98 Child Daycare & Preschools in Columbia, South Carolina
Browse all 98 child daycare & preschools in Columbia, South Carolina. Compare options and find the right childcare for your family.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Columbia
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.
- 1Creative Learning Place4.64 score5(9)
7310 Nursery Road, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Creative Learning Place receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and welcoming family-like environment. Parents highlight strong communication, educational preparation for kindergarten, and their children's enthusiasm for attending. The center is noted for its small class sizes and personalized attention to each child.
Caring and loving staffstrong teacher-parent communicationchild enthusiasm for schooleducational cu - 2Magnanimous Kids Learning Center4.64 score4.8(20)
1215 N. Brickyard Road, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Magnanimous Kids Learning Center receives universal 5-star praise from parents who consistently highlight exceptional educational outcomes and caring staff. Parents report significant academic progress in reading, writing, and math, along with improvements in confidence, social skills, and emotional development. The center is particularly commended for transforming shy or struggling learners into confident, enthusiastic students.
Dedicated and passionate staff (espec - 3Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center4.56 score4.7(20)
3005 Devine Street, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Reviews praise the church's childcare program for exceptional teaching quality and child protection. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere and engaging environment. The facility is also noted for hosting well-received community events like Oktoberfest.
Amazing teachersexcellent learning experienceschild safety and protectionwelcoming community - 4Spring Valley Baptist Church Preschool4.56 score4.7(20)
91 Polo Road, Columbia, SC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Spring Valley Baptist Church Preschool receives uniformly positive feedback from parents, who praise the Christ-centered curriculum, warm and welcoming staff, and strong relationships teachers build with children. Parents consistently highlight the caring environment, spiritual growth opportunities, and safe, secure facilities. The facility is commended for its animal-themed decor and overall quality of early childhood education.
Christ-centered curriculumcaring an - 5Southeast Child Development Center4.55 score5(6)
1540 Elmtree Road, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise Southeast Child Development Center for its compassionate, dedicated staff and quality care. The facility offers home-cooked meals, strong security measures, and Christian values. Teachers are noted for providing foundational education and addressing individual developmental needs like speech support.
Compassionate and caring staffhome-cooked mealssafety and security measures with camerasChristian environment - 6Mcgregor Presbyterian Preschool4.5 score5(5)
6505 St Andrews Road, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
McGregor Presbyterian Preschool receives consistently high praise from parents who emphasize the caring, professional teachers and nurturing Christian environment. Parents highlight the balance of structured learning activities and play-based learning methods that encourage child development, independence, and kindness.
Caring and committed teacherslearning through playChristian environmentdaily crafts and learning activities - 7Center For Learning INC4.5 score5(5)
2729 Covenant Road, Columbia, SC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Center for Learning Inc receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, knowledgeable staff and strong learning environment. Parents highlight the school's resources, extracurricular activities, field trips, and safe family atmosphere. Children are reportedly engaged and reluctant to leave at the end of the day.
caring and knowledgeable staffstrong parent-teacher communicationextensive resources and toolsfield trips to out-of-state locations - 8Kathwood Preschool4.48 score4.7(11)
4900 Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Kathwood is a religious facility in Columbia, South Carolina, that parents describe as a welcoming and inclusive Baptist church community. Reviews emphasize the friendly atmosphere, strong sense of family, quality fellowship programs, and meaningful pastoral leadership. One parent noted their son attended preschool there in the early 1980s.
Welcoming and inclusive environmentfriendly staff and congregationstrong sense of community and familyquality fellowship and food programs - 9St. Michael And All Angels' Episcopal Church Elc4.48 score4.6(20)
6408 Bridgewood Road, Columbia, SC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
St. Michael and All Angels' Episcopal Church ELC in Columbia receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a caring, family-oriented environment with compassionate staff and strong educational programs. Parents highlight the center's responsive leadership, quality curriculum, and daily communication through the Brightwheel app. Multiple families report their children thriving academically and emotionally, with strong attachment to teachers and the school community.
Caring and patient stafffamily-like atmosphereresponsive to behavioral and developmental challengesquality curriculum - 10Union Street Early Head Start4.47 score4.7(10)
1118 Union St., Columbia, SC · Headstart Programs · Capacity: -999 children
Union Street Early Head Start has a 4.7/5 Google rating with 10 reviews. The facility receives overwhelming praise for compassionate staff and comprehensive support services, though some users report inconsistent service quality and communication delays depending on case worker assignment.
Caring and supportive staffcomprehensive assistance with housing and employmentwelcoming environmentprofessional services
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Columbia based on parent reviews
Creative Learning Place
7310 Nursery Road, Columbia, SC
Creative Learning Place receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and welcoming family-like environment. Parents highlight strong communication, educational preparation for kindergarten, and their children's enthusiasm for attending. The center is noted for its small class sizes and personalized attention to each child.
Magnanimous Kids Learning Center
1215 N. Brickyard Road, Columbia, SC
Magnanimous Kids Learning Center receives universal 5-star praise from parents who consistently highlight exceptional educational outcomes and caring staff. Parents report significant academic progress in reading, writing, and math, along with improvements in confidence, social skills, and emotional development. The center is particularly commended for transforming shy or struggling learners into confident, enthusiastic students.
Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center
3005 Devine Street, Columbia, SC
Reviews praise the church's childcare program for exceptional teaching quality and child protection. Parents highlight the welcoming atmosphere and engaging environment. The facility is also noted for hosting well-received community events like Oktoberfest.
Southeast Child Development Center
1540 Elmtree Road, Columbia, SC
Parents consistently praise Southeast Child Development Center for its compassionate, dedicated staff and quality care. The facility offers home-cooked meals, strong security measures, and Christian values. Teachers are noted for providing foundational education and addressing individual developmental needs like speech support.
Mcgregor Presbyterian Preschool
6505 St Andrews Road, Columbia, SC
McGregor Presbyterian Preschool receives consistently high praise from parents who emphasize the caring, professional teachers and nurturing Christian environment. Parents highlight the balance of structured learning activities and play-based learning methods that encourage child development, independence, and kindness.
Center For Learning INC
2729 Covenant Road, Columbia, SC
Center for Learning Inc receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, knowledgeable staff and strong learning environment. Parents highlight the school's resources, extracurricular activities, field trips, and safe family atmosphere. Children are reportedly engaged and reluctant to leave at the end of the day.
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Child Daycare & Preschools in Columbia, South Carolina
There are 98 child daycare & preschools in Columbia, South Carolina, making up 82% of the 120 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.
When choosing a daycare in Columbia, 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 Columbia
Showing 98 results
Hope Academy receives mixed reviews with strong praise from some parents for staff dedication and child development support, but serious concerns raised by others regarding staff turnover, inexperience, basic care standards, and customer service issues.
- Address
- 1301 Summit Parkway, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 699-9934
Parents consistently praise Little Peoples Learning Center as a family-owned facility with caring, attentive staff who treat children with respect and love. Multiple reviewers highlight strong communication, academic and social development, and a welcoming environment. The center was able to accommodate families when other facilities had waitlists, and parents feel confident in their children's safety and care.
- Address
- 4444 Bethel Church Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 738-0405
Parents consistently praise First Nazareth Child Development Center for its family-oriented atmosphere, dedicated long-term staff, and strong child development outcomes. Multiple reviewers report their children are excited to attend, thriving academically, and treated with genuine care and love by staff who go above and beyond their duties.
- Address
- 2351 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 401-8995
- Address
- 5010 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 445-1752
- Address
- 3001 Sigmund Circle, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 201-5304
- Address
- 7303 Fire Lane Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 788-6871
This daycare center receives overwhelmingly negative reviews citing serious safety and care concerns, including neglect, poor hygiene, staff inadequacy, and failure to follow parental instructions. One positive review praised the after-school program and engaged teachers, but this is vastly outweighed by multiple reports of health/safety issues and management problems.
- Address
- 9161 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 736-1501
Northstar Child Development Center has extremely polarized reviews. Two parents praised the Christian curriculum, sign language instruction, clean facility, and staff quality. However, three parents reported serious concerns including child abuse incidents, poor director communication, frequent unannounced closures, lack of staffing, and delayed incident reporting.
- Address
- 711 Longtown Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 788-2604
- Address
- 4642 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 865-0076
Sunshine House in Columbia receives consistently positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring and professional staff, strong leadership, educational activities, and safe environment where children are excited to attend.
- Address
- 2225 Decker Blvd., Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 782-5450
Parents consistently praise Mommy's Time Out for its attentive, caring staff, low teacher-to-student ratios, and excellent communication through daily updates and app access. Children show enthusiasm for attending and demonstrate improvements in learning, speech, and social skills. Leadership, particularly Mrs. Pam, is noted for going above and beyond, including accommodating special needs like autism and supporting breastfeeding parents.
- Address
- 104 Hillpine Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 781-0552
- Address
- 6005 David Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 735-9570
- Address
- 1035 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 252-8285
La Petite Academy receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the warm, professional staff, nurturing environment, and engaging activities. Parents consistently highlight the facility's cleanliness, strong communication, developmental support, and the exceptional care provided by staff members, particularly Ms. Angela. Multiple families report their children thrive and genuinely enjoy attending.
- Address
- 7460 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 776-7097
- Address
- 9554 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 736-6565
Bright Horizons at USC receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents whose children attend, with praise for caring staff, quality curriculum, and noticeable child development. However, some prospective parents report frustration with unclear enrollment policies, as the center primarily serves university students and staff but does not clearly communicate this restriction during initial inquiries.
- Address
- 1530 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 777-9202
Bright Horizons at Columbia Federal receives consistently high ratings from parents who praise the quality of education, teacher dedication, and individualized care. Parents report strong academic preparation and social-emotional development. Most acknowledge the center is expensive and has a selective admissions process, but believe the quality justifies the cost.
- Address
- 1835 Assembly Street, Room 113, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 253-3050
- Address
- 2219 Atascadero Drive, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 782-2748
Creative Beginnings receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, well-trained staff and strong Christian-based curriculum. Parents consistently report their children are happy, thriving developmentally, and eager to attend, with staff providing excellent communication and maintaining a clean, organized facility.
- Address
- 8023 Irmo Dr., Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 227-2072
- Address
- 3000 South Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 231-7749
- Address
- 6000 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 400-2622
- Address
- 721 Polo Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 788-1367
Sunshine House in Columbia receives exclusively positive reviews from parents who praise the caring, family-oriented staff and strong educational focus. Parents consistently highlight specific teachers by name and report that their children are happy, learning, and making friends. The center maintains stable management and fosters an open, welcoming environment for families.
- Address
- 104 Greystone Blvd., Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 772-5516
Parents consistently praise Sunshine House for its nurturing, family-like environment where children thrive academically and emotionally. Staff are described as caring, professional, and communicative, with the facility maintained to high cleanliness standards. All reviewers rated the center 5/5 stars and expressed strong satisfaction and gratitude.
- Address
- 748 Greenlawn Drive, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 783-3929
Chesterbrook Academy Columbia receives consistently positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating the center 5/5 stars. Parents praise the caring, attentive staff, strong academic programming, improved leadership and communication, and the center's ability to support children's developmental growth and special needs like food allergies.
- Address
- 1050 Wildwood Centre Drive, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 699-9988
- Address
- 5827 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 782-1831
- Address
- 7611 Sumter Highway, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 776-5873
Reviews are mixed. Most reviewers praise the preschool program and teachers highly. However, one detailed negative review raises serious concerns about staff conduct, lack of parent communication, absence of security measures, and a child experiencing panic attacks and reporting being hit.
- Address
- 2501 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 771-4540
- Address
- 1342 Omarest Drive, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 731-0656
These reviews do not appear to be from parents evaluating the daycare services. Most reviews reference church activities (AA meetings, congregation, church staff, Greek festival) rather than child development or daycare experiences. The facility may be a church-based center, but no substantive feedback about daycare quality, staff, or child care is provided.
- Address
- 1830 Main Street, Columbia, SC
- Phone
- (803) 779-3142
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with South Carolina's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in South Carolina)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 98 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 4 facilities
- Church Daycare — 8 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 10 facilities