
Compare 101 child daycare & preschools in Dayton. Average rating: 4.02/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Dayton has 101 licensed child daycare & preschools with 665 parent reviews averaging 4.02/5.36 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 46% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 45419 (avg 5 stars), while 45405 has the largest selection (13 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
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.
7001 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
A Great Start Preschool receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the school's educational quality, safe environment, and strong staff leadership under director Christina Miller. Parents consistently report significant developmental progress in their children, who enjoy attending and form lasting friendships. The school is noted for its engaging activities and welcoming atmosphere.
4501 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Early Learning Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight the staff's genuine care, patience, and dedication to individual child development, along with the center's commitment to education and community engagement. Multiple parents credit the daycare with supporting their children's long-term success and pers
1823 N Main St, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Evening Family receives consistently perfect ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with the center going above and beyond to meet individual needs including special needs accommodation. The facility is also recognized for community involvement through mentoring programs and educational scholarships.
4821 Salem Ave., Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented center with dedicated staff who provide personalized attention and genuine care. Parents highlight the center's educational focus, strong community involvement, and willingness to accommodate individual child needs, including special needs support. Multiple reviewers credit the center with significant developmental progress in their children and express long-term loyalty.
821 Whitmore Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 33 children
Playtime Nursery School receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the welcoming environment, caring staff leadership under owner Ms. Terri, and strong educational curriculum that prepares children for grade school. Parents consistently report their children are excited to attend, feel safe, and thrive developmentally in a clean, family-oriented setting.
525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 88 children
Parents praise the Center for Jewish Culture & Education as an outstanding daycare with consistently excellent staff who are described as family-like and welcoming. The facility is well-organized, clean, and offers quality childcare alongside special events, community programs, and kosher food. All reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the positive experience for both children and families.
128 W. First St, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
For Love of Children (FLOC) is a highly-regarded nonprofit organization in the Dayton area that provides comprehensive support to struggling children and youth through tutoring, mentorship, and assistance programs. Parents consistently praise the dedicated volunteer staff for their genuine care, transformative impact on children's academic performance and well-being, and generous support including clothing, food, and educational resources. The organization serves foster children, homeless youth, and families in need across Montgomery and Greene Counties.
51 Best Street, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 74 children
On Purpose Academy receives consistently excellent feedback from parents, with particular praise for Director Ms. Kim's personal attention and hands-on leadership. Parents highlight the qualified teaching staff, individualized education focused on kindergarten preparation, and strong partnerships with families for child development across academic, social, and emotional domains.
3401 W. Siebenthaler Ave, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 21 children
Unable to provide daycare summary. The reviews provided are for a church (The Word Youth Center functioning as a place of worship), not a daycare center. No reviews about childcare services, staff qualifications, activities, safety, or educational programs were found.
1930 N Main Street, Dayton, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 100 children
STEPS CREATIVE CENTER receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the professional and caring staff, clean and safe facility, and engaging educational activities. Parents highlight the family atmosphere, nutritious meals, field trips, and annual pageant as standout features, with children expressing enthusiasm about attending.
Based on 78 daycares with Google ratings in Dayton
Top qualities mentioned across 665 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Dayton, based on parent reviews
Dayton zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45419 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |
| 45459 | 5 | 4.76 | 3 | |
| 45429 | 5 | 4.6 | 1 | |
| 45402 | 11 | 4.56 | 3 | |
| 45416 | 6 | 4.17 | 2 | |
| 45431 | 5 | 4.05 | 0 | |
| 45417 | 10 | 4.05 | 4 | |
| 45410 | 7 | 4.03 | 1 | |
| 45414 | 10 | 3.86 | 3 | |
| 45405 | 13 | 3.76 | 5 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Dayton (21–225 children)
Small
up to 30 children
2
Medium
31–75 children
23
Large
76–150 children
20
Very Large
150+ children
4
Highest rated daycares in Dayton based on parent reviews
7001 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH
A Great Start Preschool receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the school's educational quality, safe environment, and strong staff leadership under director Christina Miller. Parents consistently report significant developmental progress in their children, who enjoy attending and form lasting friendships. The school is noted for its engaging activities and welcoming atmosphere.
4501 Riverside Drive, Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Early Learning Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight the staff's genuine care, patience, and dedication to individual child development, along with the center's commitment to education and community engagement. Multiple parents credit the daycare with supporting their children's long-term success and pers
1823 N Main St, Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Evening Family receives consistently perfect ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with the center going above and beyond to meet individual needs including special needs accommodation. The facility is also recognized for community involvement through mentoring programs and educational scholarships.
4821 Salem Ave., Dayton, OH
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented center with dedicated staff who provide personalized attention and genuine care. Parents highlight the center's educational focus, strong community involvement, and willingness to accommodate individual child needs, including special needs support. Multiple reviewers credit the center with significant developmental progress in their children and express long-term loyalty.
821 Whitmore Ave, Dayton, OH
Playtime Nursery School receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the welcoming environment, caring staff leadership under owner Ms. Terri, and strong educational curriculum that prepares children for grade school. Parents consistently report their children are excited to attend, feel safe, and thrive developmentally in a clean, family-oriented setting.
525 Versailles Drive, Dayton, OH
Parents praise the Center for Jewish Culture & Education as an outstanding daycare with consistently excellent staff who are described as family-like and welcoming. The facility is well-organized, clean, and offers quality childcare alongside special events, community programs, and kosher food. All reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the positive experience for both children and families.
Dayton, Ohio, offers a robust selection of 101 childcare and preschool facilities, providing parents with diverse options to suit their specific needs. The directory highlights a strong concentration of highly-rated centers in the 45419 zip code, where facilities consistently earn perfect scores. Parents frequently highlight the importance of clean environments and professional, caring staff when evaluating these programs.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Dayton have an average rating of 4.02 out of 5 across 78 rated facilities, with 46% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.42 stars. Our analysis covers 665 parent reviews. Parents in Dayton most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, none mentioned, and caring and professional staff.
When choosing a daycare in Dayton, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 101 results
A Great Start Preschool receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the school's educational quality, safe environment, and strong staff leadership under director Christina Miller. Parents consistently report significant developmental progress in their children, who enjoy attending and form lasting friendships. The school is noted for its engaging activities and welcoming atmosphere.
Parents describe the center as a friendly, clean, and family-oriented environment where children appear happy with their experience. One reviewer notes they have been using the service for years without complaints, while another simply labels it excellent.
One parent describes Grace Learning Academy of Oakwood as a highly recommended daycare where their children enjoy the learning environment. Another reviewer offers a brief positive assessment, simply characterizing the facility as a good daycare.
Reviewers highlight that Learning Express Plus is a family-owned center offering a safe and secure environment for children. Parents appreciate the staff for being wonderful, caring, and loving, fostering an interactive atmosphere.
One parent highlights the school's beautiful location inside a church and praises the staff for their genuine care, while another parent expresses strong satisfaction with the program for their children. The few reviews so far mention a welcoming environment and dedicated leadership, though no specific drawbacks are noted.
Parents praise the Center for Jewish Culture & Education as an outstanding daycare with consistently excellent staff who are described as family-like and welcoming. The facility is well-organized, clean, and offers quality childcare alongside special events, community programs, and kosher food. All reviews are 5-star ratings highlighting the positive experience for both children and families.
One parent describes the school as a dream for part-time community education, highlighting the teachers as caring, organized, and professional. The experience at Belmont United Methodist Preschool appears highly positive for families seeking a part-time program.
One parent reports that their grandson enjoys attending Creative Corner Child Care, noting the staff's kindness and the facility being the best they have used. Other feedback simply describes the daycare as great with wonderful employees.
STEPS CREATIVE CENTER receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the professional and caring staff, clean and safe facility, and engaging educational activities. Parents highlight the family atmosphere, nutritious meals, field trips, and annual pageant as standout features, with children expressing enthusiasm about attending.
Little Hearts School House Early Learning Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Parents highlight the staff's genuine care, patience, and dedication to individual child development, along with the center's commitment to education and community engagement. Multiple parents credit the daycare with supporting their children's long-term success and pers
Little Hearts School House Evening Family receives consistently perfect ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and dedicated staff. Parents report their children thrive academically and emotionally, with the center going above and beyond to meet individual needs including special needs accommodation. The facility is also recognized for community involvement through mentoring programs and educational scholarships.
Little Hearts School House Infant Toddler Academy receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a nurturing, family-oriented center with dedicated staff who provide personalized attention and genuine care. Parents highlight the center's educational focus, strong community involvement, and willingness to accommodate individual child needs, including special needs support. Multiple reviewers credit the center with significant developmental progress in their children and express long-term loyalty.
Unable to provide daycare summary. The reviews provided are for a church (The Word Youth Center functioning as a place of worship), not a daycare center. No reviews about childcare services, staff qualifications, activities, safety, or educational programs were found.
Playtime Nursery School receives universal 5-star praise from parents who highlight the welcoming environment, caring staff leadership under owner Ms. Terri, and strong educational curriculum that prepares children for grade school. Parents consistently report their children are excited to attend, feel safe, and thrive developmentally in a clean, family-oriented setting.
For Love of Children (FLOC) is a highly-regarded nonprofit organization in the Dayton area that provides comprehensive support to struggling children and youth through tutoring, mentorship, and assistance programs. Parents consistently praise the dedicated volunteer staff for their genuine care, transformative impact on children's academic performance and well-being, and generous support including clothing, food, and educational resources. The organization serves foster children, homeless youth, and families in need across Montgomery and Greene Counties.
Small World Early Childhood Development Center in Dayton receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, with praise for caring staff, owner engagement, safety measures, and educational activities. However, one parent reported serious concerns including alleged mistreatment by teachers, dismissive management response, and requests for classroom cameras for oversight.
One parent reports a positive experience with a loving environment, engaged teachers, and well-supplied classrooms for their preschooler. Another parent describes a highly negative registration encounter involving rude staff behavior, excessive wait times, and unprofessional handling of paperwork and identification documents.
Parents consistently praise MY EARLY LEARNING CENTER for its caring, professional environment and strong teacher-student relationships. The staff is described as kind, flexible, and dedicated to child safety and school readiness. One parent noted overall satisfaction but cited concerns about hygiene maintenance, inter-shift communication, and lost items.
On Purpose Academy receives consistently excellent feedback from parents, with particular praise for Director Ms. Kim's personal attention and hands-on leadership. Parents highlight the qualified teaching staff, individualized education focused on kindergarten preparation, and strong partnerships with families for child development across academic, social, and emotional domains.
One parent describes the center as excellent for their four-year-old, noting that staff members are fantastic and the child enjoys attending despite the high cost. A second review offers only a stylized exclamation of praise without further detail.
Hearts and Hands Childcare Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the caring staff, loving environment, and children's development. One parent reported a negative experience involving their child's removal after a brief enrollment due to behavior concerns. Overall, the facility is highly recommended by satisfied families.
One parent describes the school as the best elementary option in Dayton, citing positive impacts on their child and appreciation for the staff. A separate review expresses deep concern regarding safety, bullying, and resource quality, arguing that the education system fails to prepare students for success.
Creative Corner Child Care receives mostly positive feedback, with parents praising the patient and respectful staff and clean facilities. However, one parent reported serious concerns including lost items, a head bump incident, and a scratch, ultimately withdrawing their child due to safety concerns.
Rainbow Years Child Care in Dayton receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the caring, stable staff and strong sense of community. Parents highlight the quality education, safety, nutrition, and various program options including before/after school care and summer programs. Multiple reviewers compare the experience to having a second family and note low staff turnover as a positive indicator.
Page 1 of 4· 101 results