Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Waverly, IA

Compare 3 child daycare & preschools in Waverly. Average rating: 3.97/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Waverly, Iowa at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
3.97/5
Parent reviews
24
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Waverly has 3 licensed child daycare & preschools with 24 parent reviews averaging 3.97/5.The largest concentration is in 50677 with 8 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Waverly

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
    St John Lutheran Preschool
    4.18 score
    4.3(7)

    415 4th St Sw, Waverly, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 18 children

    Parents consistently praise St. John Lutheran Preschool for its welcoming, friendly atmosphere and strong sense of community. The facility and its congregation are described as warm, inclusive, and family-oriented, reflecting Christian values of acceptance regardless of background.

    welcoming environmentfriendly peopleinclusive communitywarm staff and pastor
  2. 2
    St Paul'S Lutheran Before & After School Care
    4.16 score
    4.3(6)

    301 1st St Nw, Waverly, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 30 children

    St. Paul's Lutheran Before & After School Care is highly regarded by parents who appreciate the integration of faith-based education with community involvement. Parents report that teachers and pastors effectively foster both academic learning and Christian values, with children developing into caring community leaders. The facility appears to be a valued hub within the Waverly community.

    Faith-based educationcaring teachers and pastorsinstills love of learning a
  3. 3
    Waverly Child Care & Preschool
    3.05 score
    2.1(5)

    1600 W Bremer Ave, Waverly, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 182 children

    Waverly Child Care & Preschool has highly polarized reviews. One parent praised quality care, but four parents reported poor administrative experiences including rudeness, unresponsiveness, strict late fees, and mismanagement during inquiries and enrollment.

    Quality childcare and toddler carechildren enjoy attending
  4. 4
    Waverly Child Care After-School Connection
    3.05 score
    2.1(5)

    221 15th St Nw, Waverly, IA · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 87 children

    Waverly Child Care After-School Connection has highly polarized reviews. While one parent praised quality care, multiple parents reported poor administrative communication, rude staff, strict late fees, lack of follow-up on inquiries, and a money-focused operation that prioritizes existing enrollment over prospective families.

    Quality care for enrolled childrenchildren enjoy attending

Rating Distribution

Based on 7 daycares with Google ratings in Waverly

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Church Daycare

4.53avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.03avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Before or After School Daycare

2.1avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Waverly zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
506778
3.97
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Waverly (15–182 children)

Small

up to 30 children

4

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Waverly based on parent reviews

Discoveries Learning Center-Carey Campus

5

220 9th Ave Nw, Waverly, IA

Discoveries Learning Center INC. - Waverly Campus

5

403 Technology Pl, Waverly, IA

Waverly Child Care & Preschool

2.1(5)

1600 W Bremer Ave, Waverly, IA

Waverly Child Care & Preschool has highly polarized reviews. One parent praised quality care, but four parents reported poor administrative experiences including rudeness, unresponsiveness, strict late fees, and mismanagement during inquiries and enrollment.

Quality childcare and toddler carechildren enjoy attending

Map

Daycare types in Waverly

Child Daycare & Preschools 3Headstart Programs 1Church Daycare 3Before or After School Daycare 1

Browse by type in Waverly

🎨 Preschools 3

Child Daycare & Preschools in Waverly, Iowa

There are 3 child daycare & preschools in Waverly, Iowa, making up 38% 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 Waverly have an average rating of 3.97 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities, with 43% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.53 stars. Our analysis covers 24 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Waverly, 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 Waverly

Showing 3 results

Discoveries Learning Center-Carey Campus
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
220 9th Ave Nw, Waverly, IA
Phone
(319) 352-5522
Discoveries Learning Center INC. - Waverly Campus
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
403 Technology Pl, Waverly, IA
Phone
(319) 352-5522
Waverly Child Care & Preschool
Child Daycare & Preschools
2.1

Waverly Child Care & Preschool has highly polarized reviews. One parent praised quality care, but four parents reported poor administrative experiences including rudeness, unresponsiveness, strict late fees, and mismanagement during inquiries and enrollment.

Quality childcare and toddler carechildren enjoy attending
Address
1600 W Bremer Ave, Waverly, IA
Phone
(319) 352-4664

Page 1 of 1· 3 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 3 child daycare & preschools daycares in Waverly, Iowa, 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 Waverly have an average Google rating of 3.97 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities. About 43% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Waverly, 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
Waverly offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 3 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 3 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 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 Waverly for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Waverly 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.