Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Portsmouth, NH

Compare 6 child daycare & preschools in Portsmouth. Average rating: 4.83/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.83/5
Parent reviews
81
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Portsmouth has 6 licensed child daycare & preschools with 81 parent reviews averaging 4.83/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 03801 zip code, averaging 4.83 stars across 12 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Portsmouth

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
    The Early Learning Center At Temple Israel
    4.74 score
    5(14)

    200 State Street, Portsmouth, NH · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Parents consistently praise The Early Learning Center as an exceptional Montessori-based preschool with highly trained, caring teachers and a strong community focus. Children reportedly thrive academically and socially in a clean, well-organized environment with low teacher-to-student ratios. The center emphasizes character development, Jewish values, and learning through play while preparing children for kindergarten.

    Experienced and compassionate teacherssmall class sizeslow student-to-teacher ratiosMontessori-based curriculum
  2. 2
    The Treehouse School Of Portsmouth
    4.72 score
    5(13)

    100 State Street, Portsmouth, NH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    The Treehouse School of Portsmouth receives universal 5-star reviews from parents who praise the nurturing environment, exceptional teachers, and innovative curriculum that leverages downtown Portsmouth as an extension of the classroom. Parents highlight strong communication, social-emotional development, academic preparation for kindergarten, and enrichment activities that keep children engaged and excited about learning.

    Exceptional teachers and leadershipsmall c

Rating Distribution

Based on 4 daycares with Google ratings in Portsmouth

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

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.65avg rating
6 daycares · 2 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
3 daycares

Church Daycare

5avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Portsmouth zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
0380112
4.83
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Portsmouth (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Portsmouth based on parent reviews

The Treehouse School Of Portsmouth

5(13)

100 State Street, Portsmouth, NH

The Treehouse School of Portsmouth receives universal 5-star reviews from parents who praise the nurturing environment, exceptional teachers, and innovative curriculum that leverages downtown Portsmouth as an extension of the classroom. Parents highlight strong communication, social-emotional development, academic preparation for kindergarten, and enrichment activities that keep children engaged and excited about learning.

Exceptional teachers and leadershipsmall c

Discovery Child Enrichment Center

4.3(1)

30 Rye Street, Portsmouth, NH

One parent describes Discovery Child Enrichment Center as an amazing second home, highlighting staff dedication to children with behavioral challenges and attentive care for infants. The reviewer notes that the well-educated team treats every child with genuine care, citing specific positive experiences for both a son with behavioral struggles and a daughter enrolled since three months old.

dedicated staffhandles behavioral challenges welltreats infants with care

Map

Daycare types in Portsmouth

Child Daycare & Preschools 6Headstart Programs 1Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 3

Child Daycare & Preschools in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

There are 6 child daycare & preschools in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, making up 50% of the 12 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 Portsmouth have an average rating of 4.83 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities, with 75% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 81 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth

Showing 6 results

The Treehouse School Of Portsmouth
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

The Treehouse School of Portsmouth receives universal 5-star reviews from parents who praise the nurturing environment, exceptional teachers, and innovative curriculum that leverages downtown Portsmouth as an extension of the classroom. Parents highlight strong communication, social-emotional development, academic preparation for kindergarten, and enrichment activities that keep children engaged and excited about learning.

Exceptional teachers and leadershipsmall c
Address
100 State Street, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(617) 997-1302
Discovery Child Enrichment Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.3

One parent describes Discovery Child Enrichment Center as an amazing second home, highlighting staff dedication to children with behavioral challenges and attentive care for infants. The reviewer notes that the well-educated team treats every child with genuine care, citing specific positive experiences for both a son with behavioral struggles and a daughter enrolled since three months old.

dedicated staffhandles behavioral challenges welltreats infants with care
Address
30 Rye Street, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(603) 334-6336
The Children'S Garden
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
290 Peverly Hill Road, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(603) 431-6565
Great Bay Kids' Company
Child Daycare & Preschools

Great Bay Kids' Company receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from current and former parents who praise the caring staff, educational quality, and competitive pricing. However, a small number of parents report difficulty reaching the admissions director and frustration with waitlist communication.

Dedicated and kind teachersstrong early childhood educationcompetitive pricing
Address
81 New Hampshire Avenue, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(603) 766-5437
Edgewood Early Learning Centre
Child Daycare & Preschools

NOTE: These reviews appear to be for Edgewood Nursing Home, not Edgewood Early Learning Centre (a daycare). All 10 reviews are 5-star ratings praising the nursing facility's staff friendliness, cleanliness, responsiveness to resident needs, and quality care. Reviews consistently highlight individual staff members by name and express family satisfaction with the facility.

Staff friendliness and attentivenessresponsive carecleanliness standards
Address
928 South Street, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(603) 766-2371
Kindercare Learning Center
Child Daycare & Preschools

Parents consistently praise KinderCare Portsmouth for exceptional, caring staff and strong teacher-child relationships. The center is commended for developmental activities, clear communication, smooth transitions, and supportive leadership. Multiple families report their children have thrived academically and socially in this nurturing environment.

Attentive and caring teachersstrong teacher-child relationshipsdevelopmental and sensory activities
Address
72 Mirona Road, Portsmouth, NH
Phone
(603) 431-8010

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 child daycare & preschools daycares in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, out of 12 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 Portsmouth have an average Google rating of 4.83 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities. About 75% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Portsmouth, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New Hampshire's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New Hampshire)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Portsmouth offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 6 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 3 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 New Hampshire 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 Portsmouth for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Portsmouth must be licensed by New Hampshire'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.