Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Durham, NC
Compare 104 child daycare & preschools in Durham. Average rating: 4.32/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Durham, North Carolina at a glance
- Programs
- 104
- Avg rating
- 4.32/5
- Parent reviews
- 699
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 37
Durham has 104 licensed child daycare & preschools with 699 parent reviews averaging 4.32/5.37 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 48% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 27712 (avg 4.63 stars), while 27707 has the largest selection (37 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Durham
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.
- 1Wildflower Cottage For Children4.8 score5(20)
1200 W Cornwallis Road, Durham, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Wildflower Cottage receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise its nature-based, play-focused curriculum and strong sense of community. Parents consistently highlight the caring, attentive staff with low turnover, thoughtfully designed facilities, and meaningful parent involvement opportunities. Families report noticeable improvements in their children's social-emotional development and independence after attending.
Nature-based learning environmentimaginative play emphasisoutdoor spaceslow staff turnover - 2Brown'S Early Learning School4.72 score4.9(20)
2724 Atlantic Street, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Brown's Early Learning School in Durham receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the director Ms. Cheryl and her teaching staff for their passion, compassion, and nurturing approach to early childhood education. Families report significant developmental growth in their children and describe the school as creating a warm, family-like environment.
Passionate and caring teachersstrong communication with parentsnurturing family environmentcomprehensive curriculum including phonics and social skills - 3Early Start Academy4.56 score4.8(12)
702 Trent Drive, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Early Start Academy receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the warm, caring staff and safe, nurturing environment. Parents highlight the quality of teachers, engaging activities, and exceptional outdoor facilities. The center is noted as conveniently located and affordable.
Warm and caring staffsafe environmentengaging art projects and activitiesexcellent outdoor play space - 4Community Preschool At Lakewood4.51 score4.7(13)
1912 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Community Preschool at Lakewood receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and warm environment. Parents consistently highlight strong emotional bonds between teachers and children, excellent facility cleanliness, and effective developmental support. Multiple families express deep gratitude for the center's impact on their children's growth and wellbeing.
Caring and nurturing staffwarm environmentpersonal attention to each childstrong teacher-child relationships - 5Alice In Wonderland Childcare Center4.5 score5(5)
2100 South Miami Blvd, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Alice in Wonderland Childcare Center in Durham receives consistently positive feedback from parents. All reviews rate the facility 5/5 stars, with parents praising the passionate staff, nurturing environment, and strong developmental outcomes for children. Multiple parents describe it as a reliable, loving home away from home.
Passionate and friendly staffchild development and learning outcomessafe and nurturing environmentcurriculum quality - 6Beautiful Beginnings Child Care INC.4.5 score5(5)
1222 N Alston Ave, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Inc. in Durham, NC has no parent reviews about its daycare services on Google. All five recent reviews are from customers who used the facility as an event venue for parties, weddings, and celebrations.
Spacious and beautiful facilityattentive and kind ownersexcellent communication and response timefull kitchen available - 7White Rock Child Development Center4.46 score4.6(17)
3400 Fayeteville Street, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
The reviews provided are not for a daycare center but for White Rock Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina. No actual daycare parent reviews are available to summarize.
None - reviews are for a churchnot a daycare facility - 8Triangle Day Care Center4.42 score4.6(12)
1301 Riddle Rd, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Triangle Day Care Center in Durham, NC receives consistently high praise from parents. All 10 reviews rate the center 5 out of 5 stars, with parents highlighting the professionalism and care of the staff, strong communication with families, clean facilities, and quality curriculum that supports both social and academic development.
Professional and caring staffexcellent parent communicationclean and well-organized facilitystrong curriculum - 9Sprouting Scholars Preschool4.41 score4.7(7)
3816 Sw Durham Dr, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Sprouting Scholars receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its caring staff, small class sizes, educational curriculum, and excellent daily communication with parents. One parent reported significant concerns about management, inconsistent billing practices, facility maintenance issues, and scheduling changes without notice.
Warm and caring staffstrong teacher-child relationshipsdaily photo and video updatessmall class sizes - 10Watts Sac Club4.41 score4.7(7)
700 Watts Street, Durham, NC · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Watts SAC Club is described as a welcoming and inclusive community with loving staff. Parents appreciate its progressive values, emphasis on social justice, and strong sense of community connection. The facility is noted for its historic setting and caring approach to both children and neighbors.
loving staffwelcoming and affirming environmentprogressive and inclusive valuesstrong community focus
Rating Distribution
Based on 77 daycares with Google ratings in Durham
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 699 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Durham, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Durham zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27712 | 6 | 4.63 | 2 | |
| 27703 | 24 | 4.48 | 5 | |
| 27701 | 18 | 4.48 | 6 | |
| 27705 | 17 | 4.42 | 6 | |
| 27707 | 37 | 4.34 | 10 | |
| 27713 | 26 | 4.18 | 4 | |
| 27704 | 23 | 3.97 | 4 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Durham (– children)
Small
up to 30 children
0
Medium
31–75 children
0
Large
76–150 children
0
Very Large
150+ children
0
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Durham based on parent reviews
Brown'S Early Learning School
2724 Atlantic Street, Durham, NC
Brown's Early Learning School in Durham receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the director Ms. Cheryl and her teaching staff for their passion, compassion, and nurturing approach to early childhood education. Families report significant developmental growth in their children and describe the school as creating a warm, family-like environment.
Early Start Academy
702 Trent Drive, Durham, NC
Early Start Academy receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the warm, caring staff and safe, nurturing environment. Parents highlight the quality of teachers, engaging activities, and exceptional outdoor facilities. The center is noted as conveniently located and affordable.
Community Preschool At Lakewood
1912 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC
Community Preschool at Lakewood receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and warm environment. Parents consistently highlight strong emotional bonds between teachers and children, excellent facility cleanliness, and effective developmental support. Multiple families express deep gratitude for the center's impact on their children's growth and wellbeing.
Alice In Wonderland Childcare Center
2100 South Miami Blvd, Durham, NC
Alice in Wonderland Childcare Center in Durham receives consistently positive feedback from parents. All reviews rate the facility 5/5 stars, with parents praising the passionate staff, nurturing environment, and strong developmental outcomes for children. Multiple parents describe it as a reliable, loving home away from home.
Beautiful Beginnings Child Care INC.
1222 N Alston Ave, Durham, NC
Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Inc. in Durham, NC has no parent reviews about its daycare services on Google. All five recent reviews are from customers who used the facility as an event venue for parties, weddings, and celebrations.
White Rock Child Development Center
3400 Fayeteville Street, Durham, NC
The reviews provided are not for a daycare center but for White Rock Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina. No actual daycare parent reviews are available to summarize.
Map
Daycare types in Durham
Browse by type in Durham
Child Daycare & Preschools in Durham, North Carolina
Durham offers a robust selection of 104 childcare facilities, providing parents with diverse options for their children's early education. The community places a high value on transparent communication, safety, and attentive staff, as reflected in the collective parent feedback. Families exploring the area will find a strong concentration of highly rated centers, particularly within the 27712 zip code, ensuring accessible and quality care across the region.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Durham have an average rating of 4.32 out of 5 across 77 rated facilities, with 48% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.66 stars. Our analysis covers 699 parent reviews. Parents in Durham most frequently praise daycares for excellent parent communication, safe environment, and welcoming environment.
When choosing a daycare in Durham, 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 Durham
Showing 104 results
La Petite Academy Highgate has received exclusively positive reviews from parents. Parents consistently praise the caring and attentive staff, particularly Ms. Shelley, the new director Ms. Qua, and assistant director Ms. Shawntae, along with smooth transitions and excellent communication throughout the day. The facility is described as clean, safe, and well-organized with reasonable pricing.
- Address
- 5115 Highgate Dr, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 544-0930
Parents consistently praise Childcare Network Rippling Stream for its caring, attentive staff and warm, family-like environment. Multiple reviewers highlight the responsive leadership and open communication from directors, and note their children are excited and happy to attend. All 10 reviews are 5-star ratings with no complaints mentioned.
- Address
- 115 Rippling Stream Rd, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 477-5689
- Address
- 2811 University Drive, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 489-5539
Childcare Network #57 in Durham receives consistently high praise from parents across multiple review platforms. Parents highlight caring and attentive staff, quality curriculum, and affordable pricing compared to competitors. Families report children are excited to attend, with staff providing detailed daily updates and addressing developmental concerns proactively.
- Address
- 921 Ruby Street, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 220-8527
- Address
- 613 William Vickers Avenue, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 908-9870
Parents consistently praise Childcare Network #166 for its warm, home-like environment and caring staff led by director Ms. Yvonne. Reviews highlight strong staff-child relationships, personalized attention, developmental support, and excellent communication with parents. Families report high satisfaction with the center's location, flexibility, and commitment to individual child needs.
- Address
- 117 W Woodcroft Parkway, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 489-8878
Parents highlight the friendly staff and happy, engaged children, though one reviewer reports a negative experience involving poor hygiene practices and unprofessional conduct from the director.
- Address
- 711 Berwyn Ave, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 220-7093
Most parents praise Bright Horizons for warm, caring staff, strong child development, and excellent communication. However, some parents express concerns about corporate policies, fee structures, staffing turnover, and customer service responsiveness.
- Address
- 1012 Slater Road, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 941-6225
- Address
- 1421 Broad Street, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 416-4975
- Address
- 1516 Ridgeway Avenue, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 596-8290
Parents highlight dedicated staff and engaging activities that foster new skills and broad palates, with one family noting their child's reluctance to leave after relocating. However, a single review criticizes the center for promoting political viewpoints deemed inappropriate for children.
- Address
- 511 Alexander Ave, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 684-8644
- Address
- 4823 Meadow Drive, Suite 300, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 316-7890
- Address
- 610 Alston Ave, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 287-5674
The Learning Experience Durham receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents. Parents consistently praise the center's educational curriculum, caring staff, and strong communication. Children show notable developmental progress across all age groups from infants to pre-K.
- Address
- 5020 Nc Hwy 55, Durham, NC
- Phone
- (919) 544-4104
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with North Carolina's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in North Carolina)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 104 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 6 facilities
- Church Daycare — 8 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 33 facilities