Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Hackensack, NJ
Compare 14 child daycare & preschools in Hackensack. Average rating: 4.32/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Hackensack, New Jersey at a glance
- Programs
- 14
- Avg rating
- 4.32/5
- Parent reviews
- 181
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 5
Hackensack has 14 licensed child daycare & preschools with 181 parent reviews averaging 4.32/5.5 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 36% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 07601 with 19 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Hackensack
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.
- 1Appletree Preschool At Hackensack4.8 score5(20)
150 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Appletree Preschool receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and welcoming environment. Parents consistently highlight strong academic curriculum, engaging activities, excellent communication through digital apps, and notable child development in social skills and emotional learning. Children are reported to be happy, eager to attend, and well-prepared for kindergarten.
Caring and attentive staffStrong academic curriculumVariety of activities (artsports - 2Happy Day Child Care Center And After School Program4.72 score5(13)
360 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 109 children
Happy Day Child Care Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, professional staff and quality educational programming. Parents consistently highlight the facility's nutritious home-cooked meals, creative activities, and children's academic and social development. Multiple families report children were eager to attend and felt safe and loved.
Caring and professional staffeducational instruction (lettersnumbersmultilingual learning) - 3The Learning Place Child Care Center4.56 score4.8(12)
400 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 95 children
The Learning Place Child Care Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, welcoming staff and safe, engaging learning environment. Parents highlight the center's transparent communication, low staff turnover, flexible hours, and security features like camera access. Multiple families report their children thrive at the facility across various age groups.
Caring and welcoming staffsafe and secure facilitytransparent parent communicationlow staff turnover - 4
170 State Street, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children
Nygeria's Ark Child Care & Early Childhood Education Academy receives consistently positive feedback from parents. Reviews highlight the center's caring and dedicated staff, strong academic development in reading and math, and excellent social-emotional learning. Parents report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and thrive in a safe, clean, and loving environment.
caring and dedicated teachersstrong academic instruction (readingmathwriting - 5Ymca Of Greater Bergen Co. After Sch Prog At Fanny M Hillers4.08 score4.1(20)
56 Longview Ave, Hackensack, NJ · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 100 children
Parents consistently praise the YMCA's after-school and summer camp programs, highlighting excellent staff, engaging activities, and strong safety practices. The facility itself is clean and well-maintained with good amenities. One parent noted the lack of special needs programming as a limitation.
Attentive and caring staffdiverse and engaging daily activitiesstrong focus on safetyclean and well-maintained facility - 6Ymca Of Greater Bergen Co. After Sch Prog At Fairmount Schoo4.08 score4.1(20)
105 Grand Ave, Hackensack, NJ · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 120 children
Parents praise the YMCA's after-school and summer camp programs for excellent staff, engaging activities, and strong safety measures. The facility is clean and well-maintained with a friendly atmosphere. Children consistently enjoy their experience and gain confidence through diverse programming.
Excellent and caring staffengaging daily activitiesstrong safety protocolsclean and well-maintained facility - 7Ymca Of Greater Bergen Co. After Sch Prog At Jackson Avenue4.08 score4.1(20)
421 Jackson Ave, Hackensack, NJ · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 100 children
Parents consistently praise the YMCA's after-school and summer camp programs for their engaging activities, attentive staff, and strong safety focus. Children reportedly enjoy the experience and gain confidence, with parents highlighting excellent organization and daily variety. The facility itself is well-maintained with a clean pool, though the building is older.
Attentive and friendly staffstrong safety protocolsvaried daily activitiesclean and well-maintained facility - 8Creative Kingdom3.73 score3.6(11)
170 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children
Creative Kingdom receives mixed reviews with most parents praising the caring staff and affordable pricing, but several parents report concerning interactions with teachers that lack patience and compassion toward young children. The facility offers flexible scheduling and has staff members who provide individualized attention, though some reviewers express concerns about lack of supervision and transparency.
Caring and compassionate staffaffordable ratesflexible - 9Creative Kingdom3.73 score3.6(11)
140 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 21 children
Creative Kingdom in Hackensack receives mixed reviews with a 3.6/5 rating. Most reviewers (6 five-star ratings) praise the caring staff, particularly owner Lisa, affordable pricing, and flexible hours. However, several one-star reviews raise serious concerns about harsh teacher behavior, lack of supervision, rough handling of children, and unprofessional management responses to complaints.
Caring and compassionate staffowner Lisa's dedicationaffordable pricingf - 10Little Learners Child Development Center3.68 score3.6(20)
47 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Parents consistently praise Little Learners for its clean, school-like environment and highly professional staff. Children show significant developmental progress and genuine enthusiasm for attending, with parents appreciating strict safety policies and excellent teacher communication.
Professional and caring staffclean facilitychild-centered curriculumstrong child development outcomes
Rating Distribution
Based on 14 daycares with Google ratings in Hackensack
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 181 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Hackensack, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Hackensack zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07601 | 19 | 4.38 | 5 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Hackensack (21–369 children)
Small
up to 30 children
3
Medium
31–75 children
7
Large
76–150 children
8
Very Large
150+ children
2
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Hackensack based on parent reviews
Appletree Preschool At Hackensack
150 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ
Appletree Preschool receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and welcoming environment. Parents consistently highlight strong academic curriculum, engaging activities, excellent communication through digital apps, and notable child development in social skills and emotional learning. Children are reported to be happy, eager to attend, and well-prepared for kindergarten.
Happy Day Child Care Center And After School Program
360 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ
Happy Day Child Care Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, professional staff and quality educational programming. Parents consistently highlight the facility's nutritious home-cooked meals, creative activities, and children's academic and social development. Multiple families report children were eager to attend and felt safe and loved.
The Learning Place Child Care Center
400 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ
The Learning Place Child Care Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, welcoming staff and safe, engaging learning environment. Parents highlight the center's transparent communication, low staff turnover, flexible hours, and security features like camera access. Multiple families report their children thrive at the facility across various age groups.
Nygeria'S Ark Child Care & Early Childhood Education Academy
170 State Street, Hackensack, NJ
Nygeria's Ark Child Care & Early Childhood Education Academy receives consistently positive feedback from parents. Reviews highlight the center's caring and dedicated staff, strong academic development in reading and math, and excellent social-emotional learning. Parents report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and thrive in a safe, clean, and loving environment.
Bergen Co. Comm. Action Partn. Child Dev. Ctr. Of Hackensack
291 Second Street, Hackensack, NJ
A parent highlights the friendly, attentive, and caring staff, noting that the center provides gifts that make families happy and expresses gratitude for the administrators' dedication. Another review describes the program as excellent, while a third praises the professional and supportive staff who listen to family needs and offer specific programs for both children and parents.
The Children'S Learning Center Of Hackensack
27 Fair Street, Hackensack, NJ
One parent reports a chaotic drop-off experience where a four-year-old was left unsupervised and directed down stairs alone. The reviewer also describes a hostile interaction with the director, alleging she was racist, rude, and uncooperative, while noting that other staff members attempted to resolve the situation politely.
Map
Daycare types in Hackensack
Child Daycare & Preschools in Hackensack, New Jersey
There are 14 child daycare & preschools in Hackensack, New Jersey, making up 70% of the 20 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 Hackensack have an average rating of 4.32 out of 5 across 14 rated facilities, with 36% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.39 stars. Our analysis covers 181 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Hackensack, 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 Hackensack
Showing 14 results
Appletree Preschool receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and welcoming environment. Parents consistently highlight strong academic curriculum, engaging activities, excellent communication through digital apps, and notable child development in social skills and emotional learning. Children are reported to be happy, eager to attend, and well-prepared for kindergarten.
- Address
- 150 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 250-8880
Happy Day Child Care Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, professional staff and quality educational programming. Parents consistently highlight the facility's nutritious home-cooked meals, creative activities, and children's academic and social development. Multiple families report children were eager to attend and felt safe and loved.
- Address
- 360 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 487-6600
Nygeria's Ark Child Care & Early Childhood Education Academy receives consistently positive feedback from parents. Reviews highlight the center's caring and dedicated staff, strong academic development in reading and math, and excellent social-emotional learning. Parents report their children are happy, well-prepared for kindergarten, and thrive in a safe, clean, and loving environment.
- Address
- 170 State Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 880-4996
A parent highlights the friendly, attentive, and caring staff, noting that the center provides gifts that make families happy and expresses gratitude for the administrators' dedication. Another review describes the program as excellent, while a third praises the professional and supportive staff who listen to family needs and offer specific programs for both children and parents.
- Address
- 291 Second Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 968-0200
The Learning Place Child Care Center receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring, welcoming staff and safe, engaging learning environment. Parents highlight the center's transparent communication, low staff turnover, flexible hours, and security features like camera access. Multiple families report their children thrive at the facility across various age groups.
- Address
- 400 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 343-3077
One parent reports a chaotic drop-off experience where a four-year-old was left unsupervised and directed down stairs alone. The reviewer also describes a hostile interaction with the director, alleging she was racist, rude, and uncooperative, while noting that other staff members attempted to resolve the situation politely.
- Address
- 27 Fair Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 343-2292
Feedback for this center is sharply divided, with one parent praising the professional staff and comprehensive care, while another details significant operational failures. The latter highlights issues ranging from staffing and facility conditions to serious allegations regarding safety and governance.
- Address
- 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (551) 996-2987
Creative Kingdom receives mixed reviews with most parents praising the caring staff and affordable pricing, but several parents report concerning interactions with teachers that lack patience and compassion toward young children. The facility offers flexible scheduling and has staff members who provide individualized attention, though some reviewers express concerns about lack of supervision and transparency.
- Address
- 170 Prospect Ave, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 880-7788
Parents consistently praise Little Learners for its clean, school-like environment and highly professional staff. Children show significant developmental progress and genuine enthusiasm for attending, with parents appreciating strict safety policies and excellent teacher communication.
- Address
- 47 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 523-3698
Creative Kingdom in Hackensack receives mixed reviews with a 3.6/5 rating. Most reviewers (6 five-star ratings) praise the caring staff, particularly owner Lisa, affordable pricing, and flexible hours. However, several one-star reviews raise serious concerns about harsh teacher behavior, lack of supervision, rough handling of children, and unprofessional management responses to complaints.
- Address
- 140 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 880-7788
One parent alleges the center's director reacted aggressively to a planned donation of snacks and non-perishables, describing the interaction as concerning for a facility serving children. Another review cites a staff member preventing a child from completing homework.
- Address
- 170 B Sussex Street, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 880-7244
- Address
- 284 Hackensack Ave, Rear Bldg, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 343-6000
Parents consistently praise The Learning Experience in Hackensack for providing a warm, caring, and safe environment where children thrive. Staff members are described as loving, professional, and genuinely invested in each child's development. Communication through daily updates and photos, cleanliness, and smooth transitions are frequently highlighted as strengths.
- Address
- 30 Woodridge Ave, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 546-8304
- Address
- 280 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ
- Phone
- (201) 342-7001
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with New Jersey's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New Jersey)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 14 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 1 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 5 facilities