
Compare 42 child daycare & preschools in Appleton. Average rating: 4.44/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Appleton has 42 licensed child daycare & preschools with 172 parent reviews averaging 4.44/5.13 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 65% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 54913 (avg 4.7 stars), while 54911 has the largest selection (18 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.
406 N Mayflower Dr, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 75 children
Little Mittens Ltd Child Care Center (now operated by Play & Grow) receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight exceptional staff compassion, strong management, accommodating policies, and genuine care for children. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, and open communication with families.
326 E North St, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 21 children
Parents consistently praise Christian Cooperative Preschool for its warm, welcoming environment and experienced, dedicated teachers. The cooperative model allows parents to volunteer in classrooms and be actively involved in their children's education. Children show strong enthusiasm for attending, with parents noting significant learning and enjoyment.
W5483 County Road Kk, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 95 children
Kidzland 2 receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring and attentive staff, particularly directors Teresa and Mary. Parents highlight the clean facility, structured learning activities, reasonable fees, and excellent security measures. One negative review reported an unprofessional interaction with a staff member regarding a lost key fob.
601 E Glendale Ave, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 99 children
Faith Child Care Inc receives overwhelmingly positive reviews praising the staff's experience, stability, and quality care, though facility appearance is noted as modest. One negative review reported concerns about staff behavior toward children when observed unannounced.
2851 E Apple Creek Rd, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 72 children
This facility is highly rated for its pleasant atmosphere, friendly and supportive staff, and beautiful natural setting with scenic walking trails across the street. The fitness center is well-maintained with good equipment and ample parking. One reviewer expressed disappointment with weekend hours conflicting with their work schedule.
W6127 Lorna Ln, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 51 children
The Learning Cottage of Appleton (Therapy Time for Kids) receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for speech and feeding therapy services, with parents praising staff expertise and significant developmental progress in their children. However, two negative reviews cite concerns about pushing AAC devices against parental preference, staff punctuality issues, and contradictory feedback about progress.
1901 N Richmond St, Appleton, WI · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 60 children
Creative Child Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the caring staff, engaging curriculum, and home-like atmosphere. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving physical contact with their children. The center emphasizes small class sizes, homemade meals, and individualized attention.
Based on 20 daycares with Google ratings in Appleton
Top qualities mentioned across 172 reviews, analyzed by AI
Average ratings by facility type in Appleton, based on parent reviews
Appleton zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54913 | 7 | 4.7 | 4 | |
| 54915 | 15 | 4.52 | 4 | |
| 54911 | 18 | 4.44 | 5 |
Capacity distribution of daycares in Appleton (12–250 children)
Small
up to 30 children
8
Medium
31–75 children
16
Large
76–150 children
18
Very Large
150+ children
1
Highest rated daycares in Appleton based on parent reviews
406 N Mayflower Dr, Appleton, WI
Little Mittens Ltd Child Care Center (now operated by Play & Grow) receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight exceptional staff compassion, strong management, accommodating policies, and genuine care for children. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, and open communication with families.
326 E North St, Appleton, WI
Parents consistently praise Christian Cooperative Preschool for its warm, welcoming environment and experienced, dedicated teachers. The cooperative model allows parents to volunteer in classrooms and be actively involved in their children's education. Children show strong enthusiasm for attending, with parents noting significant learning and enjoyment.
W5483 County Road Kk, Appleton, WI
Kidzland 2 receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring and attentive staff, particularly directors Teresa and Mary. Parents highlight the clean facility, structured learning activities, reasonable fees, and excellent security measures. One negative review reported an unprofessional interaction with a staff member regarding a lost key fob.
N210 Stoney Brook Rd, Appleton, WI
Families highlight the staff's compassion, responsiveness, and ability to create a welcoming, family-like environment. Parents appreciate the convenience of handled transportation, nutritious homemade meals, and the positive impact on their children's enjoyment of daycare.
601 E Glendale Ave, Appleton, WI
Faith Child Care Inc receives overwhelmingly positive reviews praising the staff's experience, stability, and quality care, though facility appearance is noted as modest. One negative review reported concerns about staff behavior toward children when observed unannounced.
2851 E Apple Creek Rd, Appleton, WI
This facility is highly rated for its pleasant atmosphere, friendly and supportive staff, and beautiful natural setting with scenic walking trails across the street. The fitness center is well-maintained with good equipment and ample parking. One reviewer expressed disappointment with weekend hours conflicting with their work schedule.
There are 42 child daycare & preschools in Appleton, Wisconsin, making up 98% of the 43 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.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Appleton have an average rating of 4.44 out of 5 across 20 rated facilities, with 65% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.44 stars. Our analysis covers 172 parent reviews.
When choosing a daycare in Appleton, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
Showing 42 results
Parents highlight the center's small-town atmosphere within a large city, noting that teachers demonstrate genuine care and effort in providing a well-rounded experience for children. Reviewers specifically praise staff members like Katie for their dedication and recommend the facility highly.
Parents consistently praise Christian Cooperative Preschool for its warm, welcoming environment and experienced, dedicated teachers. The cooperative model allows parents to volunteer in classrooms and be actively involved in their children's education. Children show strong enthusiasm for attending, with parents noting significant learning and enjoyment.
One parent highlights the center as a great choice for their child. The limited feedback provided is entirely positive regarding the selection process.
Little Mittens Ltd Child Care Center (now operated by Play & Grow) receives consistently high praise from parents. Reviewers highlight exceptional staff compassion, strong management, accommodating policies, and genuine care for children. The facility is noted for cleanliness, structured activities, and open communication with families.
Families highlight the staff's compassion, responsiveness, and ability to create a welcoming, family-like environment. Parents appreciate the convenience of handled transportation, nutritious homemade meals, and the positive impact on their children's enjoyment of daycare.
One parent reports that their child thrived in the 3K program, gaining social skills through caring teachers who balance group and individual attention. The reviewer highlights the teacher's dedication to themed lesson plans and projects as key factors in making it the best choice for their family.
One parent describes their child's experience at the center as a blessing, noting that the program successfully prepared them for Kindergarten by fostering both academic growth and spiritual development through a focus on Jesus. The reviewer highlights the supportive nature of the staff and pastor in building a strong educational foundation for their son.
Kidzland 2 receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring and attentive staff, particularly directors Teresa and Mary. Parents highlight the clean facility, structured learning activities, reasonable fees, and excellent security measures. One negative review reported an unprofessional interaction with a staff member regarding a lost key fob.
Several parents highlight the staff's exceptional support for children with special needs and their dedication to student progress. In contrast, one review cites a hygiene incident involving improper wiping and expresses concern regarding the experience level of floaters.
Faith Child Care Inc receives overwhelmingly positive reviews praising the staff's experience, stability, and quality care, though facility appearance is noted as modest. One negative review reported concerns about staff behavior toward children when observed unannounced.
This facility is highly rated for its pleasant atmosphere, friendly and supportive staff, and beautiful natural setting with scenic walking trails across the street. The fitness center is well-maintained with good equipment and ample parking. One reviewer expressed disappointment with weekend hours conflicting with their work schedule.
Creative Child Learning Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with parents praising the caring staff, engaging curriculum, and home-like atmosphere. However, one parent reported a serious incident involving physical contact with their children. The center emphasizes small class sizes, homemade meals, and individualized attention.
Two parents describe Apple Tree Connections as a highly recommended, nurturing, and professional childcare center that provides peace of mind and responsive communication. In contrast, a single review cites rudeness from the new owner as a significant negative.
The Learning Cottage of Appleton (Therapy Time for Kids) receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for speech and feeding therapy services, with parents praising staff expertise and significant developmental progress in their children. However, two negative reviews cite concerns about pushing AAC devices against parental preference, staff punctuality issues, and contradictory feedback about progress.
Multiple parents highlight the facility's cleanliness, security, and the staff's genuine care for child development, noting that children enjoy attending and communicate well via the Brightwheel app. However, one parent reports significant issues with poor communication from leadership, unresponsive phone lines, and staff inattention, leading them to leave despite loving specific teachers.
Some families highlight the affordability, experienced staff, and director's support, while other parents describe the experience as horrible and unworthy of even a minimal rating.
Several parents highlight the center's affordability, experienced staff, and director's dedication, noting long-term tenure and safety as key benefits. Conversely, a small number of reviewers express strong dissatisfaction, describing the experience as horrible without providing specific details.
One parent highlights reasonable prices and good organization, while another criticizes the facility for visible dirt, unwiped tables, an unapproachable teacher, and unsafe child-to-staff ratios that violate state guidelines.
One parent describes the center as incredibly dedicated and professional, praising the director for putting children first and running the center with integrity. Conversely, another parent claims the director is selfish and does not have the children's best interests at heart, though this view is contested by the first reviewer who attributes it to spite.
KinderCare Learning Centers 937 in Appleton receives mixed reviews. Most parents praise the loving, patient teachers, clean environment, creative activities, and their children's happiness and learning. However, some parents report concerns about infant room setup, high costs with inflexible pricing, and poor customer service experiences.
The YMCA Appleton Child Care Center receives consistently high praise from parents and members. Reviews highlight the facility's cleanliness, modern updates, quality staff, and excellent amenities including swim lessons, indoor play areas, and splash pad. Parents report their children are happy and well-cared for.
Parents consistently praise KinderCare Learning Centers for exceptional care, professional staff, and strong communication. Children show significant developmental progress and enjoy attending daily. The facility maintains high cleanliness standards and implements thorough safety protocols.
KinderCare Learning Center in Appleton receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with 9 five-star reviews praising staff kindness, communication, health/safety practices, and individualized care for children with dietary needs and allergies. One parent reported a negative experience, claiming their shy toddler was dismissed on the first day without support.
Page 1 of 2· 42 results