Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Galesburg, IL

Compare 2 headstart programs in Galesburg. Average rating: 4.4/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Galesburg, Illinois at a glance

Programs
2
Avg rating
4.4/5
Parent reviews
28
Top rated (4.5+)
3

Galesburg has 2 licensed headstart programs with 28 parent reviews averaging 4.4/5.The highest-rated options cluster around the 61401 zip code, averaging 4.4 stars across 6 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Galesburg

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
    Mt. Calvary Lutheran Pre-School
    4.53 score
    4.8(10)

    1372 West Fremont Street, Galesburg, IL · Church Daycare · Capacity: 30 children

    Mt. Calvary Lutheran Pre-School receives consistently positive feedback from parents and community members. Parents praise the caring staff, welcoming atmosphere, and positive environment where children thrive. The facility is described as a place where families feel part of an extended community.

    caring staffwelcoming atmospherepositive environmentchildren enjoy attending
  2. 2
    Knox County Ymca Early Learning Center
    3.1 score
    2.8(15)

    192 E South St, Galesburg, IL · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 44 children

    Knox County YMCA Early Learning Center in Galesburg receives highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise caring, attentive staff and strong developmental support, while negative reviews cite management issues, health protocol concerns, questionable fever readings, inadequate staffing ratios, and dismissive handling of parent concerns.

    Caring and patient staffstrong one-on-one connections with childrendevelopmental support and resourceswelcoming environment

Rating Distribution

Based on 4 daycares with Google ratings in Galesburg

4.5 - 5.0
3
4.0 - 4.4
0
3.0 - 3.9
0
Below 3
1

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Galesburg, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.27avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Headstart Programs

No ratings yet
2 daycares

Church Daycare

4.8avg rating
1 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Galesburg zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
614016
4.4
3

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Galesburg (30–140 children)

Small

up to 30 children

1

Medium

31–75 children

4

Large

76–150 children

1

Very Large

150+ children

0

Map

Daycare types in Galesburg

Child Daycare & Preschools 3Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 1

Headstart Programs in Galesburg, Illinois

There are 2 headstart programs in Galesburg, Illinois, making up 33% of the 6 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 Galesburg have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities, with 75% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.8 stars. Our analysis covers 28 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Galesburg, 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 Galesburg

Showing 2 results

Knox County Head Start I
Headstart Programs

Recent feedback highlights significant communication failures, including unanswered phone calls and texts, as well as operational issues where the center was closed without notice. One parent expressed concern about the inability to reach staff during emergencies, while another reported being unable to retrieve a grandson's application due to the facility's lack of responsiveness.

Address
277 E Tompkins St, Galesburg, IL
Phone
(309) 734-3151
Knox County Head Start II
Headstart Programs
Address
515 Iowa Ct, Galesburg, IL
Phone
(309) 734-3151

Page 1 of 1· 2 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 2 headstart programs daycares in Galesburg, Illinois, out of 6 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Galesburg have an average Google rating of 4.4 out of 5 across 4 rated facilities. About 75% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Galesburg, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Illinois's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Illinois)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Galesburg offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 3 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 1 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 Illinois 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 Galesburg for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Galesburg must be licensed by Illinois'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.