Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Madison, NJ

Compare 8 child daycare & preschools in Madison. Average rating: 4.71/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Madison, New Jersey at a glance

Programs
8
Avg rating
4.71/5
Parent reviews
60
Top rated (4.5+)
6

Madison has 8 licensed child daycare & preschools with 60 parent reviews averaging 4.71/5.6 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 86% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 07940 zip code, averaging 4.71 stars across 10 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Madison

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
    Madison Montessori School
    4.58 score
    5(7)

    19 Green Ave, Madison, NJ · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 46 children

    Madison Montessori School is praised as a nurturing, warm environment with exceptional teachers who are deeply committed to the school and their students. Parents consistently highlight the school's effective implementation of the Montessori method, individualized attention to each child's needs, and strong family communication. The school is credited with fostering a lifelong love of learning and creating a caring community atmosphere.

    Dedicated and experienced staff with long tenureexceptional teachers who personalize instructionwarm and nurturing environmentgenuine Montessori philosophy implementation
  2. 2
    Madison Cooperative Nursery School
    4.46 score
    4.6(17)

    4 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children

    Parents consistently praise Madison Cooperative Nursery School for its play-based learning approach, warm and nurturing environment, and strong sense of community. The cooperative model emphasizing parent involvement is highly valued, and teachers are described as caring and dedicated. All reviewers rate the school 5/5 stars and report their children adjusted well and thrived there.

    play-based learningoutdoor timesmall class sizescaring and dedicated teachers
  3. 3
    The Child Development Center At Giralda Farms
    4.37 score
    4.6(8)

    Five Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 160 children

    Parents overwhelmingly praise The Child Development Center at Giralda Farms for its clean, secure facility, caring and professional staff, and strong programs for children with autism. One parent reported poor service involving a nanny cancellation and inadequate communication about replacement hiring.

    Clean and well-organized facilitysecure environment with controlled accessfriendly and professional staffattentive to children with autism
  4. 4
    Drew University Acorn Academy
    4.24 score
    4.3(20)

    24 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 115 children

    The reviews provided do not appear to be from parents of daycare attendees at Drew University Acorn Academy. Instead, they are reviews of Drew University itself from alumni, visitors, and business partners praising the campus and institution. No substantive feedback about the actual daycare center, childcare services, or staff performance is available.

    Beautiful campusserene wooded environmentaccommodating staffexcellent educational offerings

Rating Distribution

Based on 7 daycares with Google ratings in Madison

4.5 - 5.0
6
4.0 - 4.4
1
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.6avg rating
8 daycares · 5 rated

Before or After School Daycare

5avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Madison zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
0794010
4.71
6

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Madison (32–335 children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

7

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

2

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Madison based on parent reviews

Madison Cooperative Nursery School

4.6(17)

4 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ

Parents consistently praise Madison Cooperative Nursery School for its play-based learning approach, warm and nurturing environment, and strong sense of community. The cooperative model emphasizing parent involvement is highly valued, and teachers are described as caring and dedicated. All reviewers rate the school 5/5 stars and report their children adjusted well and thrived there.

play-based learningoutdoor timesmall class sizes

The Child Development Center At Giralda Farms

4.6(8)

Five Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ

Parents overwhelmingly praise The Child Development Center at Giralda Farms for its clean, secure facility, caring and professional staff, and strong programs for children with autism. One parent reported poor service involving a nanny cancellation and inadequate communication about replacement hiring.

Clean and well-organized facilitysecure environment with controlled accessfriendly and professional staff

Drew University Acorn Academy

4.3(20)

24 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ

The reviews provided do not appear to be from parents of daycare attendees at Drew University Acorn Academy. Instead, they are reviews of Drew University itself from alumni, visitors, and business partners praising the campus and institution. No substantive feedback about the actual daycare center, childcare services, or staff performance is available.

Beautiful campusserene wooded environmentaccommodating staff

The F M Kirby Children'S Center

4.5(3)

54 E Street, Madison, NJ

Parents highlight the experienced and friendly staff, noting that children enjoy attending and dietary needs are well-supported. The center's affiliation with the Madison Area YMCA is also viewed as a positive attribute.

experienced stafffriendly teachershappy children

Madison Community House Nursery School

5(1)

25 Cook Ave, Madison, NJ

One parent highlights the program's Summer Music Showcase 2025 as a standout feature, describing it as the best of its kind. This single positive note reflects a highly rated experience for this specific event.

Summer Music Showcase 2025 described as the best

Map

Daycare types in Madison

Child Daycare & Preschools 8Before or After School Daycare 2

Child Daycare & Preschools in Madison, New Jersey

There are 8 child daycare & preschools in Madison, New Jersey, making up 80% of the 10 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 Madison have an average rating of 4.71 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities, with 86% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 60 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Madison, 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 Madison

Showing 8 results

Madison Community House Nursery School
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

One parent highlights the program's Summer Music Showcase 2025 as a standout feature, describing it as the best of its kind. This single positive note reflects a highly rated experience for this specific event.

Summer Music Showcase 2025 described as the best
Address
25 Cook Ave, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 377-0244
Madison Cooperative Nursery School
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6

Parents consistently praise Madison Cooperative Nursery School for its play-based learning approach, warm and nurturing environment, and strong sense of community. The cooperative model emphasizing parent involvement is highly valued, and teachers are described as caring and dedicated. All reviewers rate the school 5/5 stars and report their children adjusted well and thrived there.

play-based learningoutdoor timesmall class sizes
Address
4 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 377-2501
The Child Development Center At Giralda Farms
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.6

Parents overwhelmingly praise The Child Development Center at Giralda Farms for its clean, secure facility, caring and professional staff, and strong programs for children with autism. One parent reported poor service involving a nanny cancellation and inadequate communication about replacement hiring.

Clean and well-organized facilitysecure environment with controlled accessfriendly and professional staff
Address
Five Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 301-0812
The F M Kirby Children'S Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.5

Parents highlight the experienced and friendly staff, noting that children enjoy attending and dietary needs are well-supported. The center's affiliation with the Madison Area YMCA is also viewed as a positive attribute.

experienced stafffriendly teachershappy children
Address
54 E Street, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 377-4945
Drew University Acorn Academy
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.3

The reviews provided do not appear to be from parents of daycare attendees at Drew University Acorn Academy. Instead, they are reviews of Drew University itself from alumni, visitors, and business partners praising the campus and institution. No substantive feedback about the actual daycare center, childcare services, or staff performance is available.

Beautiful campusserene wooded environmentaccommodating staff
Address
24 Madison Ave, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 520-8889
Madison Extended Day Care Program-Torey J. Sabtini School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
Glenwild Circle Glenwild Rd, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 593-3182
Madison Extended Day Care Program-King'S Road School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
King Rd, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 593-3178
Madison Extended Day Care Program-Central Ave. School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
Central Ave, Madison, NJ
Phone
(973) 722-4331

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Frequently asked questions

There are 8 child daycare & preschools daycares in Madison, New Jersey, out of 10 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 Madison have an average Google rating of 4.71 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities. About 86% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Madison, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • 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
Madison offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 8 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 New Jersey 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 Madison for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Madison must be licensed by New Jersey'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.