-in/check-out system with fingerprint verificationdaily communication app with photos and activity reportswell-balanced meals
Address
103 N Center Point Rd, Hiawatha, IA
Phone
(319) 200-4840
Essential Montessori
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1350 Blairs Ferry Rd, Ste A, Hiawatha, IA
Phone
(319) 378-3100

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Frequently asked questions

There are 4 child daycare & preschools daycares in Hiawatha, Iowa, out of 7 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 Hiawatha have an average Google rating of 4.57 out of 5 across 3 rated facilities. About 67% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Hiawatha, 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
Hiawatha offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 4 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 2 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 Hiawatha for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Hiawatha 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.