Children at daycare

Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Portales, NM

Compare 9 child daycare & preschools in Portales. Average rating: 4.37/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Portales, New Mexico at a glance

Programs
9
Avg rating
4.37/5
Parent reviews
36
Top rated (4.5+)
5

Portales has 9 licensed child daycare & preschools with 36 parent reviews averaging 4.37/5.5 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 56% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 88130 with 11 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Portales

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
    Eastern N.M. University
    3.76 score
    3.7(20)

    1500 S Ave K Station 25, Portales, NM · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children

    This is not a daycare center but a university. Reviews praise the institution as an affordable regional university with knowledgeable faculty, particularly in STEM, education, science, and anthropology programs. However, some reviewers noted issues with advising services and financial aid departments.

    Affordable tuitionknowledgeable and qualified facultystrong STEM programsisolated campus reduces distractions

Rating Distribution

Based on 9 daycares with Google ratings in Portales

4.5 - 5.0
5
4.0 - 4.4
0
3.0 - 3.9
4
Below 3
0

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 36 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Friendly staff
4

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.26avg rating
9 daycares · 7 rated

Headstart Programs

4.75avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Portales zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
8813011
4.37
5

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Portales (25–58 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

6

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Portales based on parent reviews

Little Buckaroos Daycare And Preschool LLC

5(4)

829 E. 2nd Street, Portales, NM

Parents highlight the facility's cleanliness and the staff's friendliness, with one noting significant support for foster families facing complex challenges. A few reviewers express strong satisfaction, describing the center as the best option in the region and noting that their children enjoy attending.

clean facilityfriendly staffhighly respected owners and teachers

Neicys

5(3)

404 E 7th, Portales, NM

Parents highlight the exceptional care provided by staff members Ms. Niecey and Mrs. Janet, noting that children feel treated like family. Reviewers report high satisfaction, with kids enjoying their time at the center and strong recommendations for enrollment.

staff treat children like familykids love the daycaregood with kids

Portales High School Childcare Cen

5

201 S. Knoxville, Portales, NM

Wild 'Bout Kids Child Care Center

3.7(3)

1900 S Avenue I, Portales, NM

One parent highlights the convenience of after-school pickup and reports that their children enjoy the center, while another parent describes a serious safety incident involving facial injuries and dismissive staff behavior on a child's first day.

after-school pickup conveniencechildren enjoy the centerfriendly staff

Wild Bout Kids Too

3.7(3)

522 S. Avenue C, Portales, NM

One parent highlights the convenience of after-school pickup and staff friendliness, while another reports a serious safety concern involving facial injuries and unprofessional staff response on a child's first day.

After-school pickup serviceconvenient for working parentsfriendly staff

Wild 'Bout Kids Child Care Center

3.7(3)

522 S. Avenue C, Portales, NM

One parent highlights the convenience of school pickup and friendly staff, while another reports a serious incident involving facial injuries and dismissive staff behavior.

school pickup servicefriendly staffconvenient for working parents

Map

Daycare types in Portales

Child Daycare & Preschools 9Headstart Programs 2

Child Daycare & Preschools in Portales, New Mexico

There are 9 child daycare & preschools in Portales, New Mexico, making up 82% of the 11 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 Portales have an average rating of 4.37 out of 5 across 9 rated facilities, with 56% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Headstart Programs facilities lead with an average of 4.75 stars. Our analysis covers 36 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Portales, 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 Portales

Showing 9 results

Neicys
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

Parents highlight the exceptional care provided by staff members Ms. Niecey and Mrs. Janet, noting that children feel treated like family. Reviewers report high satisfaction, with kids enjoying their time at the center and strong recommendations for enrollment.

staff treat children like familykids love the daycaregood with kids
Address
404 E 7th, Portales, NM
Phone
NOT AVAILABLE
Portales High School Childcare Cen
Child Daycare & Preschools
5
Address
201 S. Knoxville, Portales, NM
Phone
NOT AVAILABLE
Little Buckaroos Daycare And Preschool LLC
Child Daycare & Preschools
5

Parents highlight the facility's cleanliness and the staff's friendliness, with one noting significant support for foster families facing complex challenges. A few reviewers express strong satisfaction, describing the center as the best option in the region and noting that their children enjoy attending.

clean facilityfriendly staffhighly respected owners and teachers
Address
829 E. 2nd Street, Portales, NM
Phone
(575) 226-3730
Eastern N.M. University
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

This is not a daycare center but a university. Reviews praise the institution as an affordable regional university with knowledgeable faculty, particularly in STEM, education, science, and anthropology programs. However, some reviewers noted issues with advising services and financial aid departments.

Affordable tuitionknowledgeable and qualified facultystrong STEM programs
Address
1500 S Ave K Station 25, Portales, NM
Phone
NOT AVAILABLE
Wild 'Bout Kids Child Care Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

One parent highlights the convenience of after-school pickup and reports that their children enjoy the center, while another parent describes a serious safety incident involving facial injuries and dismissive staff behavior on a child's first day.

after-school pickup conveniencechildren enjoy the centerfriendly staff
Address
1900 S Avenue I, Portales, NM
Phone
(575) 359-1922
Wild Bout Kids Too
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

One parent highlights the convenience of after-school pickup and staff friendliness, while another reports a serious safety concern involving facial injuries and unprofessional staff response on a child's first day.

After-school pickup serviceconvenient for working parentsfriendly staff
Address
522 S. Avenue C, Portales, NM
Phone
(575) 226-7788
Wild 'Bout Kids Child Care Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
3.7

One parent highlights the convenience of school pickup and friendly staff, while another reports a serious incident involving facial injuries and dismissive staff behavior.

school pickup servicefriendly staffconvenient for working parents
Address
522 S. Avenue C, Portales, NM
Phone
(575) 226-7788
Kings Kid'S Child Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
1500 North Abilene Place, Portales, NM
Phone
NOT AVAILABLE
Nmprek-P Brown Early Childhood Center
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
520 West 5th, Portales, NM
Phone
(575) 356-7075

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Frequently asked questions

There are 9 child daycare & preschools daycares in Portales, New Mexico, out of 11 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 Portales have an average Google rating of 4.37 out of 5 across 9 rated facilities. About 56% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Portales, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with New Mexico's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in New Mexico)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Portales offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 9 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 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 Mexico 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 Portales for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Portales must be licensed by New Mexico'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.