Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Upper Montclair, NJ

Compare 3 child daycare & preschools in Upper Montclair. Average rating: 4.72/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Upper Montclair, New Jersey at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.72/5
Parent reviews
24
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Upper Montclair has 3 licensed child daycare & preschools with 24 parent reviews averaging 4.72/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 07043 zip code, averaging 4.72 stars across 5 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Upper Montclair

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
    Union Congregational Weekday Nursery Sch
    4.5 score
    5(5)

    176 Cooper Ave, Upper Montclair, NJ · Church Daycare · Capacity: 130 children

    Union Congregational Weekday Nursery School is a highly-rated religious facility in Upper Montclair praised for its Reggio-inspired approach to early childhood education. Parents consistently highlight the experienced, caring teachers who foster creativity, exploration, and curiosity while celebrating each child's individual interests and talents. The school also builds strong community connections through family involvement, parent social events, and a supportive network of families.

    Reggio-inspired philosophyexperienced and caring teachersnature-rich and art-focused curriculumstrong emphasis on exploration and discovery
  2. 2
    Saint James Preschool Program
    4.28 score
    4.4(12)

    581 Valley Rd, Upper Montclair, NJ · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 111 children

    Saint James Preschool Program in Upper Montclair receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight the nurturing environment, small class sizes, well-trained teachers, and strong preparation for kindergarten. Children are reported to enjoy school and thrive academically and socially.

    Small class sizes (13-15 students max)dedicated and caring teachersstrong kindergarten preparationnurturing environment

Rating Distribution

Based on 4 daycares with Google ratings in Upper Montclair

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 Upper Montclair, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.63avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
1 daycares

Church Daycare

5avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Upper Montclair zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
070435
4.72
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Upper Montclair (34–130 children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

2

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Upper Montclair based on parent reviews

The Children'S Studio

5(4)

289 Park Street, Upper Montclair, NJ

Parents describe The Children's Studio as a warm, small center with a heavy emphasis on art and individuality, noting that staff are caring and attentive. Reviewers highlight the safe, clean, and convenient environment, while also praising the affordable costs and flexible hours.

small class sizefriendly staffheavy art focus

Saint James Preschool Program

4.4(12)

581 Valley Rd, Upper Montclair, NJ

Saint James Preschool Program in Upper Montclair receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight the nurturing environment, small class sizes, well-trained teachers, and strong preparation for kindergarten. Children are reported to enjoy school and thrive academically and socially.

Small class sizes (13-15 students max)dedicated and caring teachersstrong kindergarten preparation

Pilsbury Nursery School INC.

4.5(3)

433 Park Street, Upper Montclair, NJ

Parents describe the center as a welcoming, home-like environment with caring teachers, noting that staff flexibility for attendance changes is highly appreciated. One reviewer gave a lower rating, though specific complaints were not detailed in the provided text.

loving teachershome-like atmosphereflexible attendance policy

Map

Daycare types in Upper Montclair

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

Child Daycare & Preschools in Upper Montclair, New Jersey

There are 3 child daycare & preschools in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, making up 60% of the 5 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 Upper Montclair have an average rating of 4.72 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 24 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Upper Montclair, 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 Upper Montclair

Showing 3 results

The Children'S Studio
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

Parents describe The Children's Studio as a warm, small center with a heavy emphasis on art and individuality, noting that staff are caring and attentive. Reviewers highlight the safe, clean, and convenient environment, while also praising the affordable costs and flexible hours.

small class sizefriendly staffheavy art focus
Address
289 Park Street, Upper Montclair, NJ
Phone
(973) 746-6455
Pilsbury Nursery School INC.
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.5

Parents describe the center as a welcoming, home-like environment with caring teachers, noting that staff flexibility for attendance changes is highly appreciated. One reviewer gave a lower rating, though specific complaints were not detailed in the provided text.

loving teachershome-like atmosphereflexible attendance policy
Address
433 Park Street, Upper Montclair, NJ
Phone
(973) 746-2135
Saint James Preschool Program
Child Daycare & Preschools
4.4

Saint James Preschool Program in Upper Montclair receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight the nurturing environment, small class sizes, well-trained teachers, and strong preparation for kindergarten. Children are reported to enjoy school and thrive academically and socially.

Small class sizes (13-15 students max)dedicated and caring teachersstrong kindergarten preparation
Address
581 Valley Rd, Upper Montclair, NJ
Phone
(973) 744-0105

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Frequently asked questions

There are 3 child daycare & preschools daycares in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, out of 5 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 Upper Montclair have an average Google rating of 4.72 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities. About 75% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Upper Montclair, 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
Upper Montclair offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 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 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 Upper Montclair for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Upper Montclair 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.