Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Carlisle, PA
Compare 18 child daycare & preschools in Carlisle. Average rating: 3.54/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Carlisle, Pennsylvania at a glance
- Programs
- 18
- Avg rating
- 3.54/5
- Parent reviews
- 93
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 1
Carlisle has 18 licensed child daycare & preschools with 93 parent reviews averaging 3.54/5.The largest concentration is in 17013 with 13 programs.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Carlisle
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.
- 1Ymca Child Development Center4.32 score4.4(20)
311 S West St, Carlisle, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 76 children
Parents praise the YMCA Child Development Center for its friendly, welcoming staff, clean facilities, and diverse amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, and sports programs. The facility offers good value with family discounts and 24-hour access to equipment. Parents consistently highlight positive experiences with swim instructors and staff across multiple departments.
Friendly and welcoming staffclean facilitiesmodern renovationsswimming pool an - 2Dickinson College School-Age Program4.32 score4.4(20)
1250 Ritner Hwy, Ste 1, Carlisle, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 68 children
Reviews are mixed in relevance to the daycare program itself. One parent praised the school-age program's fantastic staff and age-appropriate curriculum. However, most reviews appear to be about Dickinson College rather than the daycare center, discussing campus facilities, academics, and student life.
Fantastic staffperfect curriculum for different age groupsbeautiful campusprofessional admissions office - 3Little Lambs Day Care Center4.16 score4.2(18)
2135 Ritner Hwy, Carlisle, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Lambs Day Care Center receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning, and receive regular updates through photos and messages. The center is commended for making both children and parents feel valued and supported.
Caring and loving staffregular communication with parents via app and messagesstructured lesson plans and learning activitiesclean and safe environment - 4Carlisle Early Education Center3.85 score3.7(5)
100 E Pomfret St, Carlisle, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 175 children
Carlisle Early Education Center receives mixed reviews. Parents praise the staff's professionalism, responsiveness, and quality care for children, noting affordable pricing. However, some parents report significant issues with communication and disorganization regarding waitlist management and follow-up procedures.
affordable pricinggreat work with childrenquick staff responseprofessional staff - 5Christian Youth Ministries3.65 score3.3(5)
450 E North St, Carlisle, PA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Christian Youth Ministries receives mixed reviews with significant variation in parent experiences. Positive reviewers praise the sweet director, attentive communication, pleasant staff, and amenities like a bounce house. Negative reviewers report unprofessional behavior, poor communication with teachers, unstructured programming, and facility cleanliness issues.
Attentive directorgood parent communicationpleasant staffaccommodating to parents and children
Rating Distribution
Based on 8 daycares with Google ratings in Carlisle
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Carlisle zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17013 | 13 | 4.16 | 1 | |
| 17015 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Carlisle (68–175 children)
Small
up to 30 children
0
Medium
31–75 children
1
Large
76–150 children
5
Very Large
150+ children
2
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Carlisle based on parent reviews
Ymca Child Development Center
311 S West St, Carlisle, PA
Parents praise the YMCA Child Development Center for its friendly, welcoming staff, clean facilities, and diverse amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, and sports programs. The facility offers good value with family discounts and 24-hour access to equipment. Parents consistently highlight positive experiences with swim instructors and staff across multiple departments.
Dickinson College School-Age Program
1250 Ritner Hwy, Ste 1, Carlisle, PA
Reviews are mixed in relevance to the daycare program itself. One parent praised the school-age program's fantastic staff and age-appropriate curriculum. However, most reviews appear to be about Dickinson College rather than the daycare center, discussing campus facilities, academics, and student life.
Little Lambs Day Care Center
2135 Ritner Hwy, Carlisle, PA
Little Lambs Day Care Center receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning, and receive regular updates through photos and messages. The center is commended for making both children and parents feel valued and supported.
Little Angels Preschool & Child Care Ctr
64 E North St, Carlisle, PA
Carlisle Early Education Center
100 E Pomfret St, Carlisle, PA
Carlisle Early Education Center receives mixed reviews. Parents praise the staff's professionalism, responsiveness, and quality care for children, noting affordable pricing. However, some parents report significant issues with communication and disorganization regarding waitlist management and follow-up procedures.
Christian Youth Ministries
450 E North St, Carlisle, PA
Christian Youth Ministries receives mixed reviews with significant variation in parent experiences. Positive reviewers praise the sweet director, attentive communication, pleasant staff, and amenities like a bounce house. Negative reviewers report unprofessional behavior, poor communication with teachers, unstructured programming, and facility cleanliness issues.
Map
Child Daycare & Preschools in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
There are 18 child daycare & preschools in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 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 Carlisle have an average rating of 3.54 out of 5 across 8 rated facilities, with 13% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 3.54 stars. Our analysis covers 93 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Carlisle, 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 Carlisle
Showing 18 results
- Address
- 64 E North St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 249-9513
Parents praise the YMCA Child Development Center for its friendly, welcoming staff, clean facilities, and diverse amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, and sports programs. The facility offers good value with family discounts and 24-hour access to equipment. Parents consistently highlight positive experiences with swim instructors and staff across multiple departments.
- Address
- 311 S West St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 243-3253
- Quality
Reviews are mixed in relevance to the daycare program itself. One parent praised the school-age program's fantastic staff and age-appropriate curriculum. However, most reviews appear to be about Dickinson College rather than the daycare center, discussing campus facilities, academics, and student life.
- Address
- 1250 Ritner Hwy, Ste 1, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 241-1302
Little Lambs Day Care Center receives consistently excellent feedback from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and nurturing environment. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning, and receive regular updates through photos and messages. The center is commended for making both children and parents feel valued and supported.
- Address
- 2135 Ritner Hwy, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 249-1810
Carlisle Early Education Center receives mixed reviews. Parents praise the staff's professionalism, responsiveness, and quality care for children, noting affordable pricing. However, some parents report significant issues with communication and disorganization regarding waitlist management and follow-up procedures.
- Address
- 100 E Pomfret St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 243-3153
- Quality
Christian Youth Ministries receives mixed reviews with significant variation in parent experiences. Positive reviewers praise the sweet director, attentive communication, pleasant staff, and amenities like a bounce house. Negative reviewers report unprofessional behavior, poor communication with teachers, unstructured programming, and facility cleanliness issues.
- Address
- 450 E North St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 241-4300
- Quality
One parent describes an exceptional experience with the program, while another reports significant issues regarding the director's lack of communication and failure to provide receipts for deposits. A third reviewer highlights persistent unanswered phone calls, management unavailability, and continued billing after withdrawal.
- Address
- 1412 Holly Pike, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 249-9153
- Quality
One parent describes the facility as horrible and irresponsible, citing a lice infestation and showing an image of harm to a child, while another review notes that operating hours begin at 2pm.
- Address
- 50 Alexander Spring Rd, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 249-9469
- Address
- (700 - 798) Clay St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 240-6790
- Quality
- Address
- 28 Garland Ave, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 245-1090
- Quality
- Address
- 125 Wolf'S Bridge Road, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 243-3300
- Quality
- Address
- 250 N Middlesex Rd, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 243-3668
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Carlisle for its warm, caring staff and strong communication with families. Children show academic and social-emotional growth in a structured, age-appropriate learning environment. Multiple families report feeling confident and reassured about their children's care and development.
- Address
- 14 Brookwood Ave, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 249-9088
- Quality
- Address
- 151 N Dickinson School Rd, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 243-3531
- Quality
- Address
- 110 East South Street, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 240-0679
- Address
- 240 Longs Gap Rd, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 240-0689
- Quality
- Address
- 329 Wilson St, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 240-0678
- Quality
- Address
- 905 Waggoners Gap Rd, Carlisle, PA
- Phone
- (717) 240-0680
- Quality
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Pennsylvania's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Pennsylvania)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule