Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Jersey City, NJ

Parents consistently praise Smile Preschool for its small class sizes, attentive staff, and nurturing environment that supports child development. The facility receives high marks for teacher quality, daily communication with parents, and creating a family-like atmosphere. One reviewer noted the exterior appearance could be modernized.

Learning Ladders is a highly-rated center-based daycare in Jersey City with consistently excellent reviews. Parents praise the caring, attentive staff, safe and clean environment, and balanced approach to holistic child development through varied activities and outdoor play. Children show measurable growth in confidence, social skills, and developmental milestones.

Parents highlight that the center is clean and staffed by caring, patient, and loving providers. One family notes a positive experience spanning three years of attendance.

Academy House Child Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents across all reviews. Parents highlight exceptional staff care, strong parent communication, engaging curriculum, and a family-like atmosphere that helps children feel safe and excited about attending.

Parents consistently praise The Salvation Army Early Childhood Education Center for its exceptional and caring staff. The facility offers structured activities, field trips, and academic support, with one parent noting significant developmental improvements in their autistic child. Multiple parents highlight affordability and additional community resources like food pantry services.

Future Stars Daycare Preschool receives mostly positive reviews praising the warm, caring environment and educational activities, with parents reporting their children are happy and safe. However, one negative review raises serious concerns about disrespectful teacher behavior and lack of proper discipline. The facility appears to offer meals and snacks as part of their program.

Parents praise Early Learning Academy for reliable, attentive staff and a safe, clean learning environment. The facility offers unique programs including transportation from schools, summer care during public school breaks, sign language instruction, and educational workshops for parents. All reviewers gave 5-star ratings and recommend the center highly.

Feedback for New Life Dream Academy is sharply divided, with some families highlighting a fun, educational environment while others report serious safety and behavioral concerns. One parent describes exceptional care and engaging activities, whereas another alleges staff misconduct and physical abuse involving a child.

One parent highlights the family-like atmosphere, reasonable fees, and exceptional communication, while another notes the program's effectiveness for toddlers starting from infancy. A third review praises the certified staff and safe environment, though a separate complaint alleges retaliatory threats from the school regarding a negative review.

River School Newport-Bright Horizons School receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and professional staff, child development support, and safe learning environment. Parents report their children thriving emotionally and developmentally, with excellent communication about daily activities and any concerns.

Saint Elizabeth Child Care Center in Jersey City receives mostly positive reviews, with parents praising the clean facilities, caring staff, Christian education, and comprehensive programming. However, two negative reviews cite concerns about inadequate supervision and care for toddlers, lack of transparency, and strict policies.

Parents highlight the center's family-like atmosphere, secure environment, and affordable tuition, with some noting significant academic and social progress for their children. However, one reviewer reports a negative experience where the school allegedly threatened legal action to remove a critical review.

The Wonder Years receives predominantly positive reviews praising staff quality, cleanliness, and child development outcomes. However, two negative reviews cite facility overcrowding and an unresolved lice infestation problem.

Waddlers and Toddlers Day Care Center receives mostly positive feedback from parents, with the majority praising the caring staff, clean facility, and developmental progress of their children. However, some parents have raised concerns about overcrowding, hygiene issues including a lice problem, and organizational challenges.

Parents praise CCAARF International Learning Center's caring and engaging teaching staff, noting their children have learned significantly and feel well-cared-for. The center maintains good teacher-to-student ratios and keeps children actively engaged. One negative experience was reported regarding receptionist rudeness.

Feedback for Bright Star Learning Center is mixed, with one parent reporting a positive experience and another describing a negative environment. The positive review highlights the owner's friendliness and a lack of issues, while the negative review criticizes the facility's physical conditions and animal presence.

Munchkin Village receives mixed reviews. Most parents report positive experiences, praising the caring staff, home-cooked meals, and developmental progress of their children. However, a few reviews raise concerns about staff training, wages, and alleged mistreatment.

Play and Learn receives mixed reviews. Most parents praise the clean facility, engaged teachers, director involvement, and developmental activities, particularly for PreK3. However, a minority of parents report serious concerns about teacher behavior including yelling and physical discipline.

Salem Child Development Center in Jersey City receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the caring and professional staff, engaging activities, and long-term trust in their services. Parents frequently mention specific staff members by name and note their children's lasting positive memories. One parent expressed concerns about high teacher turnover and the center's handling of pandemic-related closures.

It Takes A Village II receives mostly positive feedback from parents who praise the qualified and compassionate staff, educational curriculum, and quality care. Parents appreciate communication through daily updates and photos, and report visible child development and growth. One parent raised a serious safety concern regarding an injury to their child.

It Takes A Village III receives predominantly positive reviews praising staff quality, curriculum, and developmental support. Parents highlight excellent communication through daily updates and a nurturing environment. One parent raised a serious safety concern regarding a child's injury.

It Takes a Village Inc. receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents who praise the qualified and compassionate staff, structured High Scope curriculum, and attentive care. Parents report visible developmental progress in their children and appreciate daily communication updates. One parent raised a serious safety concern regarding an unexplained injury to their child.

One parent describes a highly educational and secure environment with caring staff, while another criticizes chaotic operations, unprofessional behavior, and restrictive lunch policies. The few reviews so far mention significant differences in staff conduct and dietary enforcement practices.

One parent describes the center as the best they know, highlighting the director's 24 years of experience and the staff's efforts to maintain a healthy, caring, and safe environment. However, the review includes a strong complaint about other parents who fail to provide necessary supplies like diapers, leading to a situation where teachers are left without resources and one child was allegedly left sitting in soiled clothes for hours without being contacted.

Some parents report positive experiences with warm staff, engaging activities, and detailed communication during backup care. Conversely, other reviewers criticize excessive administrative requirements, strict policies for children with complications, and allegations of harsh physical handling by caregivers.

Bright Star Learning Center receives mixed reviews. Positive feedback highlights bilingual education, cleanliness, organization, affordability, and friendly staff. However, serious concerns have been raised regarding alleged racist behavior by an employee, poor complaint handling, and unprofessional customer service.

New Jersey Kids II Day Care Center receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the caring staff, safe environment, and developmental progress of their children. However, two detailed negative reviews raise serious concerns about feeding practices, staff negligence, hygiene, and treatment of children.

Parents highlight the center's free Pre-K 3 program, noting professional and affectionate staff who provide organized learning and clear communication. However, one account details a significant failure in communication where the facility closed unexpectedly after confirming enrollment, leaving families scrambling for alternatives.

Recent feedback highlights severe safety concerns, including an incident with an open back door and unsupervised infants, alongside allegations of staff mistreatment and neglect. Additional comments question the current ownership and administrative transparency of the center.

One parent reports their child contracted COVID-19 while in care, alleging the facility failed to enforce proper health and safety protocols. The reviewer demands immediate answers regarding prior safety measures and states they may seek legal counsel if not satisfied with the response.