Best Headstart Programs in Wilmington, DE
Compare 6 headstart programs in Wilmington. Average rating: 4.08/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Wilmington, Delaware at a glance
- Programs
- 6
- Avg rating
- 4.08/5
- Parent reviews
- 779
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 40
Wilmington has 6 licensed headstart programs with 779 parent reviews averaging 4.08/5.40 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 38% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 19810 (avg 4.66 stars), while 19805 has the largest selection (33 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Wilmington
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.
- 1Small Wonder Daycare INC.4.64 score4.8(20)
100a Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 128 children
Small Wonder Daycare receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, skilled staff and child-centered educational approach. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, strong development, and the clean, organized facility that balances learning with play.
Attentive and nurturing staffstrong early childhood education focusclean and well-organized facilityengaging and educational daily activities - 2Tender Care Learning Academy4.62 score5(8)
120 Stroud Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 49 children
Tender Care Learning Academy receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, loving staff and family-like environment. Parents consistently highlight their children's happiness, smooth transitions, and the center's focus on education balanced with fun. Daily communication about activities and progress is also appreciated.
Caring and loving staffpatient with transitionsfamily-like atmospherechildren appear happy and content - 3Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care4.61 score4.8(16)
606 New Road, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 73 children
Elsmere Presbyterian Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents who highlight the caring, nurturing staff and quality educational programs. Parents report smooth transitions, individualized attention to children's needs, and a welcoming environment across all age groups from infants through preschool.
Caring and loving staff with good longevitysmooth transition back to workquality learning activities and fun eventsaccommodates special needs (food allergies - 4Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy4.56 score4.7(20)
705 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children
Early Childhood Educational Arts Academy (CCAC) in Wilmington is highly praised for its quality arts education programs, affordable pricing, and welcoming staff. Parents highlight the vibrant community atmosphere, diverse offerings including dance, music, and preschool classes, and the center's commitment to accessible arts experiences. The facility is described as family-oriented with staff who are engaged in students' overall development.
High-quality arts educationaffordable pricingkind and welcoming stafffamily-oriented environment - 5Ministry Of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care4.5 score5(5)
1000 Wilson Street, Wilmington, DE · Church Daycare · Capacity: 83 children
Ministry of Caring Guardian Angel Child Care receives consistently high praise from parents. Parents highlight the caring and loving staff, strong communication with teachers, and safe environment for children. The facility is described as well-structured with children looking forward to attending daily.
Caring and loving staffexcellent communication with teacherssafe environmentstructured program - 6Concordia Preschool4.5 score5(5)
3003 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 152 children
Concordia Preschool receives exclusively positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and well-rounded curriculum that balances structured learning with free play. Parents highlight the school's strong preparation for kindergarten, beautiful facilities, and welcoming community atmosphere.
caring and nurturing teachersexcellent curriculumbalance of free play and structured learningschool readiness preparation - 7Marshallton United Methodist School4.5 score5(5)
1105 Stanton Road, Wilmington, DE · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 42 children
Parents consistently praise Marshallton United Methodist School for its caring, patient staff who treat children like family. First-time parents report feeling at ease leaving their children in this small, church-based setting, and children are described as excited and happy to attend daily. The center is noted for strong communication, developmental support, and engaging activities.
Loving and caring staffsmall close-knit environmentminimal staff turnoverexperienced teachers - 8Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center4.49 score4.7(12)
1018 West 6th Street, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 186 children
Parents consistently praise Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center for its caring, family-oriented staff and quality programs. The facility is noted for providing Head Start and after-school services with well-educated staff members who prioritize children's health, safety, and development.
Friendly and loving stafffamily-like treatmentwell-educated staffgood care for children - 9Tutor Time Child Care Brandywine4.48 score4.6(20)
2001 Brandywine Parkway, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 183 children
Tutor Time Child Care Brandywine receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring staff, clean facility, transparent communication, and comprehensive included services that make it a trusted choice for families.
Loving and caring teachersclean facilitydaily photo and video updates24/7 camera access for parents - 10Precious Little Hands Childcare Center LLC.4.43 score4.7(8)
702b Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 83 children
Precious Little Hands Childcare Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the professional and caring staff, clean environment, and strong communication through daily updates and photos. Parents report their children are happy, engaged in learning activities, and developing social and language skills. One parent cited poor communication as a concern.
Professional and qualified staffclean and calm environmentexcellent communication with daily updates and photosloving and caring teachers
Rating Distribution
Based on 104 daycares with Google ratings in Wilmington
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 779 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Wilmington, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Wilmington zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19810 | 11 | 4.66 | 4 | |
| 19801 | 21 | 4.28 | 7 | |
| 19803 | 16 | 4.13 | 7 | |
| 19805 | 33 | 4.09 | 8 | |
| 19808 | 19 | 3.98 | 6 | |
| 19802 | 28 | 3.95 | 6 | |
| 19809 | 5 | 3.92 | 1 | |
| 19804 | 6 | 3.3 | 1 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Wilmington (16–585 children)
Small
up to 30 children
8
Medium
31–75 children
61
Large
76–150 children
49
Very Large
150+ children
26
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Wilmington based on parent reviews
Wilmington Head Start INC. - West 3rd Street Center
1021 West 3rd Street, Wilmington, DE
Wilmington Head Start INC. - Van Buren Street Center
1021 West 3rd Street, Wilmington, DE
Wilmington Head Start INC. - West End Center
1725 West 8th Street, Wilmington, DE
One parent highly recommends the center, praising Director Maira Martinez and teacher Chavez for their caring nature and educational support, noting their child's successful adjustment. Conversely, another parent reports severe issues with staff professionalism, alleging that the executive director and teachers encourage bullying, dismiss complaints, and fail to provide camera footage despite claims of monitoring.
Ncc Head Start INC. Absalom Jones
310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
Ncc Head Start INC. Marshallton
310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
Map
Daycare types in Wilmington
Browse by type in Wilmington
Headstart Programs in Wilmington, Delaware
There are 6 headstart programs in Wilmington, Delaware, making up 4% of the 144 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 Wilmington have an average rating of 4.08 out of 5 across 104 rated facilities, with 38% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 5 stars. Our analysis covers 779 parent reviews. Parents in Wilmington most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, safe environment, and friendly staff.
When choosing a daycare in Wilmington, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Headstart Programs in Wilmington
Showing 6 results
- Address
- 1021 West 3rd Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 691-3764
- Address
- 1021 West 3rd Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 691-3584
One parent highly recommends the center, praising Director Maira Martinez and teacher Chavez for their caring nature and educational support, noting their child's successful adjustment. Conversely, another parent reports severe issues with staff professionalism, alleging that the executive director and teachers encourage bullying, dismiss complaints, and fail to provide camera footage despite claims of monitoring.
- Address
- 1725 West 8th Street, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 421-3620
- Address
- 310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 999-8480
- Address
- 310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 452-1500
- Address
- 2401 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
- Phone
- (302) 762-8038
Page 1 of 1· 6 results
Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Delaware's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Delaware)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 120 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 6 facilities
- Church Daycare — 6 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 12 facilities