Children at daycare

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.

  1. 1

    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
  2. 2

    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
  3. 3

    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
  4. 4

    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
  5. 5

    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
  6. 6

    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
  7. 7

    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
  8. 8
    Kathwood Preschool
    4.48 score
    4.7(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
  9. 9

    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
  10. 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

5(9)

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.

Caring and loving staffstrong teacher-parent communicationchild enthusiasm for school

Magnanimous Kids Learning Center

4.8(20)

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.

Dedicated and passionate staff (espec

Incarnation Lutheran Child Development Center

4.7(20)

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.

Amazing teachersexcellent learning experienceschild safety and protection

Southeast Child Development Center

5(6)

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.

Compassionate and caring staffhome-cooked mealssafety and security measures with cameras

Mcgregor Presbyterian Preschool

5(5)

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.

Caring and committed teacherslearning through playChristian environment

Center For Learning INC

5(5)

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.

caring and knowledgeable staffstrong parent-teacher communicationextensive resources and tools

Map

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

St. Joseph School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
3700 Devine Street, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 254-6736
St. Martin De Porres Catholic School
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
2225 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 254-5477
Sunshine House
Child Daycare & Preschools

Sunshine House in Columbia receives universally positive feedback from parents. All 10 recent reviews give 5-star ratings, praising the caring staff, clean facilities, curriculum-based learning approach, and family-oriented atmosphere. Parents particularly highlight improvements under new management and note their children's smooth transitions and developmental progress.

Warm and caring staffclean and well-maintained facilitycurriculum-based hands-on learning
Address
1801 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 788-5758
Sunshine House
Child Daycare & Preschools

Sunshine House in Columbia receives consistently high praise from parents for its caring staff, smooth transition support, and welcoming environment. Parents highlight the responsiveness of leadership (Director Sigourney and Assistant Director Kendrick) and teachers who genuinely connect with children. The center is noted for cleanliness, daily photo updates, and effective behavior support including for children with special needs.

Caring and engaged staffsmooth registration processwelcoming environment
Address
3011 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 772-0517
Trenholm Road United Methodist Preschool/After-School Care
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 254-9848
Washington Street Umc Cdc
Child Daycare & Preschools

These reviews are not about the daycare center itself, but rather about Washington Street UMC as a church. Reviewers consistently praise the welcoming community, kindness of members, and spiritual atmosphere. No actual daycare or childcare experiences are described in any of the reviews.

Welcoming and caring communitykind and friendly staff membersquality food
Address
1401 Washington Street, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 254-8405
Leaders Of Tomorrow Cdc
Child Daycare & Preschools
Address
5309 North Main Street, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 851-6705
La Petite Academy
Child Daycare & Preschools

La Petite Academy in Columbia receives consistently excellent feedback from parents. All 10 reviews are 5-star ratings praising the warm, caring staff, strong educational development, and family-oriented environment. Parents report their children are happy, learning well, and feeling secure at the facility.

Caring and friendly staffstrong leadership under Director Graciechild development and academic growth
Address
2041 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC
Phone
(803) 788-7683

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Frequently asked questions

There are 98 child daycare & preschools daycares in Columbia, South Carolina, out of 120 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
When choosing a daycare in Columbia, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • 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
Columbia offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 98 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 4 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 8 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 10 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 South Carolina 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 Columbia for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Columbia must be licensed by South Carolina'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.